Funding Brings DAV’s Support to WCC for $700,000 Since 2016

BOYDS, Maryland – Today, Warrior Canine Connection announced it has been awarded a generous grant of $200,000 from the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Charitable Service Trust in support of its Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) Training Program. This substantial contribution marks the Trust’s largest gift to WCC to date and reaffirms its commitment to Veteran mental health and support, which are central focus areas for DAV.

“We are profoundly grateful to the DAV Charitable Service Trust for its partnership and continued investment in our organization,” said Rick Yount, executive director and founder, Warrior Canine Connection. “Together, we will continue to make a positive and lasting impact on the lives on our Veterans, ensuring they receive the programming, support and service dog assistance they need to thrive and lead fulfilling lives.”

The MBTR Program, developed by WCC, is designed to help Service Members and Veterans in recovery to train service dogs for their fellow Warriors. In doing so, Warriors can also benefit from therapeutic aspects of the program including increased impulse control, sleep and emotional regulation, as well as decreased stress levels, depression and hypervigilance.

“The Trust is proud to support Warrior Canine Connection because they understand the bond between veterans as much as they understand the animal-human bond,” said DAV Charitable Service Trust President Richard Marbes. “By empowering recovering veterans to train service dogs for fellow veterans in need, WCC instills purpose and provides hope to those who are on their healing journey.”

Since 2016, the Trust’s unwavering support has been instrumental in advancing WCC’s mission. Its total contributions to WCC now amount to an impressive $700,000. Two years ago, WCC bestowed upon DAV the prestigious Wag of the Tail Award, recognizing its remarkable leadership in the field of Veteran support. This grant represents yet another significant milestone in their enduring partnership.

Over the years, WCC has been actively engaged in DAV conferences and events, sharing its expertise and knowledge in service dog training and mental health support for Veterans. In a gesture of gratitude, in 2018 WCC named a puppy in honor of the first female DAV national commander, Delphine Metcalf-Foster, to acknowledge her groundbreaking contributions to the Veterans’ community.

For more information on WCC and its MBTR training program, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.

 

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Media Contact:
Beth Bourgeois
Warrior Canine Connection
beth.bourgeois@warriorcanineconnection.org
(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 the DAV Charitable Service Trust
DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Charitable Service Trust is dedicated to a single purpose: empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. To carry out this responsibility, the Trust supports physical and psychological rehabilitation programs, enhances research and mobility for veterans with amputations and spinal cord injuries, benefits aging veterans, aids and shelters veterans experiencing homelessness, and evaluates and addresses the needs of veterans wounded in recent wars and conflicts. For ill and injured veterans of every era, the Trust also supports programs that benefit their caregivers and families. Learn more at cst.dav.org.