Birmingham VA Selected for Hand in Paw Tweety Lasker Award
The Birmingham VA Health Care System, in collaboration with Hand in Paw (HIP), has been selected as the Tweety Lasker Award Honoree.
Since its founding by Beth Franklin in 1996, Hand in Paw has grown into a leading force in Animal-Assisted Therapy, with over 100 professionally trained volunteers and their animal partners spreading comfort across North Central Alabama and Tuscaloosa. HIP is an extraordinary organization that harnesses the healing power of Animal-Assisted Therapy to bring comfort and joy to our Veterans.
In 2007, as a tribute to his beloved and devoted greyhound Tweety, Dr. Jim Lasker established The Tweety Lasker Award. This award honors a program partner or facility working in collaboration with HIP where the selected facility is presented a Brad Morton bronze statue of Tweety to proudly display.
"This recognition is a testament to the meaningful impact we’ve made together through this partnership," said Oladipo “Ladi” Kukoyi, CEO/Executive Director of the Birmingham VA Health Care System. "As we celebrate this award, it serves as a powerful reminder of the difference we are making in the lives of those who have served our nation."
The award was presented at the Picasso Pets Gala on August 17 in Birmingham, where Charly Murphree (pictured right), Chief Nurse for Acute Care, Patient Care Services, graciously accepted it on behalf of the health system. A video highlighting the profound benefits of the therapeutic visits with HIP was premiered during the event.