Danbury Animal Welfare Society Honors U.S. Trade Representative and Girl Scout Troop at Annual Fundraiser

Danbury Animal Welfare Society, Inc. (DAWS) announced today that it honored Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Gail W. Strickler and Girl Scout Troop 50711 at its annual Making a Difference Ball fundraising event. 

Ms. Strickler is the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Textiles and Apparel, responsible for supervising negotiations affecting textile and apparel products, advising Ambassador Michael Froman on textile and apparel trade policy matters, and working to expand the industry's access to foreign markets.

Sanni Cohn, Kaitlyn DeLuca, Katie Galvin, Audrey Garcia, and Allie Hermansen are the five members of Girl Scout Troop 50711 honored by DAWS.  The cadettes are eighth grade students and in their ninth year of Girl Scouts. 

“DAWS is thrilled to honor Gail and the five young women of Girl Scout Troop 50711,” says John Piper, President of the Board of Directors at DAWS. “Gail has been a supporter of our organization for many years and has helped us turn our Making a Difference Ball into the gala event that it is today.  We are also pleased to recognize the girls of Troop 50711 as our Next Generation Honorees.  They are already demonstrating a passion for animals that will make an impact on the lives of animals and the community for many years to come.”

Ms. Strickler has long been involved in national pet rescue groups and adopting animals of her own.  In 2007, she turned a personal tragedy into a legacy of hope for abused and abandoned animals when she created an annual event for DAWS that would generate income for the shelter.  The Making a Difference Ball was born out of Gail’s love for her lost dog, Carly and her desire to help make a difference in her community.

The members of Girl Scout Cadette Troop 50711 were determined to earn their Silver Award -the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn.  With a shared passion for animals, the girls believed the Bethel community, its dogs, and their human companions would benefit greatly from having a dog park available.  The girls worked closely with the Bethel Parks and Recreation Department to secure a section of Meckauer Park to dedicate to the new Bark Park which will open this spring.

“Eight years ago, when I first approached the DAWS Board of Directors with the idea of what has now become the Making a Difference Ball, my goal was to give a gift that kept on giving,” says Ms. Strickler.  “Now it has come full circle, and I have been given the chance to once again help further our Mission.  Improving the lives of homeless animals and thus improving the lives of those of us who share our homes and lives with them is a most valuable mission.”

Danbury Animal Welfare Society, Inc. (DAWS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of animals in the community and beyond.  Founded in 1974, DAWS provides shelter and care to animals in need, offers adoption counseling to place animals in loving, forever homes, promotes responsible pet guardianship and the humane treatment of animals, and works toward ending animal overpopulation through education, spay/neuter, and trap, neuter and return programs. For more information, visit our website www.daws.org or call 203-744-3297.