Warrior Canine Connection Receives Grant from Veterans United Foundation for Service Dog Training Program
BOYDS, Md. – Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) is pleased to announce it has received a $20,000 grant from Veterans United Foundation. The grant will support WCC’s mission of helping Veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress by pairing them with service dogs in training.
WCC uses a Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) therapy model designed as an intervention for combat Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress. The MBTR model provides Veterans with a sense of purpose while they are receiving treatment at Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. It is designed to remediate their symptoms of combat stress, such as isolation, emotional numbness and re-experiencing events from their combat days. MBTR also harnesses the healing power of the Warrior Ethos in which Warriors train service dogs for fellow Veterans; through the process, they learn to focus on the dogs and their mission to help another Veteran.
“We are honored to have been selected to receive the support of the Veterans United Foundation,” said Rick Yount, founder and executive director, Warrior Canine Connection. “Veterans United Foundation is a first-class organization and its support of Veterans is tried and true; Warrior Canine Connection is privileged to have their commitment to help us fulfill our mission of serving our heroes.”
Veterans United Foundation is the philanthropic division of Veterans United Home Loans. Incepted in November 2011, the foundation is funded from employee contributions that are matched dollar-for-dollar by the company. More than 90 percent of Veterans United employees contribute at least one-percent of their paychecks to the foundation. Since its founding, the foundation has raised more than $40 million. Employees also take an active role in referring possible needs to the foundation and showing the community support through volunteer work.
“Our employees are passionate about enhancing lives,” said Greg Steinhoff, executive director of Veterans United Foundation. “Our foundation is happy to support efforts that have a lasting impact on our Veterans.”
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, help in reintegrating back into their families and communities, and a potential career path as a service dog trainer. For more information, visit www.warriorcanineconnection.org.
About Veterans United Foundation
Veterans United Foundation is supported entirely by the employees of Veterans United Home Loans. The foundation is committed to enhancing the lives of Veterans and military families nationwide, by supporting nonprofit organizations that strengthen local communities and honor the sacrifices of those who served our country. It also provides individual donations to current and former military members in need. More than $40 million has been raised since its founding in 2011. Learn more at EnhanceLives.com.
