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Willy's Special Friends
BRANDYWINE
Every year a big Birthday Bash is held in Durham for one lucky Chocolate Lab named Brandywine.  Brandywine’s owner, Charlotte Soja, has for years, enjoyed celebrating her pooch’s birthday with games, cake and lots of doggie friends!
Every summer near her birthday, Brandywine invites all of her canine friends to come play and celebrate the fun of being a dog. Dogs run the obstacle course, play in puppy pools, enter
the ‘best trick’ contest, and best of all – they socialize together! Since Brandywine has been blessed with a wonderful home and a loving family that provides her with all that she could ever want or need, she (and her owner) have decided to turn her party into more than just a fun day for the dogs.... Brandywine wants to help Willy’s Friends! This year, Brandywine’s Party collected several items for shelter animals such as food, toys, towels and bones. Brandywine and Charlotte hope to collect even more items at her party next year and will continue to support Help Willy’s Friends.
BREWSTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
 Through the collaboration of a small group of faculty from Brewster Elementary School in Durham, CT and Mark Paturzo of Help Willy’s Friends, a Spirit Day/Pet Food Drive was established for the entire student body.
It was the committee’s goals to not only bring fun into the school during the month of May 2010 but also to instill a sense of community service. Each student was encouraged to bring to school a stuffed animal (a rescue center was opened for “adopting” a pet as well) to visit the “Brewster Roost” for the day along with one food item, gently used towels/blankets, toys, etc. to be donated to the Help Willy’s Friends  foundation. A school wide assembly was held at the end of the day where the children met both Mark and Willy to learn more about how the organization helps the four-legged friends in local areas. Willy was extremely eager to delight the audience with his vast repertoire of entertaining and agile canine tricks.
More than 230 children collected over 400 items in all and, according to Mark; it was the largest school-wide event of its kind that he and Willy have attended. It was a huge success and is sure to be an annual spring event at Brewster Elementary.
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