Page 4 - Martin Downs Bulletin - April '24

Page 4, Martin Downs

Fundraising EvEnt

American Humane Raises $3 million donation from the Kazma

$4 Million At Sixth Annual Family Foundation, which will serve
as the seed gift for the new American
Pups4Patriots Dinner Dance Humane Sanctuary located in Martin
County. The new animal sanctuary will
Pups4Patriots™ Dinner Dance Honors The Donors, be a transformational rescue retreat for
Dogs, And Handlers Who Support American Humane’s all animals and the residential home for
Commitment To Service Dogs For Wounded Warriors the Pups4Patriots service dog program.
It was an evening of altruism and newsworthy Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO
moments, as more than 200 supporters of the nation’s first of American Humane, who announced
national humane organization attended the Sixth Annual the major gift with members of the
Pups4Patriots Dinner Dance at Club Colette in Palm Kazma family, said, “Our mission with
™
Beach. the American Humane Sanctuary is to
To kick off the event, a surprise gift of $500,000 was give veterans who have graduated from
made in honor of veteran’s advocate and champion of the Pups4Patriots program a comfortable
American Humane’s Pups4Patriots program, Lois Pope, oasis to seek peace, and a home where
by business leader Lloyd Schiller. they and their service dog can further their
“No one has surprised journey together. This gift is an enormous Zachary Chappell and Winnie, Christina Itabashi and Freja, Dr. Robin Ganzert,
me like this in a very leap in making that mission a reality, and Brian O’Connor, Thomas Mitchell and Joly
long time,” said Pope. “I to helping us rescue and protect many
am deeply humbled by animals in need in a new Ark of Hope team and before I knew it a
your generous gift to our facility.” leash was placed in my hand
Pups4Patriots program, To date, Pups4Patriots has delivered more than 300 and Winnie on the other end.
and you can be assured healing leashes into the hands of U.S. military veterans In that moment, my focus
that your contribution is – at no cost to them – thanks to the generous support changed. Winnie gave me
going to help an awful lot of donors. Three of these heroes attended the event and that companionship and
of our military and first shared inspirational stories of how American Humane’s healing I required to get back
responders through this program was a life-changing experience for them. Their on track, live life the way I
life-changing initiative.” remarks are as follows: wanted, and reintegrate back
Also announced during Joseph McNamara, Janet Christina and Freyja. Christina has served as a first into my family!”
the event, a show-stopping Levy, Max McNamara responder, a wildland firefighter, and an EMT. She lives Thomas and Joly.
in Idaho and was paired with Freya, a standard poodle. Military Working Dog
“Freja has been the most wonderful partner for me. She (MWD) Joly was retired
is my best friend. Because of Freja’s ability to support and needed a ride home
me in so many ways I have been able to go out and do from Bahrain to her family Brian O’Connor, Dr. Robin
things I couldn’t or didn’t do without her. I’m able to go in South Florida. Her Ganzert
out and run errands and do shopping without having to handler that served with her
leave the store in the middle of shopping and have even (Brian) is still deployed, so she was received in Florida
found myself wanting to venture out to travel more. I have by Brian’s father, Tom.
gotten more of a ‘normal’ life back because of Freja and “After several failed attempts to bring Joly stateside,
that has helped me so much.” American Humane stepped in and assisted us in bringing
Zack and Winnie. Zack is a U.S. Air Force veteran her home. If not for this organization this reunification
who served from 1999 to 2021. During his service, he was probably would not have occurred. In June, Brian, Morgan,
deployed to six overseas locations and served as Special and Joly will continue their military service in Sasebo,
Congressman Brian Mast, Joe Metzger and Meighan Ops and a Squadron Superintendent. He has been paired Japan and reside together as a family for the first time.”
David Webb McGowan with “Winnie,” a 1.5-year-old, female Labrador retriever. “For some, medications and therapy are simply not
“After serving 22 years in the Air Force, 12 in Special enough to help restore a sense of normalcy, and nothing
Operations, and retiring with a PTSD and traumatic can put a smile on a vet’s face like a wagging tail,” said
brain injury diagnosis, I thought my journey was over. Dr. Ganzert. “We want every veteran to know that they
The baggage I carried coupled with the symptoms of my do not need to face this battle alone. Man’s best friend
battlefield wounds was just too much. That was until I was can help.”
turned on to American Humane and their Pups 4 Patriots To learn more, visit americanhumane.org.
Program. The hardest part was taking that first step but
after filling out that application I was surrounded by a care Photos by Capehart Photography

Are You Ready Hurricane?

Gerry Kazma, Leigh-Anne Florence Metzger, Tyler
For The Next Storm?
Kazma Moynihan

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