AKC Gazette January 2002

The Spirit of Giving

The American Boxer Club Charitable Foundation, Inc.(ABCF) was founded in 1995 by a concerned group of fanciers and American Boxer Club members. This nonprofit foundation, with all donations designated tax exempt by the IRS, seeks to obtain funds for medical research in areas of special concern to the Boxer. The ABCF is the largest single breed contributor to the AKC Canine Health Foundation—which matches our dollars and therefore doubles our monies earmarked for research projects. These projects include, among others, the Canine Genome project, familial health patterns in Boxer Cardiomyopathy, and the significance of Tumor Suppressor Genes in canine cancer. Since its inception, the ABCF has raised almost $150,000, including a $50,000 donation to the AKCCHF in May of 2001.

The Foundation obtains its donations in a wide variety of ways. An initial $25 contribution entitles the donor to become a Foundation member and to receive the Newsletter. Fund-raisers are held across the country, from bake sales and raffles, T-shirt sales and promotions, to the annual auction at the ABC Specialty.. In 2001, over $21,500 was raised at this enjoyable event. Historical boxer items, porcelains, drawings and paintings, even a hand-made quilt have graced the auction, open to all comers but following a members’ dinner. Bequests are welcome, and recently the Foundation set up a Memorial Endowment Fund so that donations could be made in memory of a deceased loved one or friend.. The American Boxer Club, with about 900 individual members, is not the largest of breed clubs, but is very gratified at the generosity of its supporters, as well as the largesse of boxer lovers from all over the world. In a truly international sense, the ABCF has been remembered by citizens of Canada, the Philippines, England, Australia, and Japan, as well as many other countries where the future health of the breed has been taken literally to heart.

Search and Rescue in NYC

We are very proud to note that Michele Verdel of PA and her brindle boxer "Louie" were among the many amazing teams at work in the aftermath of the World Trade Center disaster. Louie is a combination of titled American, German, and Austrian bloodlines and remained 100% focused on the rescue/recovery task at hand as he and Michele worked under extremely hazardous conditions. He became a favorite among the police, fire, and medical personnel. The heartfelt thanks of a grateful nation go out to Michele and Louie and all the other canine and human heroes of those terrible days.

Stephanie Abraham
P. O. Box 346
Scotland, CT 06264