Page 10 - Stuart Exposure - April '24

Page 10, Stuart Exposure

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 Zack and Winnie. Zack is a U.S. Air Force veteran who Dr. Robin Ganzert, Brian O’Connor, Thomas Mitchell and Joly
Humane’s Pups4Patriots program, Lois Pope, by business served from 1999 to 2021. During his service, he was deployed
leader Lloyd Schiller. to six overseas locations and served as Special Ops and a “After several failed attempts to bring Joly stateside,
“No one has surprised me like this in a very long time,” Squadron Superintendent. He has been paired with “Winnie,” American Humane stepped in and assisted us in bringing her
said Pope. “I am deeply humbled by your generous gift to a 1.5-year-old, female Labrador retriever. home. If not for this organization this reunification probably
our Pups4Patriots program, and you can be assured that your “After serving 22 years in the Air Force, 12 in Special would not have occurred. In June, Brian, Morgan, and Joly
contribution is going to help an awful lot of our military and Operations, and retiring with a PTSD and traumatic brain injury will continue their military service in Sasebo, Japan and
first responders through this life-changing initiative.” diagnosis, I thought my journey was over. The baggage I carried reside together as a family for the first time.”
Also announced during the event, a show-stopping $3 coupled with the symptoms of my battlefield wounds was just too “For some, medications and therapy are simply not
million donation from the Kazma Family Foundation, which will much. That was until I was turned on to American Humane and enough to help restore a sense of normalcy, and nothing
serve as the seed gift for the new American Humane Sanctuary their Pups 4 Patriots Program. The hardest part was taking that can put a smile on a vet’s face like a wagging tail,” said Dr.
located in Martin County. The new animal sanctuary will be a first step but after filling out that application I was surrounded by Ganzert. “We want every veteran to know that they do not
transformational rescue retreat for all animals and the residential a care team and before I knew it a leash was placed in my hand need to face this battle alone. Man’s best friend can help.”
home for the Pups4Patriots service dog program. and Winnie on the other end. In that moment, my focus changed. To learn more, visit americanhumane.org.
Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane, Winnie gave me that companionship and healing I required to Photos by Capehart Photography
who announced the major gift with members of the Kazma get back on track, live life the
family, said, “Our mission with the American Humane Sanctuary way I wanted, and reintegrate
is to give veterans who have graduated from the Pups4Patriots back into my family!”
program a comfortable oasis to seek peace, and a home where Thomas and Joly.
they and their service dog can further their journey together. Military Working Dog
This gift is an enormous leap in (MWD) Joly was retired
making that mission a reality, and needed a ride home
and to helping us rescue and from Bahrain to her family
protect many animals in need in South Florida. Her
in a new Ark of Hope facility.” handler that served with her
To date, Pups4Patriots (Brian) is still deployed, so
has delivered more than 300 she was received in Florida Joseph McNamara, Janet Levy,
healing leashes into the hands by Brian’s father, Tom. Max McNamara Gail Worth, Frank Orenstein Jim Engle, Gaye Engle
of U.S. military veterans – at
no cost to them – thanks
to the generous support
of donors. Three of these
heroes attended the event and Florence Metzger, Tyler
shared inspirational stories Moynihan
of how American Humane’s
program was a life-changing
experience for them. Their
remarks are as follows:
Christina and Freyja.
Christina has served as a
first responder, a wildland
firefighter, and an EMT. She
lives in Idaho and was paired
with Freya, a standard poodle.
“Freja has been the most
wonderful partner for me. She
is my best friend. Because Congressman Brian Mast,
of Freja’s ability to support David Webb
me in so many ways I have
been able to go out and do
things I couldn’t or didn’t do
without her. I’m able to go
out and run errands and do
shopping without having to
leave the store in the middle
of shopping and have even
found myself wanting to
venture out to travel more.
I have gotten more of a
‘normal’ life back because of
Freja and that has helped me Joe Metzger and Meighan
so much.” McGowan

Brian O’Connor, Dr. Robin Gerry Kazma, Leigh-Anne
Ganzert Kazma