Page 8 - Hobe Spound Reflections - April '24

Page 8, Hobe Sound

FundraIsIng event

American Humane Raises

$4 Million At Sixth Annual

Pups4Patriots Dinner Dance

Pups4Patriots™ Dinner Dance Honors The Donors,
Dogs, And Handlers Who Support American Humane’s
Commitment To Service Dogs For Wounded Warriors
It was an evening of altruism and newsworthy moments, as
more than 200 supporters of the nation’s first national humane
organization attended the Sixth Annual Pups4Patriots
™
Dinner Dance at Club Colette in Palm Beach. Lois Pope, Bill Porter Nancy Payne, John Payne
To kick off the event, a surprise gift of $500,000 was made Zachary Chappell and Winnie, Christina Itabashi and Freja,
in honor of veteran’s advocate and champion of American life-changing experience Dr. Robin Ganzert, Brian O’Connor, Thomas Mitchell and Joly
Humane’s Pups4Patriots program, Lois Pope, by business for them. Their remarks
leader Lloyd Schiller. are as follows: go out and do things I couldn’t or didn’t do without her.
“No one has surprised me like this in a very long time,” Christina and Freyja. I’m able to go out and run errands and do shopping without
said Pope. “I am deeply humbled by your generous gift to Christina has served as a having to leave the store in the middle of shopping and
our Pups4Patriots program, and you can be assured that your first responder, a wildland have even found myself wanting to venture out to travel
contribution is going to help an awful lot of our military and firefighter, and an EMT. more. I have gotten more of a ‘normal’ life back because
first responders through this life-changing initiative.” She lives in Idaho and of Freja and that has helped me so much.”
Also announced during the event, a show-stopping was paired with Freya, a Zack and Winnie. Zack is a U.S. Air Force veteran
$3 million donation from the Kazma Family Foundation, standard poodle. who served from 1999 to 2021. During his service, he was
which will serve as the seed “Freja has been the Joseph McNamara, Janet Levy, deployed to six overseas locations and served as Special
gift for the new American most wonderful partner Max McNamara Ops and a Squadron Superintendent. He has been paired
Humane Sanctuary located for me. She is my best with “Winnie,” a 1.5-year-old, female Labrador retriever.
in Martin County. The new friend. Because of Freja’s
animal sanctuary will be ability to support me in so many ways I have been able to Fundraising Event on page 9
a transformational rescue
retreat for all animals and
the residential home for the
Pups4Patriots service dog
program.
Dr. Robin Ganzert,
president and CEO of
American Humane, who Florence Metzger, Tyler
announced the major gift Moynihan
with members of the Kazma
family, said, “Our mission
with the American Humane
Sanctuary is to give veterans
who have graduated from Life moves fast—
the Pups4Patriots program

a comfortable oasis to seek prepare for the unexpected
peace, and a home where
they and their service dog with Accident Insurance.
can further their journey
together. This gift is an
enormous leap in making
that mission a reality, and to Congressman Brian Mast,
helping us rescue and protect David Webb
many animals in need in a We’re here to help.
new Ark of Hope facility.”
To date, Pups4Patriots
has delivered more than Accident insurance complements your Florida Blue Health Plan. Call to learn more
300 healing leashes about insurance plans from USAble Life.
into the hands of U.S.
military veterans – at no M&A Insurance and Financial Services Inc.
cost to them – thanks to 561-440-9940
the generous support of
donors. Three of these M&A Insurance and Financial Services Inc. is an Independent Broker of Florida Blue.
heroes attended the event Florida Blue is an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Supplemental, Life, and Disability products are offered by USAble Life. USAble Life is an independent company
and shared inspirational and operates separately from Florida Blue.
stories of how American Joe Metzger and Meighan 22L-USAL-0872 112941 1222
Humane’s program was a McGowan