FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Team’s new pup – named after beloved Phillie and Marine reservist Tug McGraw – will embark on a mission to support a veteran with a disability, thanks to Team Foster and Warrior Canine Connection
On Tuesday, July 1, the Phillies will officially welcome Tugger, a 10-week-old service pup-in-training, to the club’s off-the-field roster before that night’s game against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park. Through a partnership between Team Foster and Warrior Canine Connection, Tugger will begin his lifesaving mission of becoming an accredited service dog, with the goal of being placed with a veteran with a disability.
A yellow Labrador retriever, Tugger was born on April 24, 2025, which is two days prior to the 50-year anniversary that his namesake, 1980 World Series champion and U.S. Marine Corps reservist Tug McGraw, made his debut with the Phillies.
“Ya gotta believe young Tugger’s going to be a hero for a veteran with an invisible wound of war,” said music superstar and three-time Grammy Award winner Tim McGraw, son of the late Phillies reliever, who has been a longtime advocate for veterans and worked with the Tug McGraw Foundation. “My father loved the Phillies and took immense pride in his service with the United States Marine Corps. The thought that this little pup will one day contribute to enhancing the quality of life for a veteran is truly remarkable. We can never do enough to honor our veterans, and I am certain my father would have felt deeply honored to have Tugger named in his memory.”
Team Foster, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit, supports injured and disabled veterans through accredited, lifesaving service dogs. Tugger will spend two years in his special service training through Team Foster partner, Warrior Canine Connection, a nonprofit organization that breeds, trains and places highly skilled service dogs with service members and veterans with visible and invisible wounds.
During this time, Tugger will work with dozens of veterans receiving treatment for physical and psychological wounds. When his training to become a service dog is completed, Tugger will be able to do everything from helping a veteran put on their socks to disrupting nightmares to detecting anxiety attacks.
Tugger will then be placed with a veteran with a disability. Team Foster, whose motto is “No Hero Left Behind,” has helped to connect over 500 veterans with service dogs.
The Phillies’ service pup initiative with Team Foster and Warrior Canine Connection was made possible through a Phillies Charities, Inc. grant. This is the second service pup sponsored by the Phillies, with the first being Major, who was recently placed with a veteran.
“Properly trained service dogs can change and save lives. I’ve seen it myself so many times,” said Nick Liermann, founder and executive director of Team Foster. “But it’s extremely difficult for veterans to get service dogs because there are so few resources available, so we fill that huge gap. The Phillies and Warrior Canine Connection are incredible partners in that mission.”
“We’re incredibly honored to have a future service dog named in honor of a Phillies legend,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “It’s a meaningful way to carry forward his legacy—one rooted in strength, service and impact. This special partnership with the Phillies and Team Foster is making Tugger’s mission possible and exemplifies the power of community coming together to support our nation’s veterans.”
“The impact that a service pup like Tugger has on veterans battling invisible wounds of war is truly lifesaving,” said Phillies Director of Community and Charity Events Michele DeVicaris. “It’s our honor to join Team Foster and Warrior Canine Connection, who have been a catalyst for making a difference in the lives of so many who have served.”
For more information, follow the Phillies on their social platforms, which will be providing updates on Tugger’s service training.
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ABOUT TEAM FOSTER
Based in Philadelphia, Team Foster was founded in 2014 to honor Army Captain Erick Foster after he was killed in Iraq. It provides a crucial lifeline to injured and disabled veterans at no cost by funding lifesaving, highly trained, accredited service dogs and offering lifetime support to veteran-service dog teams. The organization has raised over $2.25 million while advocating for veterans and their service dogs in the community, workplace and legislatures.
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.
ABOUT THE TUG MCGRAW FOUNDATION
The Tug McGraw Foundation, founded before Tug McGraw’s passing in 2004, is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people with brain tumors. In 2009, the foundation broadened its mission to include support for post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. It partners with other organizations to speed up treatment advancements and improve the quality of life for those dealing with brain-related military trauma and glioblastoma. Nationwide, the foundation provides education, resources, and wellness programs at its headquarters at the Veterans Home of California in Yountville.
CONTACTS:
Deb Rinaldi, Phillies, drinaldi@phillies.com, 267-408-9545
Jonathan Lowe, Team Foster, JonathanLowe@TeamFoster.org, 215-808-0022
Beth Bourgeois, Warrior Canine Connection, beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org, 719-216-3206
Meet Tugger: The Phillies’ newest service pup in training
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A service puppy in training will make his big debut at Tuesday’s Phillies game against the Padres.
Tugger is a yellow labrador retriever. He was born on April 24, just two days before his namesake, 1980 World Series champion and U.S. Marine Corps reservist, Tug McGraw, made his debut with the Phillies. Listen to the full story on KYW Newsradio here.
Phillies introduce new furry addition to roster
Philadelphia Phillies spokesperson Michele DeVicaris introduces Tugger, a 10-week-old service dog-in-training, a new addition to the team’s off-field roster. Watch the full story on Good Morning America here.
Ya Gotta Believe in Tugger! Phillies’ New Service Pup-in-Training for a Veteran with Invisible Wounds of War to Make His Major League Debut at Tuesday’s Game
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Team’s new pup – named after beloved Phillie and Marine reservist Tug McGraw – will embark on a mission to support a veteran with a disability, thanks to Team Foster and Warrior Canine Connection
On Tuesday, July 1, the Phillies will officially welcome Tugger, a 10-week-old service pup-in-training, to the club’s off-the-field roster before that night’s game against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park. Through a partnership between Team Foster and Warrior Canine Connection, Tugger will begin his lifesaving mission of becoming an accredited service dog, with the goal of being placed with a veteran with a disability.
A yellow Labrador retriever, Tugger was born on April 24, 2025, which is two days prior to the 50-year anniversary that his namesake, 1980 World Series champion and U.S. Marine Corps reservist Tug McGraw, made his debut with the Phillies.
“Ya gotta believe young Tugger’s going to be a hero for a veteran with an invisible wound of war,” said music superstar and three-time Grammy Award winner Tim McGraw, son of the late Phillies reliever, who has been a longtime advocate for veterans and worked with the Tug McGraw Foundation. “My father loved the Phillies and took immense pride in his service with the United States Marine Corps. The thought that this little pup will one day contribute to enhancing the quality of life for a veteran is truly remarkable. We can never do enough to honor our veterans, and I am certain my father would have felt deeply honored to have Tugger named in his memory.”
Team Foster, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit, supports injured and disabled veterans through accredited, lifesaving service dogs. Tugger will spend two years in his special service training through Team Foster partner, Warrior Canine Connection, a nonprofit organization that breeds, trains and places highly skilled service dogs with service members and veterans with visible and invisible wounds.
During this time, Tugger will work with dozens of veterans receiving treatment for physical and psychological wounds. When his training to become a service dog is completed, Tugger will be able to do everything from helping a veteran put on their socks to disrupting nightmares to detecting anxiety attacks.
Tugger will then be placed with a veteran with a disability. Team Foster, whose motto is “No Hero Left Behind,” has helped to connect over 500 veterans with service dogs.
The Phillies’ service pup initiative with Team Foster and Warrior Canine Connection was made possible through a Phillies Charities, Inc. grant. This is the second service pup sponsored by the Phillies, with the first being Major, who was recently placed with a veteran.
“Properly trained service dogs can change and save lives. I’ve seen it myself so many times,” said Nick Liermann, founder and executive director of Team Foster. “But it’s extremely difficult for veterans to get service dogs because there are so few resources available, so we fill that huge gap. The Phillies and Warrior Canine Connection are incredible partners in that mission.”
“We’re incredibly honored to have a future service dog named in honor of a Phillies legend,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “It’s a meaningful way to carry forward his legacy—one rooted in strength, service and impact. This special partnership with the Phillies and Team Foster is making Tugger’s mission possible and exemplifies the power of community coming together to support our nation’s veterans.”
“The impact that a service pup like Tugger has on veterans battling invisible wounds of war is truly lifesaving,” said Phillies Director of Community and Charity Events Michele DeVicaris. “It’s our honor to join Team Foster and Warrior Canine Connection, who have been a catalyst for making a difference in the lives of so many who have served.”
For more information, follow the Phillies on their social platforms, which will be providing updates on Tugger’s service training.
###
ABOUT TEAM FOSTER
Based in Philadelphia, Team Foster was founded in 2014 to honor Army Captain Erick Foster after he was killed in Iraq. It provides a crucial lifeline to injured and disabled veterans at no cost by funding lifesaving, highly trained, accredited service dogs and offering lifetime support to veteran-service dog teams. The organization has raised over $2.25 million while advocating for veterans and their service dogs in the community, workplace and legislatures.
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.
ABOUT THE TUG MCGRAW FOUNDATION
The Tug McGraw Foundation, founded before Tug McGraw’s passing in 2004, is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people with brain tumors. In 2009, the foundation broadened its mission to include support for post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. It partners with other organizations to speed up treatment advancements and improve the quality of life for those dealing with brain-related military trauma and glioblastoma. Nationwide, the foundation provides education, resources, and wellness programs at its headquarters at the Veterans Home of California in Yountville.
CONTACTS:
Deb Rinaldi, Phillies, drinaldi@phillies.com, 267-408-9545
Jonathan Lowe, Team Foster, JonathanLowe@TeamFoster.org, 215-808-0022
Beth Bourgeois, Warrior Canine Connection, beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org, 719-216-3206
Inside the Mission Healing Veterans with Puppies
On a recent episode of Coffee with Ken Biberaj, host Ken visits Warrior Canine Connection in Boyds, Maryland to sit down with founder Rick Yount and explore how this pioneering nonprofit is transforming the way we support veterans. Through an innovative model, Warrior Canine Connection enlists service members to help train future service dogs—giving them purpose, connection, and a path to healing from PTSD and combat-related trauma. Watch the full interview on Coffee with Ken Biberaj here.
Navy Veteran From Calvert Honored With Service Puppy Named In Her Honor
BOYDS, Md. — U.S. Navy veteran Lt. Mary Pat Collins was surprised to learn that a puppy had been named after her. It’s not every day you get the honor of passing along your name to someone with four paws, a wagging tail and a noble mission. Read the full story in The BayNet News here.
WCC’s Jimmy Meets Namesake’s Daughter
WCC’s Jimmy is one of the Service Dogs-in-Training at WCC’s program site located at Duquesne University—and the only dog with a name that honors a beloved local legend. The on-campus site offers WCC’s Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) training program to Veteran students and community members. MBTR taps into the power of the human-animal bond by having Veterans train service dogs for fellow Warriors. Along the way, those participating in the program often experience their own therapeutic benefits, building connection and a renewed sense of purpose, while also improving sleep, emotional regulation and impulse control, and reducing stress, depression and hypervigilance.
At the event, Kelly Stewart-Harcourt, daughter of the late U.S. Army Veteran and Hollywood star Jimmy Stewart, had the chance to meet WCC’s Jimmy in person. She shared how moved she was when she was first approached about naming a future service dog after her father.
“All I thought was dad would be so happy—dad would be so proud to be working with this organization,” shared Stewart-Harcourt.
WCC’s namesake program was created to honor and celebrate our nation’s heroes. Each of its service dogs in training is named after a Service Member or Veteran, both past and present, who has served our country. Jimmy Stewart was not only a treasured actor but also a decorated World War II pilot—known for his strong sense of patriotism and his deep love of animals, something some fans may remember from his touching poem, Beau, written about his own dog.
At the museum that bears her father’s name, Stewart-Harcourt said it felt especially fitting that his legacy now includes helping Veterans in such a meaningful way.
As she patted WCC’s Jimmy’s head, she added, “It’s just a perfect match.”
Perfect, indeed.
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Intern John’s “Chuy Forever” comedy to support WCC
Catch him live in Arlington, Virginia on Friday, June 20, and for two more shows on Saturday, June 21. Since 2017, Intern John has raised more than $100,000 to support Veterans. Don’t miss the chance to laugh for a great cause—get your tickets now at InternJohnComedy.com.
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PTSD Awareness Month: Honoring Veterans and advancing healing
At WCC, we know that healing doesn’t always happen in a hospital room or through words alone. Sometimes, it happens through a quiet moment shared with a service dog in training. Through our Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) program, Veterans engage in a unique form of therapy—one that involves training future service dogs for fellow Warriors.
The efficacy of MBTR training is becoming increasingly recognized as a powerful tool for those managing PTSD. The benefits are well-documented: reduced anxiety, improved social engagement, strengthened sense of purpose and the development of meaningful, trust-based connections.
One Veteran who recently completed WCC’s 8-week MBTR program reflected on the impact it had on him.
“It was an awesome experience with WCC. The ladies are awesome, the dogs are awesome. What else can you say about my amazing experience. Training the dogs and learning how to train them in some of their tasks really helped me with concentration and slowing my mind down. I suffer from PSTD, TBI and anxiety amongst other things. My wife literally said the one day I was always in a good mood was the day I had an hour with the dogs. Before or after going.”
WCC’s MBTR program is grounded in science, empathy and connection (and adorable dogs). Veterans participating in the program often report improvements in mood, social functioning and overall well-being. While a service dog is not a quick fix for PTSD, the structured interaction, responsibility and emotional bond created during training can make a lasting difference.
“It can be extremely challenging for many who have served to ask for, or even accept, assistance for themselves,” said Mar Leifeld, assistant director of MBTR programs, WCC. “I think the power of WCC’s MBTR program is in the fact that we are not saying ‘you need this to improve your PTSD symptoms,’ but rather, ‘we need YOU to help us prepare these dogs for a fellow Vet.’ We want our Veterans to know that they are valued, and their service is still needed in this country—even if what that service looks like may change as they progress through life.”
This month serves as a reminder: PTSD is real, and help is available. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing, but for many, programs like MBTR are a critical step forward.
If you or someone you know could benefit from WCC’s MBTR training, please reach out to Mar Leifeld at mbtr@warriorcanineconnection.org. And if you or a loved one needs immediate support, the Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255) is available 24/7.
Let’s use PTSD Awareness Month not only to recognize the challenges Veterans face but also to advocate for compassionate, evidence-based solutions that support their recovery—one paw at a time.
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New Faces at WCC: Sheila Jackson and Vivian Leven
As summer approaches, we’re excited to share two new faces who have joined the WCC team in recent months. Each brings valuable experience and a shared commitment to our mission. Take a moment to get to know them—and join us in welcoming them to the pack!
Please join us in welcoming Sheila to WCC—this time in a new role as part-time Government Contracts Specialist! While this may be her official title, Sheila is no stranger to the WCC family. She’s been a devoted volunteer since 2017, helping as a puppy sitter, puppy raiser and whelping box volunteer. She and her husband Gerry, a retired U.S. Coast Guard Reserve Commander, are also proud pup parents to WCC’s Andrea.
Sheila brings decades of experience in government contracting and business development, including leading large-scale programs supporting the Department of Labor and managing wellness programs for federal agencies. Most recently, she worked with 4S-Silversword, where she managed WCC’s Animal-Assisted Therapy contract at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) at Walter Reed—the very same program she’ll now support directly as WCC steps into the prime contractor role.
Sheila comes from a proud military family, with a father who served as a WWII Army paratrooper and brothers who graduated from West Point and the Naval Academy, making her commitment to serving Veterans deeply personal.
“I love WCC because I see the direct and powerful impact the dogs and this mission have on Veterans and their families—including mine,” she says. “It’s an honor to support this work.”
Outside the office, you’ll find Sheila traveling with Gerry to visit their daughters, hiking, training her dogs or volunteering with her church.
We’re pleased to welcome Vivian Leven as our newest Service Dog Training Instructor supporting the Northern Virginia (NoVa) region. Based at Fort Belvoir, Vivian joined WCC in February and is already making an impact by combining her deep experience in dog behavior and training with a passion for helping people.
Originally from Sweden, Vivian has called Alexandria, Virginia home for more than 20 years. Her career began in animal welfare policy and research, and a chance adoption of a behaviorally challenged Doberman set her on a path to becoming a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant. She went on to lead training programs, run her own consulting business, and even served as a court-certified mediator focusing on sensitive family and youth cases. Whether she’s training dogs, supporting Veterans, or finding resolution in high-stakes situations, Vivian brings compassion, insight, and steady leadership to everything she does.
“I joined WCC because I love the idea of combining the people side with the animal side,” Vivian says. “There’s always more to learn. Dogs are incredibly present — they draw us into the moment with their honesty. People wear many masks, but dogs are just who they are.”
Vivian shares her life with her daughter Isolde, two dogs, two cats and two horses.
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Daughter of Jimmy Stewart Meets Service Dog “Jimmy” at Museum Celebration
The Jimmy Stewart Museum celebrated its 30th anniversary on Saturday, and in attendance was one of Jimmy’s daughters and the service dog that bears his name. Check out the full story from WCCS Radio here.