Source: DarlowDogs.com
Jake the Chug, an adopted Chihuahua/Pug mix from Fair Lawn and Puppy Bowl VI Most Valuable Puppy, has lent his name and image to an art blanket project to help raise funds for an intensive autism program for 13-year-old Piscataway native Tyler Darlow. The photo of Jake featured on the 29×39 inch plush blanket, as well as the design, was created by Tyler’s father Andrew Darlow, an award-winning photographer and author.
The Darlow family started a GoFundMe campaign at the end of 2016, but has raised only half of their goal to date, so they decided to create this new campaign. Andrew Darlow said this about the art blanket project: “My wife, Belinda, and my entire family are extremely thankful for all the support we’ve received thus far from our fundraising efforts. With about 50% still to raise, we thought an art blanket project like this just before Super Bowl 51 would be a perfect way to raise the rest of the funding we need to pay for Tyler’s Intensive therapy, which totals just under $20,000.”
The Darlows have been following the Son-Rise Program® with Tyler for nearly a year, with outstanding results so far, including better eye contact, communication and speech. The Son-Rise Program® Intensive program is a week-long program conducted at the Autism Treatment Center of America in Sheffield, MA.
Lauren Chrust, who rescued Jake in 2000, had this to say about the blanket project: “We’re so grateful to be able to help such a special young man like Tyler on his journey to become more independent. I hope that everyone who invests in this fundraising effort gets as much warmth and good feelings from the blankets as we do having our little Jakie running (and napping!) around the house each day.”
The Darlow family set a goal of $12,500, which, if raised, will give them enough funds after expenses to pay for the balance of Tyler’s intensive therapy program.
For more information about the Art Blanket Project and the Son-Rise® Program Intensive, visit: http://DarlowDogs.com.