Who
is Joye Neff?
How many tickets can I request and how
much do they cost?
Why are we having this fundraiser?
What is Berner-garde?
What is the DNA/Tissue Repository?
Why contribute to the Berner-Garde
Foundation?
Who
is Joye Neff? 
Joye has raised over $450,000 for health, rescue and
education since 1999.
Berners:
Bern
(1985 to 1994) - Mast cell Cancer
Winston (1998 to 2003) - Malignant Histiocytosis
Nicky (2002 to 2010) - Malignant Histiocytosis
Breeze (March 3rd 2010 to current)
Husband:
Bill
Neff (married 48 years)
Bill teaches at University of Pittsburgh - School of
Business (since 1967)
Children:
Gwen
(married to Gary)
Jay (married to Lisa)
Grandchildren:
Ella
(10 years), Gracie (7 years), and Bella (6 years)
Hobbies:
Grandchildren,
Berners, Berner fundraising, reading
Education
and Professional Experience:
Bachelor
of Science (El. Ed.) - Univ. of Pgh - 1961
Masters Ed. (El. Ed.) - Univ. of Pgh. - 1965
Teacher of first and third grade for 7 years
Realtor, former Manager of 100 agent office and Director
of Relocation from 1984 to 2008 - my job moved from Pittsburgh
to New Jersey on Dec. 26, 2008, so I am now retired.
How
many tickets can I request and how much do they cost?
As many as you like - they are free.
Why
are we having this fundraiser?
To raise money for the Berner-Garde Foundation.
What
is Berner-garde?
The Berner-Garde Foundation (BGF) was established
to collect, maintain and disseminate information about genetic
diseases observed in the Bernese Mountain Dog. The BGF is
comprised of a voluntary Board of Directors, several committees
and, at it's core, a computerized database. The database
contains information which has been compiled over many years
from voluntary submissions of data from owners and from other
public sources of information.
The
information in the BGF database is now available online to
owners, breeders, veterinarians and researchers who are working
to reduce genetic disease in the Bernese Mountain Dog.
In
addition to maintaining the database, the Berner-Garde
Foundation funds research studies aimed at reducing the health
problems found in Bernese Mountain Dogs. Research proposals and
grants are approved on a case-by-case basis by the Board of
Directors.
What
is the DNA/Tissue Repository?
Berner-Garde Foundation and Michigan State
University, with support from the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of
America, have established a repository that will collect, store
and maintain DNA and tissue samples from a large population of
BMDs, whether affected with a disorder or not, along with
pedigree and medical history information. MSU is providing a
repository that will store and catalog DNA and tissue samples
for future health research purposes, and will use available
state of the art diagnostic evaluation of submitted specimens,
as well. The samples that will be stored for future research
purposes include blood samples, cheek swabs, preserved tissue
biopsy samples, and fresh frozen tumor tissue.
To
encourage submission of samples to the Repository, the cost of
submission of blood, swabs and biopsy samples is covered by
funds from Berner-Garde and the BMDCA. The owner will have the
cost of shipping and veterinary costs to obtain the sample.
Why
contribute to the Berner-Garde Foundation?
Please help by making a generous donation to the
Berner-Garde Foundation to help with their mission "to
ensure that all Bernese Mountain Dogs (BMD) have a long and
healthy lifespan of 12 - 14 years." We need everyone's
support to achieve this dream!! All checks/cheques should be
sent to Joye Neff.
Berner-Garde
Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization, and donations are tax
deductible for US Tax purposes. As always, you should consult
your accountant when making deductions on your income tax
return.
Send
all donations to: Joye M. Neff, 1182 Firwood Drive,
Pittsburgh, PA 15243-1825. US checks should be made
payable to Berner-Garde Foundation and Foreign cheques should be
made payable to Joye M. Neff.
