By Libby Hopkins
Sherry Leybovich of Cruise Planners has been a travel agent for over 20 years and she has a heart for fundraising. She is the Fundraising Chairperson for The Florida Parrot Rescue, www.floridaparrot rescue.com, and wanted to find a way to incorporate fundraising in the cruises she plans. Last February she hosted the Classic Car Cruise to do just that.
“I wanted to make the Classic Car Cruise a fundraising event as well,” Leybovich said.
She did some research and found America’s Vet Dogs.
“The response was so overwhelming by everyone who attended the cruise that we were able to raise over $6,100 for America’s Vet Dogs,” Leybovich said.
America’s Vet Dogs is a non-profit organization founded by the accredited Guide Dog Foundation for the blind. The organization serves the needs of disabled Veterans from all eras and active duty personnel. All of the dogs are provided to Veterans free of charge.
“America’s Vet Dogs impressed me because not only are they helping our Veterans, they are also helping our shelter dogs find new homes while becoming working dogs,” Leybovich said.
The next Classic Car Cruise will be held February 21-28, 2015. Leybovich is already taking reservations for that cruise and is looking for local businesses to donate auction items for the cruise. She is hoping to get a mixture of male and female auction items to accommodate everyone on the cruise. All of the money raised on this cruise will again go to America’s Vet Dogs.
“Even if people are not interested in classic cars, they can still make a reservation for a cabin on the cruise, and I will make a donation directly to America’s Vet Dogs,” Leybovich said.
The remaining money will be raised through silent and live auctions that will be held on the cruise.
Individuals interested in the Classic Car Cruise or donating auction items can visit www.classiccarcruise.com or contact Leybovich at 657-0844.
To learn more about America’s Vet Dogs, visit www.vetdogs.org.
