‘Brian’s Blessing’ raises $30K for boy needing special dog

A combined effort by three Poway community groups has raised over $30,000 to purchase a diabetic alert dog for a seriously ill 10-year-old boy.

Brian Krans Hernandez will receive his specially trained dog in about nine months, according to Patricia Ann Ryder, executive director of The Summit for Children Worldwide. The puppy that will be assigned to Brian was born in Texas about two weeks ago, she said.Her Poway-based nonprofit, along with the Poway Kiwanis Club and the Poway Elks Lodge, held two events within the past week to raise the necessary money.

The Elks sponsored a dinner on Oct. 16 that generated about $850 in profits, according to organizer Gary Vineyard.

The “Brian’s Blessing” campaign goal was $20,000. Following a gala dinner and auction held Saturday night at the Ryder residence, it was announced that $30,000 had been raised.

The Saturday night event had Channel 8 weather forecaster Shawn Styles as the emcee and Poway City Councilman (and Kiwanis Club member) Jim Cunningham as the auctioneer. About 150 people attended.

Live auction prizes included a poker party with Richard Lederer, father of two professional poker champions, stays in a condo in Cabo San Lucas, a large cabin in Julian, and a condo on Mission Bay, autographed items from Comic-Con, and a dinner for 10 prepared by Poway firefighters. Several Marines from the 1st Light Armored Battalion (“Highlanders”) at Camp Pendleton attended and two of them auctioned off their services for a day.

One of the evening’s surprises featured a donation of lifetime care for the dog from Dr. Elizabeth Gray of the Carmel Mountain Ranch Veterinary Hospital. Guests also had the opportunity to adopt three rescue puppies brought to the event.

A guest of honor for the night was 9-year-old Madison George, a student at Pomerado Elementary School. After reading about Brian’s need for a dog in the Sept. 11 Poway News Chieftain, she assembled and sold beaded bracelets to her classmates. She, her mother and grandmother attended the Saturday night event, where she presented Brian with the $87 she had raised.

Ryder said the money raised will be placed in an investment account with The Summit, from which all costs associated with the purchase and training of the dog, plus all future uncovered expenses, will be drawn.