With 35 years of community service under their belt, Aspiranet has decided to celebrate their accomplishments with some of man’s best friends. 

Aspiranet will be hosting a “Feet for Families and Paws for Families” event on Oct. 23 where families and pets can run or walk to help raise awareness and funding for the Excell Center’s Service Dog program, Turlock Family Resource Center and scholarships for emancipated youth.

“Feet for Families is a fun, family-friendly way to support children and families who are in transition or crisis,” said Vernon Brown, chief executive officer of Aspiranet. “The funding will go a long way toward ensuring that our kids are safe, stable and supported throughout the year.”

The event will include a fun walk between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. around Donnelly Park, a dog agility event, a doggy costume contest, pet activities, food, vendors and informational booths.

Registration fees range from $15 to $40 and include the event, lunch and a T-shirt. All proceeds will benefit local area programs like the new service dog program at the Excell Center, emergency needs for local families in crisis through the Turlock Family Resource Center and scholarships. Fees are $15 per adult, $10 per child and $40 for a family of four.

Everyone is welcome from adults to children to dogs and supporters to walk in the event in support of children and family programs in the Turlock area. Aspiranet has served the community of Turlock for over 25 years.

Aspiranet was founded over 30 years ago as a six-bed group home for young boys in Moss Beach, Calif. Since the day it opened, Aspiranet has touched the lives of over 10,000 families and children.

Now there are over 44 satellite Aspiranet centers in California as the nonprofit charity supports foster children, siblings, families and the community with 35 core programs in specialized services.

The non-profit focuses on bringing families together and helping foster children, siblings and parents through family services, foster care, adoption, education, afterschool programs and community partnerships.

In Turlock, Aspiranet offers foster and family services, counseling services and the Excell Center, a residential program for at-risk boys. They also offer behavioral health clinics, community networking, the Stanislaus Academy, Valley Oaks School, ProFamily Program, Therapeutic Behavioral Services, and residential treatment just to name a few.

The family fun event will help raise awareness and funds for all programs offered at Aspiranet.

Those interested in participating in the event can pre-register at http://www.aspiranet.org/FFFRegForm-TurlockIndv.aspx or register on-site the day of the event. Aspiranet is also seeking business and community support in the form of sponsors, donors, volunteers and participants. For sponsorship information visit http://www.aspiranet.org/feetforfamilies/supporters.aspx. For more information contact Aspiranet at 669-2582 or go to www.feetforfamilies.org.

To contact Maegan Martens, e-mail mmartens@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2015.