A transformational gift with lasting impact

Mike and Judy Harrington didn’t set out to transform the Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN) — they simply followed a moment of curiosity that grew into a lasting commitment to changing lives.

Their connection to ICAN began years ago—almost by chance. Mike remembered seeing a group of ICAN puppies while he was working at Eli Lilly and encouraged his wife, Judy, to explore volunteer opportunities. They had just become empty nesters, and it felt like the perfect moment to get involved.

That simple suggestion opened the door to something much bigger, and the Harringtons soon became involved as furlough volunteers.

“I fell in love with learning a new skill,” Judy says. “I learned how to teach others. I wore a lot of hats within ICAN, and with each one, I saw more of the good the organization was doing.”

As they became more involved, both were inspired by ICAN’s mission. The idea that a single service dog could create a ripple effect of transformation — from the client and the volunteers to the community and the incarcerated handlers — stayed with them.

But one challenge soon became impossible to ignore: Indiana adults and children living with disabilities were often waiting two to three years for a service dog.

“We tried to imagine what it was like being someone who needed a service dog and was facing a two- to three-year waitlist,” Mike said. “That would be an eternity. We knew we wanted to help.”

Mike and Judy responded to this challenge with a transformative, multi-year investment designed to strengthen ICAN from the inside out. In addition to helping reduce the waitlist, their generosity has also supported leadership development, expanded board engagement, and helped build the systems needed for ICAN to grow and serve even more people in need.

The results of this gift have been life-changing.

Over the past four years, ICAN has expanded to include a second office in Fort Wayne, increased leadership and board capacity, and—most meaningful to the Harringtons—reduced the average wait time for a service dog from more than two years to under one.

Their commitment continues to expand outward, touching not only the lives of those who receive a service dog, but the entire ICAN community. By choosing to support ICAN, Mike and Judy have directly helped build a stronger organization and change more lives of Indiana adults, children, and Veterans living with disabilities.

You can join in making a difference — visit icandog.org to learn how.