Roxy Therapy Dogs Wins NOVA's 2026 Group Upstander Award

DOYLESTOWN, PA – Roxy Therapy Dogs has won the 2026
Group Upstander Award from NOVA (Network of Victim Assistance), recognizing 20 years of service to children and families throughout Bucks County. The award was
presented at NOVA's Upstander Awards ceremony on Nov. 5.

NOVA's Upstander Awards celebrate individuals and groups who demonstrate courage, compassion, and a willingness to act when others need help. The Group Upstander Award honors the power of people working together to make a positive difference in their communities.

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"Roxy Therapy Dogs exemplifies what it means to be an Upstander," said Alyssa Davis, primary prevention coordinator with NOVA. "When they see children in need, they don't wait for someone else to act. They find a way to help. We've seen that compassion firsthand through our partnership supporting victims of violent crime. From establishing Pennsylvania's first courthouse therapy dog program to helping children through grief and trauma, Roxy's volunteers make a lasting difference in our community."

Meeting Children Where They Are

Today, nearly 90 volunteer dog and handler teams support more than 5,000 children every week in classrooms throughout the Central Bucks School District. Beyond the
classroom, Roxy brings comfort and companionship to children facing developmental challenges, anxiety, grief, trauma, serious medical conditions, and difficult experiences
in the justice system.

One of Roxy's most significant initiatives is its Courthouse Companionship program. At the invitation of Bucks County Judge Robert J. Mellon, Roxy established Pennsylvania's
first courthouse therapy dog program to support children appearing in Dependency Court, many of whom have experienced abuse or neglect. The program has since
helped inspire similar initiatives in courthouses throughout Pennsylvania.

Roxy Therapy Dogs accepts NOVA's Group Upstander Award.

(Roxy Therapy Dogs)

Shortly after the program began, NOVA and the Bucks County District Attorney's Office jointly approached Roxy about expanding its support to victims of violent crime. The
resulting initiative, operated through the District Attorney's Office, became another part of Roxy's Courthouse Companionship program. NOVA provides specialized, required
training for Roxy volunteers who participate, preparing them to offer comfort and reassurance to victims during particularly difficult circumstances.

Roxy also created Roxy Responders after volunteers helped a local school community cope with an unexpected tragedy in 2021. The program provides specially trained therapy dog teams to support children and young adults following traumatic events.

In classrooms, the impact can be just as profound. One young student who struggled with reading gained the confidence to read Go Dog Go aloud to his entire class after practicing with a Roxy dog. At a local high school, a student overwhelmed by final exams was ready to leave school until a few minutes with a therapy dog helped her feel calm enough to stay.

Powered by Volunteers

Roxy Therapy Dogs is entirely volunteer-run. In 2025 alone, its dog and handler teams contributed 10,154 hours of service to the community.

"Our volunteers don't do this work for recognition," said Sharon Fleck, President of Roxy Therapy Dogs. "They do it because they've seen what a difference a dog can make for a child who is frightened, overwhelmed, or struggling. We're honored to receive this award from NOVA, an organization that shares our commitment to helping people through difficult experiences."

Roxy Therapy Dogs is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children through the human-animal bond. Its trained therapy dog and handler teams bring comfort, encouragement, and emotional support to children in schools, healthcare facilities, courthouses, and communities throughout Bucks County and beyond.