Project Puppy Love

25/08/2024

Hi. It’s me, Louie. Sometimes not being the same in a family makes things feel hard. It’s true. But, even though I may roll my eyes and shake my head, I’m kinda glad there’s one of me and one of him. I do things Banks doesn’t do, and he does things I don’t do. Together, we sure do a lot of things.

15/08/2024

Hi. It’s me, Louie. I met a lotta new friends yesterday at a place called Rooted Kinections. It’s a weeklong sleepaway camp for brothers and sisters who don’t live together. That happens sometimes. At this camp, they spend time together and do stuff together and have fun together.
I really like my job. When I saw Banks back himself up and sit on a friend’s lap, I realized that Banks really likes his job too.

09/08/2024

Hi. It’s Banks. One of Louie’s friends brought him a birthday toy! Yayyyy!

05/08/2024

Hi. It’s me, Louie. Being with people who love me brings the world into tune, and all that makes my days feel sharp or flat don’t bother me as much.

31/07/2024

Hi. It’s Banks—look at me, look at me! It feels good to be officially added to The Sparrow Fund’s website.
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22/07/2024

Hi. Louie and Banks here. It’s Day 3 of 4 Sparrow Fund Strategic Planning Days, and we killed the 6-hat-thinking method.

22/07/2024

Hi. It’s Banks showing my friend the doctor’s house from a scary movie that was made about 64 years before I was born. I live near lots of interesting things, and it’s fun to share interesting things with friends.

12/07/2024

Hi. It’s me, Louie. I feel glad knowing that I helped give people and puppies—families—around me an experience that prompted songs and smiles. Birthdays are a gift to all of us.

05/07/2024

Hi. It’s me, Louie. My mom says everyone needs to know they have someone who looks for them. I will be one of those someones; Mom, you can count on me.

01/07/2024

We asked. We prayed. We hoped that would grow by 10 new partners by July 1st. And, we grew by 9! These 9 joined the 85 we had already to give monthly to support us and the work we are doing to care for children and families. Ending the month only one partner short of our goal, we feel affirmed, energized, and reminded that growing isn’t contained by a date on a calendar. Our invitation for others to join us is an open invitation. There’s always room for one more. We’re grateful for the tangible support of so many that keeps us going. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

29/06/2024

Hi. It’s Banks here. We care for foster and adopted children and their grownups by empowering relationships within and between families—and Louie and I are part of that. Our team needs to fundraise $312,000 a year to keep up that care. Our people who give money every month are a big part of that. We have been hoping for 10 new partners by July 1 which is Monday—and we only need 2 more partners to get to 10! If you have big feelings about helping children and their grownups like we do, please consider joining our team as a monthly giver. We’d like that.
HERE’S HOW: Go to website. Click the donate button. Tick the box for “Make this a recurring donation.”

28/06/2024

Hi. It’s me, Louie. Sometimes I like surprises and wag my tail like crazy. Other times, I like to know what’s happening before it happens. It doesn’t take the happy part away for me to know. I still wag my tail like crazy. It just takes the anxious part away.

23/06/2024

Hi. It’s Banks. I kinda think the part of me that’s excited and the part of me that’s scared are BFFs. They seem to show up together a lot.

21/06/2024

Hi. It’s me, Louie. We care for foster and adopted children and their grownups by empowering relationships within and between families. I’m part of that as a facility doggo. Right now, we need to fundraise $312,000 a year to sustain that care. Our most significant source for that funding is our community of people who give every month. They are donors. But, biggest of all, they are partners who join the team with us. This month, we’re hoping to grow by 10 new partners. We have 5 new partners so far—only 5 to go before the end of the month! Please consider becoming part of our team by setting up a monthly donation and help us keep helping.
HERE’S HOW: Go to the website. Click the donate button. Tick the box for “Make this a recurring donation.”

19/06/2024

Hi. It’s me, Louie. When I slow down and comfortably breathe and be, I help people in the room with me to slow down and comfortably breathe and be. Mom says that’s called coregulation; I call it energy matching and just plain connection.

14/06/2024

We care for foster and adopted children and their grownups by empowering relationships within and between families. Project Puppy Love with Louie and Banks is one way we do that. We currently need to raise $312,000 annually to sustain that care. We have 85 current partners who give monthly towards that need, together giving about $132,000 a year. We need more partners to make that funding gap smaller. This month, we’re hoping to grow by 10 new partners. We have 5 new partners so far—5 to go! Please consider becoming part of our team by setting up a monthly recurring donation and help us keep helping.
HERE’S HOW: Go to our website. Click the donate button. Tick the box for “Make this a recurring donation.” Become one of the 10!

13/06/2024

Hi. It’s Banks with two things I’m keeping close right now. I like them. It feels good to have things that I can say are mine.

07/06/2024

The Sparrow Fund cares for foster and adopted children and their grownups by empowering relationships within and between families. This month, we’re hoping to grow by 10 new partners who will set up a monthly gift of any amount that we can count on as we support the 27 families currently in our grant program and the many more families who we serve through Sparrow Family Services, our Gatherings, and Together Called. Please consider setting up a monthly recurring donation to help us keep helping.
HERE’S HOW: Go to our website. Click the donate button. Tick the box for “Make this a recurring donation.”

21/05/2024

Hi. It’s us, Louie and Banks. No matter how many times Mom says she will be back soon and circles back for another hug and a kiss, we’d really just prefer she stay and we avoid this whole scene.

20/05/2024

It’s Monday, and your mom tells you that you have a meeting with Miss Kelly at The Sparrow Fund office. Which pup do you hope is waiting for you when you arrive?

16/05/2024

Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. Here we are, ready for service!

10/05/2024

Hi. It’s me, Louie. When Mom talks with our friends about big things like regulation and de-escalation, I help by acting them out.

03/05/2024

Hi. It’s Banks. Whenever I feel maybe a little bit scared, I go close to my mom and then I can take a step away, then I go back to my mom and then I can take another step away. Being close to her makes me feel braver.

23/04/2024

Hi. It’s Banks. I think cheers encourage better than sneers and jeers. (This is me offering my home team some cheers. It worked.)

20/04/2024

Hi. It’s Banks. I am glad I can better understand what it’s like for my friends who feel grumpy when their mom or dad make them wear things they don’t want to wear.

17/04/2024

Respectfully, we don’t enjoy baths. But, we do get that we occasionally need to do things we just don’t enjoy. Fine.

03/04/2024

Hi. It’s Banks. Today, I finished my last class in good manners. Mom was happy. I was happy. And, our teacher was happy. After one of our exercises, she told Mom we got extra points for style because I was “prancy and pretty.” I don’t know what that means, but Mom’s face when she heard it tells me it must be good.

19/03/2024

Hi. It’s me, Louie. I know I matter, but it still feels really really good when someone reminds me.
Also, Banks is curious how anyone would make a picture of him since English-golden-colored paint wouldn’t show up so great on white paper.

12/03/2024

Hiiiiii. It’s Banks here. Look who shared about me! I am feeling particularly special today.
Head on over to ‘s post to read the whole thing.
’slegacy

12/03/2024

Hi. Hi. Hi. It's me, Banks!

The Sparrow Fund, a nonprofit in the Philadelphia area cares for foster and adopted children and their grownups by empowering relationships within and between families. Project Puppy Love, is the first canine-assisted therapy program for foster and adopted kids in their region. Last year, they added a golden retriever puppy named Banks. He is currently in training to become their second certified facility dog to serve children and families.

We’re very excited to share that Banks is related to Liberty, President Ford’s golden retriever! Banks' AKC name is Edge of the Wild, and his mother’s AKC name is Castle on a Cloud. Her lineage goes back to Honor’s Let ‘Em Have It, the mother to Liberty.