Majestic Hills Ranch and Bundles of Love Charity are named runners up
The 2018 Touchstone Energy Community Award winners from Dakota Electric: PawPADS; Majestic Hills Ranch and Bundles of Love.
Dakota Electric Association named Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs), Lakeville, as the local 2018 Touchstone Energy Community Award winner. Majestic Hills Ranch, Lakeville, and Bundles of Love Charity, Apple Valley, were named runners-up, and each of the non-profits received a plaque and a check for $500.
“Dakota Electric is proud to be able to recognize these organizations doing great work in our local communities,” said Greg Miller, Dakota Electric’s president and chief executive officer. “As a member-owned cooperative, we are committed to our local communities and this is one way we encourage and honor those who are like-minded.”
PawPADs’ dual mission is to enrich the lives of people with disabilities by providing them with exceptionally skilled assistance dogs and to use the power of the human-canine bond as a therapeutic, educational, healing tool. The dogs are trained to perform tasks to assist people with disabilities so they can live more independent lives. Dogs are also placed in local schools to help students decrease anxiety and increase motivation, and PawPADs has placed dogs with Dakota County to provide emotional support for survivors of abuse.
Majestic Hills Ranch provides safe, and enjoyable therapeutic riding to children and young adults with special needs, along with rehabilitative services to injured military personnel. Bundles of Love Charity provides items, such as blankets, quilts, baby care items and more, for newborns and families in need.
The Touchstone Energy Community Award recognizes organizations for outstanding contributions to the local community.
PawPADs’ award application will be submitted to the statewide Minnesota Touchstone Energy Community Award. The statewide award recipient will be selected from local award winners throughout Minnesota and will receive $1,000. The Minnesota Touchstone Energy Community Award will be announced in February, during the Minnesota Rural Electric Association’s annual meeting in St. Paul.
