July 9 was a day of celebration for Jacksonville’s Animal Care and Protective Services (ACPS) when the City of Jacksonville’s Director of Administrative Services, Richard Reichard, announced a substantial donation in support of the Professional Animal Workers Certificate (PAWS) vocational training program.
The Tesori Family Foundation donated $22,581.93 at a check ceremony with local dignitaries and representatives of the program’s affiliated organizations.
The donation will provide the necessary funds to continue the program. Specifically, it will support the second PAWS class, currently scheduled for this month, and will provide enhanced curriculum development, as well as the purchase of new laptop computers for students. Furthermore, it will fulfill the tuition for three students, fully funding their enrollment in PAWS.
Reichard also announced that the Tesori Family Foundation has launched an additional $25,000 matching gift challenge, effective immediately, that will remain in effect through the end of the year.
Three members of the Tesori family – Paul, Michelle, and their 11-year-old son Isaiah attended the ceremony to present their charitable foundation’s generous check. Daughter Alexis Tesori is the fourth member of the philanthropic family.
“Our foundation is thrilled to support this first-of-its-kind animal care vocational program in Jacksonville,” said Paul Tesori. “We’re so thankful to have such great leadership from ACPS, The Arc Jacksonville, FSCJ – all of them have worked so hard paving the way for the PAWS Program.”
PAWS is made possible through a multi-organizational collaboration between the ACPS, The Arc Jacksonville and Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ). It was specifically developed for individuals with intellectual and developmental differences (IDD). It combines 12 weeks of comprehensive postsecondary classroom learning at The Arc Jacksonville campus with hands-on internships at the Forest Street ACPS shelter. It blends industry-focused, comprehensive classroom training with hands-on experience, professional guidance, and mentorship. Coursework includes animal behavior, nutrition, safety, first aid, emergency response, and animal CPR. It also teaches critically essential workplace skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Upon successful completion of the PAWS Program, individuals receive an animal care certification that prepares them for meaningful employment in animal care or pet-related fields, including kennels, animal shelters, pet daycare centers, and other animal-related services and businesses.
Kari Bates, president and CEO of The Arc Jacksonville, emphasized the importance of the PAWS Program, “because vocational training is essential in addressing the unacceptable 91% unemployment rate among adults with IDD in Florida.”
The Arc Jacksonville Assistant Vice President of Educational Services Sharon Engelbrecht collaborated with FSCJ Director of Program Development Julie Stein to develop the PAWS Program as the first career certificate within their broader vision for vocational certificates offered through The Arc Jacksonville’s Career Campus program, which began in 2023 as a partnership between The Arc Jacksonville and FSCJ. It was initially created to serve as a vocational training program for students ages 18 to 22 with IDD.
Aidan Balzli, a graduate of The Arc Jacksonville’s On-Campus Transition Program at the University of North Florida, was introduced and congratulated for his successful completion of the PAWS certification. Balzli was part of the program’s inaugural class. Nearly every speaker duly noted Balzli’s dedication and commitment throughout the courses and internship, which resulted in a job offer of an ACPS staff job on his final day of certification.
Individuals interested in information about enrollment in the next PAWS certificate program for individuals with IDD can visit The Arc Jacksonville’s website or email [email protected].
Resources:
Arc Jacksonville:
www.arcjacksonville.org | Email: [email protected]
Florida State College Jacksonville Workforce Education:
www.fscj.edu/academics/workforce-education
The Tesori Family Foundation:
www.tesorifamilyfoundation.org
Animal Care and Protective Services:
www.jacksonville.gov/departments/neighborhoods/animal-care-protective-services
