A classroom visit turned into an around-the-world following for SRC students who run the Doggie Dots business at Aloha High School.
“By partnering with the Beaverton Education Foundation, Sgt. O’Reilly and his K-9 pal Radar were able to promote the students in the Aloha High School Structured Routines Center and feature their Doggie Dots artisan dog treat fundraiser. The success of this partnership will support the Specialized Program at Aloha High School and allow them to thrive for years,” William Rourke Lowe, SRC Teacher and Case Manager at Aloha High School.
With the support of Lowe and the team of para-educators, Aloha students bake, package, market, sell and deliver organic dog treats to staff at Aloha high school. The students were quietly running their business until a recent visit by Washington County Sergeant Eamon O’Reilly and his K9 partner, Radar.
Seeing the students in action set Sgt. O’Reilly and Radar on a path to connect with the Beaverton Education Foundation and explore how to bring attention (and donations) to the excellent work taking place in Mr. Lowe’s classroom.
What started with a single social media post to a BEF fundraising site has resulted in video and television coverage, highlighting Doggie Dots at the Washington County K9 Trials and nearly $35,000 in donations from supporters around the world. These funds will provide long-term, sustainable resources for years and will build pathways for future students to engage in developing work and life skills through a variety of new opportunities.
