Okay so I love calling myself a lifelong learner and I’ve always wanted to be a woman “that made a difference”.  Maybe the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree?!!

It happens that at our evening table I often read aloud to my family.  In this way we share books and thoughts and sometimes lively conversation at the end of each chapter, and it’s how I grew up, listening to my mother read to me.

Last winter we read the #1 New York Times Bestseller Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace, One School At A Time, by Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Relin.  No, it’s not a dog book, and yet, we were all inspired!  Mortensen’s mission to promote and support community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan inspired us to want to do more, especially my daughter, M’Lynn.  She quietly said, “I want to help build a school for girls in Pakistan. I want to help change the world.”

Using the resources M’Lynn has at hand, (we own C-C Doggie Dude Ranch after all), she has organized “Polished Pooches for World Peace,” a dog wash fundraiser from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, October 4th, providing dog baths, play park sessions, and kenneling care to local dogs. All proceeds from this fundraiser will go to Mortensen’s Central Asia Institute (CAI).

Supporting the CAI’s core value of education, M’Lynn’s fundraiser goes far beyond raising money by incorporating a curriculum about the industry of dog care, taught by the professionals at the Doggie Dude Ranch.  The teen volunteers must put their new skills into action to reach their goal of raising $1200 for CAI at this event. M’Lynn explained her motivation, “We read about this guy making a huge difference in the world all by himself, and I want to do that.  I want to be like Gandhi!  I want to be the change I wish to see in the world.  In our family and at the Doggie Dude Ranch our core values are economy, resourcefulness, community, and education.  This dog wash fund-raiser incorporates all of our values!”

The Dog Wash curriculum also includes systems development and team-building to increase productivity, quality control, marketing, customer service skills, and professionalism in the workplace – skills which will help these teen-volunteers in any industry, not just dog care.

The coolest thing about this event is that no one person can make it happen alone.  It really takes a LOT of people to pull off a dog wash fund-raiser—teen volunteers to learn and do the work, people and dogs to participate in the event, and all the people that developed the curriculum, supervise/teach the kids, help with press releases, flyers, printing, and taking appointments while the kids are in class.

When M’Lynn began recruiting friends from school to help with the event—when she told the kids what the funds would support—she was bombarded with kids willing to make a commitment to the training and the event. These kids are just so tuned-in, accountable, and bright!  I love working with them!

So, here’s the big plug—All you dog-people out there who wish to support these outstanding teens-for-world-peace can call me, Shelly Gilliam, at (928) 710-7839 to schedule appointments for the dog wash. Prices range from $10 to $35 depending on the size/coat of dog. No matter what breed/size dog you have, expect a great deal!

Shelly Gilliam, Owner
C Bar C Doggie Dude Ranch, Inc.

DDR — The Doggie Dude Ranch has been providing day care, pet boarding, and grooming for dogs and cats since 1983 and was voted Best Pet Boarding Facility in Prescott for 2006 & 2007 & 2008.

CAI – The Central Asia Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission to promote and support community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan