Excited to announce that joining us is Head Coach of the New Orleans Saint’s Sean Payton! He has officially confirmed to join our winning team and on October 11, 2013 New Orleans Benefit will introduce our K9S For Warriors graduates!
New Orleans Saints Head Coach -Sean Payton and a future service dog!
Every 65 minutes a veteran commits suicide according to the Department of Veterans Affairs; most suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). This horrible epidemic is among the 2.4 million veterans and active duty members returning home – 184 new cases are diagnosed every single day! K9s For Warriors rescues dogs prior to being euthanized and trains them to be service dogs for Veterans with PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury. This program is 100% proven, transparent and successful! 94% of every dollar donated to K9s For Warriors goes directly to the Veteran & service dogs. Only 6% is used on fundraising and overhead. Shari Duval, the founder and Executive Director of K9s For Warriors doesn’t receive a salary.
In 1999, Wendy Diamond founded Animal Fair Media and is a pioneer in the pet industry; merging celebrity, pop culture and animal rescue. She changed the face of the pet market and animal rescue world forever. Since she launched Animal Fair Media, the number of animals euthanized annually has dropped by 58 percent, from 12 million to 4 million this past year.
After learning the troubling statistic that every 65 minutes a veteran struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder commits suicide, Diamond made the decision to embark on a journey to help veterans suffering with PTSD and pair them with rescued service dogs. “Veterans have fought selflessly for our freedom and it’s time that the two and four legged roll over and fight for them.”
Wendy Diamond has dedicated her new book, How To Train Your Boss to Roll Over, to all the veterans who work tirelessly and selflessly defending our freedoms. The book is an entertaining and instructional manual threaded with Wendy’s trademark levity and wit that reinterprets successful dog-training strategies for the workplace. On the tour, Wendy will encourage everyone in the work world to engage in social good and make a difference by supporting our veterans through K9s For Warriors.
In New Orleans, we will honor Sheri Martinez & Lola, and Chris Spikes & Seal:
Sheri & Lola
Sheri Martinez & Lola
Sheri served in the Marines from 1984 to 1986 as a Field Wireman and the Connecticut Army National Guard from 2006 to 2009 as a Truck Driver. She re-enlisted as her way of supporting soldiers deployed away from home. She felt that if she joined and took her turn deploying, then someone could come home and be with their families.
During Sheri’s 20-year break in service, she raised a family of three children and received a B.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing with a minor in Writing and Rhetoric from Trinity College. Sheri is now medically retired from the Army and spends several hours per week volunteering at K9s for Warriors to give thanks for all that they have done for her. She also serves as Adjutant for both the American Legion Post 233 and VFW Post 3270.
Originally from Hartford, Connecticut, Sheri lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her K9s For Warriors furry best friend, Lola. When she’s not volunteering, she keeps busy reading and walking. Sheri’s brother and son are also part of the Connecticut Army National Guard.
Chris & Seal
Chris Spikes & Seal
Chris Spikes joined JROTC in high school as part of the rifle team, which led to his decision to join the Army. Three months after graduation, he started his military adventure in Ft. Drum, NY (The 10th Mountain Division, Climb to Glory!).
Chris served over three years in the Army as part of the Airborne Infantry. He was deployed two times; first was in 2004 to the Afghanistan/Pakistan border, then again in 2005 to Iraq. The long hours and intense heat were grueling and psychologically draining, but he knew his job was to be ready to defend our country.
He is now a 100% disabled veteran with PTSD and suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, extreme nightmares, loss of appetite and depression. Seal, a beautiful 8-month-old, black Labrador Retriever service dog has been paired with Chris to ease his PTSD symptoms and provide constant comfort. Seal was surrendered to the K9s For Warriors by a college student and is one of the youngest dogs to make it through the K9s For Warriors program.
Wendy Diamond will host the BARK BUSINESS 10 City Media Tour, which will feature her hilarious new book, How To Train Your Boss To Roll Over. This brand new instructional manual will promote a positive work environment and explain how to work towards making a societal difference by raising awareness and funds for the K9′s For Warrior. Our bark business benefit will celebrate our wounded veterans and rally to raise awareness and donations for our American heroes that have sacrificed selflessly for our country.
Thanks to our generous sponsors, the tour will 100% benefit K9s For Warriors. Ellen DeGeneres’ pet food company, Halo, Purely for Pets knows that natural nutrition is imperative for service dogs (and all dogs) because it ensures a long, happy life with their parents, and are on board with supporting the K9s For Warriors Bark Business Benefit Tour! American Express Open has partnered with us to empower and support Veteran small business owners. The Loews and Omni pet-friendly hotels are graciously providing the space for the Bark Business Breakfast, so we can gather, raise money, and get the bark out about K9s For Warriors!
Please donate to this wonderful event in New Orleans! Please join us in supporting a veteran with PTSD and a rescued service dog in New Orleans. You can donate as little as $10, $50, $100, $2,000, or become the honorary chair in New Orleans for $10,000! This program is 100% transparent, and 94 cents of every dollar benefits the veterans! Get involved by barking about it and donating here.
Please watch this video to understand the importance of your donation:)
The Bark Business Breakfast will sing and dance its way to New Orleans on Friday October 11, 2013 at the Loews Hotel from 3:30-5:30PM.
Please donate to this wonderful event in New Orleans! Please join us in supporting a veteran with PTSD and a rescued service dog in New Orleans. You can donate as little as $10, $50, $100, $2,000, or become the honorary chair in New Orleans for $10,000! This program is 100% transparent, and 94 cents of every dollar benefits the veterans! Get involved by barking about it and donating here.
Bark Business Benefit Tour in New Orleans
Please join us for a patriotic breakfast to honor K9s For Warriors, meet graduates and celebrate National Service Dog Month!
Date: October 11, 2013
Time: 3:30-5:30 PM
Attire: Red, White, and Blue!
Place: Loews Hotel 300 Poydras St New Orleans, LA 70130
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