Odessa Cooke to receive canine assistant
Published on September 13, 2006 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Long Island Ducks News Release
(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 13, 2006) - Long Island Ducks team officials today announced that Citibank Park will play host to a special pregame ceremony by People's Alliance Federal Credit Union (PAFCU). Prior to the Ducks 1:35 p.m. contest with the Bridgeport Bluefish on Sunday, September 16, PAFCU officials will present Odessa Cooke of Ridge, N.Y., with a Canine Assistant.
"People's Alliance Federal Credit Union is has always exemplified what being a good community partner means," says Ducks general manager Michael Hirsch. "We are proud to be able to play host for this special presentation."
On Sunday, Nicholas M. Lacetera, president/CEO of PAFCU and team leader of Noah's Team of Long Island along with Stephen Friedman, executive director of United Cerebral Palsy of Suffolk County, will introduce Cooke, who has Spina Bifida, scoliosis, and a trach, to Miller, a Canine Assistant spokesdog.
"People's Alliance Federal Credit Union is pleased to sponsor Odessa," says Lacetera. "We are excited to provide Cooke with a service dog to assist her in her continuous quest for independence. She will go to Alpharetta, Ga. within the next year to receive her canine assistant."
Cooke's canine has been trained to open doors safely, reach for objects, and retrieve small things that are out of Cooke's reach, while providing her with the unconditional love and loyalty of a canine. PAFCU's sponsorship has covered in-depth training as well as ongoing support and veterinary care of the dog.
Noah's Team is the national volunteer program for Canine Assistants, an Alpharette, Ga. based non-profit organization that trains dogs to work with children and adults who have physical disabilities. For more information on Noah's Team, please log on to www.canineassistants.org.
The Long Island Ducks are in their seventh season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. They have averaged over 100 percent attendance capacity of 6,002-seat Citibank Park in each of their first six seasons and are one of the most successful minor league sports franchises in the country. For further information, visit www.liducks.com or call 631-940-DUCK.
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