GAPY AWARD FOCUS TO SHIFT FROM INDIVIDUALS TO PROGRAMS

The American Greyhound Council (AGC) announced today that the Greyhound Adoption Person of the Year Award will become the Greyhound Adoption Program of the Year (GAPY) Award, effective immediately. Nominations will open April 1 online for organizations that have made exceptional contributions to greyhound adoption. The AGC will recognize two organizations each year going forward.

Spokesman Gary Guccione said the AGC Board made the change at its February meeting in an effort to expand the reach of the award and engage more adoption groups in the nominating process. Each of the two winning organizations will receive a $1,000 contribution.

Previously, the individual award winner and a guest were invited to attend the AGC’s spring meeting in Las Vegas, where the award was presented along with a $500 donation to the adoption group of the winner’s choice. AGC Board members felt the funds spent on that trip would be better spent on direct support for outstanding adoption programs.

“There are so many organizations doing amazing work on the adoption front,” Guccione said. “By inviting the adoption community to help us identify and recognize the best among them, we hope to convey the message that successful adoption programs are team efforts, and that every person who participates makes a difference.”

Guccione noted that support for adoption programs continues to be one of the AGC’s highest budget priorities. At its recent meeting, the AGC Board renewed a $70,000 budget allocation for FY 2014 for adoption grants. In FY 2013, more than 40 organizations received grants of $1250 each, the standard amount. The AGC also granted several requests for emergency funds to assist adoption groups with food, veterinary care and transport.