FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2019
BOYDS, Md. – For the seventh year in-a-row, Kearney & Company hosted its annual charity golf tournament benefitting Warrior Canine Connection (WCC). Raising a record $75,000 this year, Kearney’s generous giving to WCC totals $275,400.
“We are honored to have the support of Kearney & Company, a first-class company that is 100% committed to supporting its community,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “Not only have we been blessed with the company’s longstanding support over the past seven years, but also with the leadership and expertise of one of its valued team members, Dr. Kyle Richards, who serves on our board; he brings so much value, impeccable judgment and immeasurable support to our organization, we are so thankful.”
More than 150 golfers turned out for the event, along with WCC staff, and service dog and puppy parent teams. This year’s event included remarks by Retired Marine Corps Sergeant Michael Boudreau, who served two tours in Iraq and received service dog Tamer from WCC in 2017.
“Thank you for supporting WCC,” said Boudreau to golfers at the event. “Without it, Veterans, like me, would not have service dogs.”
As a company, Kearney & Company and its employees have made community outreach a priority; the company highly encourages its team members to participate in and contribute to greater causes beyond the company’s own mission.
“It’s truly a pleasure to host our golf tournament with Warrior Canine Connection for the 7th year in a row,” said Brian Kearney, chief operating officer, Kearney & Company. “We’re humbled that our contributions can help Warrior Canine Connection achieve their mission, and we value our partnership with them immensely.”
For more information, please contact Beth Bourgeois, Warrior Canine Connection, at beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org or 719-216-3206.
# # #
About Warrior Canine Connection
Warrior Canine Connection is a pioneering organization that utilizes a Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to empower returning combat Veterans who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while in service to our country. Based on the concept of Warriors helping Warriors, WCC’s therapeutic service dog training program is designed to mitigate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other challenges, while giving injured combat Veterans a sense of purpose, and help in reintegrating back into their families and communities. For more information, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.
About Kearney & Company
Founded in 1985, Kearney is the premier CPA firm focused exclusively on the Federal Government, providing services across the financial management spectrum. Kearney has helped the Federal Government improve its financial operations’ overall effectiveness and efficiency; increase its level of accountability and compliance with laws, regulations, and guidance; and protect its funds from fraud, waste, and abuse. We understand the Federal Government’s need for efficiency and transparency. Visit https://www.kearneyco.com/ for more information.
Holiday Gifts that Give Back
The holidays are just around the corner! Have you made your list and checked it twice? Combine your love of Warrior Canine Connection with your holiday spirit by purchasing 2019 WCC holiday ornaments and 2020 calendars!
An annual tradition since 2014, these ornaments work double-duty by serving as a thoughtful gift, while also supporting WCC’s programs at the same time.
This year’s design features a lightweight, blue, glass ball that will make a great addition to your tree or someone else’s!
The 2020 WCC calendar will feature adorable WCC service dogs to be.
To place an order, click here.
Tito’s: Passion for Vodka, Veterans and our Four-Legged Friends
In fact, Tito’s Handmade Vodka has been donating to charity events since day one. True to its roots, the company donated to more than 8,000 events last year alone.
But Tito’s support to WCC has been more than donating dog bowls; the company hosted a “day of service” at WCC’ s Healing Quarters in May. Seventy-five members of the Tito’s team came out to the grounds and built 500 feet of fencing around the training yard. Not only did they do the back-breaking work, but they also provided all the supplies to make a huge improvement to the grounds!
Long-time WCC volunteer Michelle Hennan helped make the relationship happen. She explains that it started with a quick email to a friend who was a Tito’s sales representative in Chicago, and a few emails and conversations later, Tito’s had committed to supporting WCC.
“Tito’s is a company that truly values giving back to its community, but especially to nonprofit dog and veteran organizations,” said Michelle. “It’s been such an honor to watch this relationship not only continue over the years but to also grow bigger and stronger.”
In August of this year, Tito’s also hosted a fundraiser benefiting WCC, whereby a portion of alcohol sales throughout Montgomery County, Maryland were donated back to WCC, resulting in a $10,000 donation to WCC to support its programs.
In September, Tito’s provided gifts in kind for WCC’s 2019 graduation celebration. The company also put up $5,000 for a matching gift challenge to WCC’s Extreme Puppy Watchers (EPWs) during graduation in 2018. If you’re familiar with the passion and love the EPWs have for WCC, you won’t be surprised to learn that the challenge was met in just three hours!
“We have found a tremendous partner in WCC, whose values and ethics echo Tito’s desire to give back to all who need,” said David Kent, state manager for MD/DC/DE, Tito’s Handmade Vodka. “WCC’s focus on both our military as well as animal welfare rings loudly within our culture, and we couldn’t be prouder to say we’re true partners with the group. We look forward to a long, healthy, puppy–filled relationship, and we are anxious to continue our support of this great group.”
Please join WCC in saying a very special thank you to Tito’s Handmade Vodka for its continued support and shared passion for serving others.
New Faces at WCC
The Warrior Canine Connection team is growing! We are pleased to welcome some new faces to our pack both at our Healing Quarters in Boyds and at the Menlo Park VA in California. We are very excited about the wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise that these new team members bring to our team, please join us in welcoming them on board!
Katherine got involved in the AmeriCorps program because her passion is tied to serving our Veterans. Her plans post-WCC include attending graduate school so she can achieve her career goal to become a military psychologist.
“I really like the mission and the people — it’s been a great experience so far,” said Katherine. “My goal is to be a military psychologist, so this opportunity is an invaluable step in that process. Not to mention being around these puppies every day – that’s definitely an added bonus.”
Katherine grew up in Greensboro, N.C. and attended Guilford College, where she completed a double-major in psychology and criminal justice. She also competed on the school’s tennis and swimming teams.
When not working, Katherine enjoys reading, yoga and she recently started kickboxing.
Jody Neal also joined WCC in September as a dog program administrative assistant.
“What I love about working for WCC is that everyone is working for the same end result and mission,” said Jody. “I love that everyone here loves their job and that each day at WCC is different. Having the dogs and puppies around is truly therapeutic and healing. I have always wanted to give back to Veterans because of what they do for our country, and this is such a rewarding way to do that.”
Jody’s role is part-time, and when she’s not at the WCC Healing Quarters, she can often be found working as a crossing guard for the Montgomery County Police Department.
Jody grew up in the Maryland suburbs and completed her education there; she earned her advertising design degree from Montgomery County Community College and her one-year certification in business administration from the Katharine Gibbs School. She put her experience and degrees to good use by serving in various administrative capacities in the private sector prior to joining WCC.
When not working, Jody enjoys caring for her two horses, Beetle and Galley, and her two Jack Russell Terries, Grizzly and Maizie.
Shelley has worked in animal welfare her entire professional career; she has vast experience in animal sheltering with dogs and cats, animal intake, behavior, fostering and adoptions and animal-assisted interactions.
She earned her degree in literature from California State University Bakersfield and later continued her education at the San Francisco Academy for Dog Trainers. She says she’s excited to be putting her skills to work with WCC.
“I love it, it’s fantastic,” it actually combines two of my most passionate topics, which are dog training and the welfare and well-being of Veterans,” said Shelley. “I feel incredibly lucky every day to have the chance to do this — to work with Veterans and to use my skills as a dog trainer to help them is a humbling experience, I love it.”
A true animal-lover, Shelley has a 13-year-old Lab from the Oakland Shelter named Enzo and three cats (and, yes, she says they all get along): Caterpillar, Pinot and Elroy.
‘Man’s Best Friend’ Turned ‘Best Man’: Service Dog Stands by Wounded Veteran at His Wedding
November 23, 2019 – After high school sweethearts Justin Lansford and Carol Balmes got engaged to be married, Justin knew that his best friend would stand by his side on the most important day of his life.
The groom’s best friend just so happened to be his service dog Gabe.
Justin, now 30, and Gabe first met back in 2012. Justin was in the military, deployed in Afghanistan. Tragically, the soldier lost his leg after an IED exploded and flipped his truck over; he was forced to return to the United States. Read the complete story in The Epoch Times here.
WCC Puppy Cam Inspires Students
Kayla teaches language arts to 7th and 8th graders at East Rock Community & Cultural Studies Magnet School in New Haven, Connecticut, where she’s worked for the past six years. She’s one of those teachers who makes an impression on her students — tough but fair, yet also creative and fun.
“On days when we’re not using our board in class for lessons or presentations, I’ll put up one of Explore.org’s live feeds,” said Kayla. “I’ve checked out a few different feeds before, but the Warrior Canine Connection feed is the best!”
And her students couldn’t agree more.
“It calms me down and it’s just adorable,” said Terry.
Josh says, “I think it’s awesome because the veterans can have a friend.”
“I think it’s nice because it’s cool knowing how they train the puppies,” added Miguel.
While watching the puppy cam is a treat for students, it’s also resulted in healthy discussions about our military and the importance of training service dogs to help them with visible and invisible wounds.
Kayla says there are always lots of “oohs” and “ahhs” when the feed goes on, and the students see the puppies romping and playing.
“The kids love the puppies so much! I usually share the puppy feed with my 8th graders on Fridays, when they take their weekly quiz,” said Kayla. “Admittedly, it can be pretty distracting. The feed with the smallest puppies in the whelping room is usually our best option, especially when they’re sleeping.”
If you’re not familiar with the 24-hour, live puppy cam, it first launched on Dog Bless You on Explore.org in 2012. At the time, the livestream was a novel idea, but since then millions of people have tuned in to watch the development and adorable antics of WCC’s future service dogs.
Want to check it out? You can view the WCC puppy cam here.
Kearney & Company Tees Off to Support Warrior Canine Connection for Seventh Year in a Row
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2019
BOYDS, Md. – For the seventh year in-a-row, Kearney & Company hosted its annual charity golf tournament benefitting Warrior Canine Connection (WCC). Raising a record $75,000 this year, Kearney’s generous giving to WCC totals $275,400.
“We are honored to have the support of Kearney & Company, a first-class company that is 100% committed to supporting its community,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “Not only have we been blessed with the company’s longstanding support over the past seven years, but also with the leadership and expertise of one of its valued team members, Dr. Kyle Richards, who serves on our board; he brings so much value, impeccable judgment and immeasurable support to our organization, we are so thankful.”
More than 150 golfers turned out for the event, along with WCC staff, and service dog and puppy parent teams. This year’s event included remarks by Retired Marine Corps Sergeant Michael Boudreau, who served two tours in Iraq and received service dog Tamer from WCC in 2017.
“Thank you for supporting WCC,” said Boudreau to golfers at the event. “Without it, Veterans, like me, would not have service dogs.”
As a company, Kearney & Company and its employees have made community outreach a priority; the company highly encourages its team members to participate in and contribute to greater causes beyond the company’s own mission.
“It’s truly a pleasure to host our golf tournament with Warrior Canine Connection for the 7th year in a row,” said Brian Kearney, chief operating officer, Kearney & Company. “We’re humbled that our contributions can help Warrior Canine Connection achieve their mission, and we value our partnership with them immensely.”
For more information, please contact Beth Bourgeois, Warrior Canine Connection, at beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org or 719-216-3206.
# # #
About Warrior Canine Connection
Warrior Canine Connection is a pioneering organization that utilizes a Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to empower returning combat Veterans who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while in service to our country. Based on the concept of Warriors helping Warriors, WCC’s therapeutic service dog training program is designed to mitigate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other challenges, while giving injured combat Veterans a sense of purpose, and help in reintegrating back into their families and communities. For more information, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.
About Kearney & Company
Founded in 1985, Kearney is the premier CPA firm focused exclusively on the Federal Government, providing services across the financial management spectrum. Kearney has helped the Federal Government improve its financial operations’ overall effectiveness and efficiency; increase its level of accountability and compliance with laws, regulations, and guidance; and protect its funds from fraud, waste, and abuse. We understand the Federal Government’s need for efficiency and transparency. Visit https://www.kearneyco.com/ for more information.
“Warrior Canine Connection” hosts event to honor and help veterans
November 10, 2019 – ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The nonprofit “Warrior Canine Connection” hosted a Veterans Day appreciation and fundraising event in Asheville on Saturday.
The nonprofit breeds, trains, and places services dogs with recovering veterans.
The event not only focused on honoring veterans, but also helping them recover from visible and invisible wounds. Watch the complete WLOS story here.
Warrior Canine Connection Helps Veterans Heal
November 8, 2019 – In honor of Veterans Day, MyMCMedia checked in with a local organization that gives back to those who fought for our country in a special way. Warrior Canine Connection helps veterans all year round.
Officials say since the organization started in 2011, they’ve helped more than four thousand veterans through Mission Based Trauma Recovery. Click here to watch the complete story from Montgomery County Media.
Secretary’s Message: November 2019
November 6, 2019 – Governor Larry Hogan declared 2019 the Year of the Veteran, a yearlong observance to raise awareness of the brave service and sacrifice our United States veterans and families have made for Maryland and our country. While our nation will celebrate on Veterans Day, the governor’s declaration is an important reminder that we should appreciate our veterans every day. It also inspired us at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to reaffirm our commitment to Maryland’s 380,000 veterans. Read the complete news release here.
Veterans train service dogs for fellow veterans
October 29, 2019 — An unlikely connection between two heroes who never got the chance to meet. The memory of NYC Fire Marshal Ronald Bucca, who lost his life on 9/11 while saving others, lives on in “Bucca,” a service dog named after him. Watch the complete News12 story here.