The Kennek Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is dedicated to bringing about hope, resilience and inspiration in the lives of those most vulnerable going through tough times.
“We have already utilized 25 Trouble trauma dogs in many ways … giving them to children experiencing violence and abuse … allowing kids to take Trouble home and keep him in their beds to give them a sense of comfort and safety. The Trouble Dogs delivered today will help us continue to offer comfort to kids going through the worst of the worst.”
Captain Timothy Connolly
Commander, District C-11, Dorchester, MA
WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH Reports on Trouble the Dog Donation to Police Department
A donation of Trouble the Dog stuffed animals and companion books to the Manchester, NH Police Department, made possible through a partnership between NH Speedway Children’s Charities and The Kennek Foundation, was featured on WMUR-TV. More
Trouble Testimonial from the Marblehead, MA Police:
“All of Marblehead’s patrol cars are equipped with “Trouble” and on one recent call, it made the difference. Patrol officers were summoned to a child in acute distress. School officials, a parent and the police were all having difficulty in controlling the child until Officer Mike Roads remembered his partner “Trouble” was in the cruiser and gave him to the child. Roads recalled that “it was like flipping a light switch”! The child instantly clutched “Trouble” and settled right down and was able to ride in the ambulance without any issue.”
Trouble’s Spring Adventures!
Thanks to Dr. Gary Freedman, owner of Marblehead Opticians, a “pack” of plush Trouble the Dogs and children’s books was delivered to Shriners Hospital for Children – Springfield. According to Lee Roberts of Shriners Hospitals for Children – Springfield, “Plush animals are used every day by our child life specialists to make blood draws less frightening, distract children who are getting casts removed, and accompany children into surgery. From left: Lee Roberts, Shriners Hospital for Children – Springfield, Sheila Duncan, The Kennek Foundation, Dr. Gary Freedman, Marblehead Opticians, and Samantha West, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Springfield.
Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, accepts a generous donation at the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction in Billerica from Sheila Duncan, founder of The Kennek Foundation. The donation will benefit some of the inmates’ children who will receive plush Trouble Dogs and books when they come to visit their fathers. The Trouble Dogs will be utilized by staff as a calming, soothing resource for children during visitations.
Boston Bruins legend Terry O’Reilly gets into “Trouble,” helping first responders deliver Trouble the Dog to children in crisis.
Boston Bruins legend John Wensink get into “Trouble,” helping first responders deliver Trouble the Dog to children in crisis.
Trouble the Dog at Shriners Hospital
(Photo, right) Sheila Duncan, founder of The Kennek Foundation and Dr. Gary Freedman, owner of Marblehead Opticians, at Shriners Hospital for Children in Boston. The donation of plush toys and children’s books is enjoyed by children and families that come to Shriners Hospitals for medical treatment for orthopedics, cleft lip and palate, and burn care.
The donation, presented on December 14, 2017, was made possible by The Kennek Foundation’s annual motorcycle ride, which will be held for a fourth consecutive year on September 9, 2018.
2017 Trouble the Dog Motorcycle Ride
Generously sponsored by Marblehead Opticians, the third annual Trouble the Dog Motorcycle Ride was held at Shriners Auditorium on 9/10/17 in Wilmington, MA. Proceeds from the ride helped to place Trouble plush dogs in firetrucks, ambulances and police vehicles to help first responders provide a source of comfort to children in the event of a fire, accident or other emergency. Donations helped to deliver Trouble plush dogs to representatives from Massachusetts police and fire departments. Special thanks to the Merrimack Valley HOG Chapter for their generous donation and continued support — we are very grateful to you all!
And a sincere thank you to the enthusiastic riders who helped make the 2017 Trouble the Dog Motorcycle Ride a success!
Photos by Meghan Rose Photography
Kennek Happenings:
Kennek receives Generous Donation from New Hampshire Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities
Speedway Children’s Charities and The Kennek Foundation have missions that align – helping children in need. The Kennek Foundation works much of its magic through the original American-made children’s character they created – Trouble the Dog.
Trouble The Dog was created to provide comfort to children in crisis and has helped hundreds of First Responders to comfort children in the event of an accident, fire or other emergency.
Thanks to the successful partnership between The New Hampshire Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities and The Kennek Foundation, Trouble the Dog plush toys and children’s books will be donated to First Responders starting in Loudon with more distribution planned for the near future.
Taking part in the donation. are, front row, L to R: Hillarie Scott, Assistant Director, Speedway Children’s Charities; Sheila Duncan, Founder, The Kennek Foundation, and Cheryl LaPrade, Director, Speedway Children’s Charities. Back row: Louden Police Chief Kristoffer Burgess, Sgt. William Burke; Christopher Wyman, NH Fire Marshal’s Office; Sgt. Andrew Player; Lt. Kelly Clark, Loudon Fire Department , and J. William Degnan, NH State Fire Marshal.
The Kennek Foundation Donation to Boston Police Department
On October 5, 2017, Sheila Duncan, founder of The Kennek Foundation and Melanie Fleming, author and public relations executive for The Kennek Foundation, visited Boston Police Department headquarters to donate 100 Trouble the Dog plush toys and children’s books to the Boston Police Family Justice Center (FJC). Trouble the Dog was created to provide comfort to children in crisis and has been utilized by first responders to give to children in the event of an accident, fire or other emergency.
The donation will enable BPD officers working in the FJC to give the plush puppies to children who are witnesses or victims of domestic violence, providing them with comfort and security in their time of need. The donation was made possible by CBS Films’ Patriot’s Day movie, featuring Mark Wahlberg, through the Edward Charles Foundation.
Accepting the donation on behalf of the BPD are, L to R: Captain Hayes, Boston Police Family Justice Center, Melanie Fleming, Police Commissioner William Evans and Sheila Duncan.
Shriners Hospitals for Children – Springfield Receives Donation from Masons Mount Tabor Lodge via The Kennek Foundation
The Kennek Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to bringing hope and inspiration to those going through tough times, today announced the delivery of fifty Trouble the Dog plush healing puppies to Shriners Hospitals for Children – Springfield. The delivery of plush animals and books was made possible through a generous donation from the Masons Mount Tabor Lodge AF & AM. The Masons and Freemasonry, which dates back centuries, describes itself as “one of the world’s oldest and largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organizations.” > More
Sheila Duncan, center, Founder of The Kennek Foundation, was able to donate two large boxes of Trouble The Dog plush dogs and children’s books to the Lynn Police, thanks to a generous donation from the GE Employees Good Neighbor Fund. The donation will help police officers to have Trouble plush dogs in their cruisers as a resource in providing comfort for children in difficult situations – including accidents or other emergencies. Participating in the donation are, L to R: Officers Rick Connick and Bob Mason, Sheila Duncan, The Kennek Foundation, Officers Joe Curley, Rob Sirois, and Lt. Glenn Dunnigan with Paul Crowley, representing the GE Employees Good Neighbor Fund.
“Visiting a loved one in jail can be a difficult experience for a youngster. Thanks to the generous donation made by The Kennek Foundation, MSO staff was this week able to present a young girl with a Trouble the Dog, bringing them a measure of comfort during a difficult time.”
~ Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian, Middlesex Sheriff’s Office
Click the Magic 106.7 logo for interview with Sheila Duncan
By Bike, Wagon, or Car, Trouble to the Rescue!
Forty riders, escorted by the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Dept., joined us for the Trouble Toy Ride – a scenic motorcade through Lexington and Wilmington, sponsored by Prime Motor Group. Proceeds helped us to organize another beautiful donation of Trouble plush healing puppies to the Shriners Orthopedic Hospital in Springfield.
Watch MHTV’s Profile of The Kennek Foundation!
Beloved children’s author Sheila Duncan, co-creator of the huggable children’s character, Trouble the Dog, formed The Kennek Foundation to continue her mission to promote compassion and hope. Kennek activities consist of, but are not limited to, visiting children’s hospitals with gifts of plush toys and books to brighten the day of children who are ill, making appearances at shelters for the homeless with donations and gifts for the children, delivering hope to wounded vets and, at times, assisting animals in need here in the United States and throughout the world.
With funding from generous sponsors and corporate partners, Kennek identifies those most in need and delivers hope to children and their families after crises and natural disasters.
Kennek also has plans to help fund a children’s television series, which will be centered around teaching children how to handle life’s “bumps in the road” gently and with humor. The philanthropic outreach of The Kennek Foundation builds on a reputation of compassion and caring for those who need it most.
As you plan your charitable giving, please consider supporting The Kennek Foundation and the good work it does for children and families. Your donation will be put to immediate work. Kennek brings plush toys and books to Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Emmaus, Pathways for Children, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Boston & Springfield, Boston Children’s Hospital and many other wonderful organizations. It helps families facing illness, chemotherapy, homelessness, and so much more. The need is great and requests for help keep pouring in. Your donation will enable Kennek to expand its reach and visit with more children and families that need hope.
The Kennek Foundation works much of its magic with the help of an angel in disguise...