Purina contributes $50,000 toward new facility
SEDALIA, Mo., March 4, 2019 – Retrieving Freedom, Inc. (RFI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to training service dogs for disabled military veterans and children with autism, hosted a ceremonial ground breaking at the site of their new headquarters in Sedalia, Missouri.
The new 13,000 square-foot facility, located at 20360 Tangle Nook Road, will house administrative offices as well as training and boarding facilities for more than 20 service animals. Construction is scheduled to begin in March and be completed by the end of 2019.
Representatives from St. Louis-based Nestlé Purina PetCare, which provides Purina Pro Plan for the service dogs in training, were on hand to present the organization with a $50,000 donation which will be used toward funding the construction of the new facility.
“We wouldn’t be here today without the generous support of our friends at Purina,” said Mike Lederle, executive director of RFI. “They are passionate and generous supporters of the work we do, and thanks to their donation, we will be able to train and place more support dogs for members of our community.”
In addition to RFI’s new headquarters, the organization has locations in Waverly, Iowa, and Senatobia, Mississippi. Since its founding in 2011, the organization has trained and placed more than 85 service dogs with qualifying recipients.
“At Purina, we wholeheartedly believe people and pets are better together,” said Kim Beardslee, Purina Community Affairs. “Retrieving Freedom’s mission is very important to our organization and integral to bringing the benefits of pets to those who need them the most. We appreciate the work Retrieving Freedom does every day, and we’re proud to support their new headquarters in Sedalia.”
Bob and Barbra Hayden of Starline Brass also were on-site for the groundbreaking ceremony. The Haydens have been longtime supporters of RFI, donating the land and funds to support the new facility.
About Retrieving Freedom, Inc.
Retrieving Freedom, Inc. (RFI) is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization dedicated to training service dogs to help disabled veterans and children with autism. The service dogs we train help improve the lives of the people they are placed with. Not only do they help with specific chores and perform tasks associated with their training, but they also offer companionship and unconditional love. To learn more about Retrieving Freedom, Inc. and find out how you or your organization can get involved, please visit retrievingfreedom.org.
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For more information, please contact:
Mike Lederle, Executive Director, Retrieving Freedom, Inc.
(573) 607-0256
