Man’s Best Friend Now Also Is Olivia’s

Through its fundraising, Kimberly Seger Charity provides service dog to Yorktown girl with Rett Syndrome

(Kimberly Seger Charity Foundation Facebook)

By Regina Clarkin, [email protected]

September 11, 2025

Thanks to the Kimberly Seger Charity Foundation, 12-year-old Olivia Goodwin has a new four-legged companion: Rolo is a service dog rescue poodle who came from Oklahoma to join Olivia’s family in Yorktown. Olivia, who has a rare genetic neurological disorder known as Rett Syndrome, is now able to have a companion that keeps her safe at school, the mall, vacations and other activities.

Olivia Goodwin and her service dog rescue poodle Rolo. (Kimberly Seger Charity Foundation)

The Kimberly Seger Charity Foundation for Health Care Workers was founded in 2024 by Stacy Seger Murphy. Kara Longin and Murphy contacted Putnam Service Dogs for their assistance in acquiring a dog for Olivia. They identified a dog in Oklahoma who was then transported to New York and, when ready for service, was introduced to the Goodwin family.

The weekly training took place at their home by the Putnam Service Dogs organization. The foundation was instrumental in providing the funds needed for Rolo to live with the family as a service dog. They are now fundraising to purchase a backyard fence to complete their support of Olivia and her family.

The foundation’s annual fundraiser is at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, at Westchester Manor, 140 Saw Mill River Road, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706. This year’s theme is Masquerade Gala, An Evening of Mystery & Impact.

They will be unveiling a “Wall of Remembrance” for those who have lost their lives to suicide. The foundation welcomes family and friends to participate by submitting images of those they’ve lost by contacting [email protected]. “ If you know someone who has taken their own life and would like their picture to be added to our Wall, please submit contact us,” said Murphy.

In the one year of the foundation’s existence, they have helped several families who were struggling with grief, financial instability and scholarships. They continue to offer education for suicide prevention and working to eliminate the stigma around mental health.

To attend the Gala on September 19, use this link.

About the Contributor

Regina Clarkin, Publisher

When the Peekskill Herald weekly newspaper ceased publishing in August 2000 it was the first time in the history of the city that there wasn’t a local newspaper. The award-winning weekly was often referred to as the ‘glue’ of the community. Founded on January 9, 1986 by Regina Clarkin, Kathy Daley and Rich Zahradnik with a $7,000 credit card line, the paper filled the void created when the daily Evening Star was sold to Gannett and moved out of town. Founding publisher Regina Clarkin continued to live in the Peekskill Cortlandt area and turned her attention to other life endeavors. Through the ensuing 19 years, Clarkin was frequently stopped in town and asked when she would start up the Herald again. In January 2019, Clarkin decided it was less labor intensive to deliver a weekly blog than a print newspaper so she began posting one story a week about life in Peekskill. After a successful crowd funding campaign in 2020, the Herald was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in July of 2021. Peekskill Herald is a digital relative of the former print edition, featuring many of the favorite aspects of the beloved Peekskill Herald such as old pictures, personality profiles and well written stories about newsworthy events. Regina Clarkin is the publisher of the site.