About Sonja + Therapy Dogs
Sonja has had a dog by her side since she was a child tucking Houdini into her jacket and riding her bike to the schoolyard. These days it’s four dogs at home in Seattle, and one of them has a job.
Therapy Dog Team
Ford is a trained therapy dog, and he and Sonja volunteer as a team at a hospital and a university, and they'll be starting Read With Me at a local library. "People always ask me what Ford does," Sonja says. "Mostly he lies there and lets you pet him, and you'd be surprised how much that helps."
Ford doesn't care if someone is quiet or having a bad day. He's happy to see them either way. For anyone going through a big change, that can take some of the pressure off. Petting him can help a person relax, and it gives them something else to focus on. Ford brings comfort and smiles to children and adults in the community.
Working with Children
Much of Sonja’s volunteer time goes to children who have lost someone or are going through a big change. Sonja is a facilitator with Bridges Center for Grieving Children at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. The center runs free peer support groups for children ages 4 to 18, and their families, after the death of a parent or sibling.
At Camp Erin, a camp for children who’ve had someone close to them die, Sonja volunteers as a Big Buddy. She’s also a Wish Granter for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, meeting with children who have critical illnesses, and their families, to help plan and deliver their wishes.
Sonja also serves on the board of the Korum for Kids Foundation, which supports organizations and causes that improve the quality of life for children, families, and communities in the South Puget Sound area.
About Sonja
Sonja Korum Campbell knows grief, loss, and big changes from her own life, and she’s spent
years helping children get through theirs.
She has a B.A. in Community Service from Saint Martin’s College, a master’s degree in Education, and a master’s degree in Teaching Special Education for Pre-K to 12th grade.
She lives in Seattle with her husband, Curtis. Freddy the Seagull is her first book.