NEADS Board Chairman, Geoff Worrell, presenting the Spirit Award to Ken Wright and Assistance Dog Bentley.
The NEADS Spirit Award is given annually to a volunteer or group of volunteers who passionately exudes the energy, values, and commitment to our mission over an extended period of time. The 2024 Spirit Award went to Ken Wright and Assistance Dog Bentley in recognition not only of the many ways the team supports the Mansfield (MA) community but also of the extra mile they have gone to support NEADS, long after they met their client fundraising requirement.
When you ask Mansfield (MA) School Resource Officer Ken Wright what, exactly, Assistance Dog Bentley does every day, he smiles. “A lot more than I ever expected,” he says. “The most important thing he does is bring people together.”
In his nearly five years as Ken’s right-hand companion, Bentley has built relationships with students from kindergarten through high school, appeared at community events, walked in parades, inspired a student service award, and even served as a calendar model. Ken says, “Bentley is very well loved around the schools and the town—he’s a lot better known than the guy at the end of the leash.”
An Award of His Own
In the elementary school, Bentley has given his name to an award for good citizenship. Ken explains to the students that Service and Assistance Dogs, like Bentley, are specially trained to do selfless things for others. When a teacher sees a child doing something kind, the child is nominated for a Bentley Award. The winner is announced school wide and receives a plush Bentley.
Ken and Bentley are also teaching students about the importance of giving back. The photography club had the idea of making a Bentley calendar, which has become a fundraiser for NEADS, raising enough money over the last five years to name four puppies.
In addition, the Mansfield School and Police Departments joined forces to create a special patch featuring Bentley, sales of which support NEADS’ Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD program.
NEADS is deeply grateful for Ken and Assistance Dog Bentley’s extraordinary contributions. They exemplify the mission of NEADS, extending their support and impact far beyond their own partnership. The commitment to community engagement and fundraising has not only benefited NEADS but has also enriched the lives of countless individuals in Mansfield. It is with sincere appreciation that we recognize Ken and Assistance Dog Bentley with the 2024 NEADS Spirit Award.
