The East Haven Rotary Club is thrilled to introduce the face of its newest fundraiser: K-9 Bear. Bear is helping spread the word about the club’s inaugural East Haven Rotary/Camp Rising Sun Virtual Pet Photo Contest.

The club is proud to announce a new partnership with Camp Rising Sun. The camp, located in Colebrook, welcomes any child aged 5 to 17 who has faced a diagnosis of cancer, giving these children a full week of fun and friendship. East Haven Rotary has made a commitment that beginning this summer, the club will sponsor a deserving local child each year, enabling the child to attend the camp. The goal of the Rotary’s Virtual Pet Photo Contest is to raise the $2,000 necessary to send one camper for the week.

Contestants can submit photos at $5 each, then spread the word to family and friends to cast their vote at $1 per vote. Full details can be found on the Rotary website easthavenrotary.org and on the@ehrotary Facebook page. Prizes include cash, gift cards, and a gift basket donated by Tractor Supply Co.

Bear, the event’s official mascot is a full Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-certified service dog who is celebrating his one-year anniversary with the Middletown Police Department. Bear, a black Lab, is one of only four service canines in the State of Connecticut and has more than 10,000 hours of socialization. Bear was chosen by the club because recently he and his handler, Officer Jay Bodell, were inducted into the Middletown Rotary Club, making K-9 Bear the first ADA certified service dog Rotarian.