CENTRAL POINT, OR; Dogs for the Deaf, Inc. is pleased to welcome its newest board member, Trish Welch, who has lived and contributed to the Rogue Valley community for more than twenty years. “Trish brings a tremendous amount of expertise and nonprofit background to our
Newest DBL board member Trish Welch is the executive director of the ARC Jackson County.
board and I’m looking forward to working with her as we work to improve lives with our Assistance Dogs,” noted President and CEO Blake Matray.
Officially participating in her first board meeting on May 8th, Trish wanted to join Dogs for the Deaf’s board because of her love of animals and a strong desire to help people. Welch is a graduate of Oregon State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise and Sport Science.
In Spring 1999, Trish was hired by Arc Jackson County as their Respite Care Coordinator. A year later Trish was appointed as The Arc Jackson County’s Executive Director, enabling her to further express her passion for serving people. Trish, along with her tenured and dynamic staff, have able to develop new programs and services unique to the area as well as other parts of Oregon and the United States.
Trish is excited about Dogs for the Deaf’s development of the Autism and Program Assistance Dog programs for individuals who experience Autism and other disabilities. Serving as a Board Member for Dogs for the Deaf is providing Trish with a perfect mix of assisting dogs and bettering the lives of people.
In addition to serving on Dogs for the Deaf’s board, Trish is also a member of the Rogue Valley After Five Rotary Club. In Trish’s free time, she enjoys a variety of outdoor and indoor activities such as traveling, fishing, camping, golfing, water sports, and spending quality time with her rescue dog Floyd and close friends. Trish, along with her husband Jim, have three children ages 9, 16, and 19 – the oldest is now attending her alma mater.
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Dogs for the Deaf is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focusing on the training and placing of Hearing Assistance Dogs, Program Assistance Dogs, and Autism Assistance Dogs. Dogs for the Deaf has been rescuing dogs from shelters and training them to become Hearing Dogs and Program Dogs with qualified clients throughout the United States for nearly forty years. The Autism Assistance Dog program is just in its second year, though already showing terrific results with three dogs placed locally in southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley. In fiscal year 2016-17, this national organization placed 23 Assistance Dogs across the country.
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