Graduation 2024 Program

Saint Francis Service Dogs

twenty twenty four

Sunday October 20, 2024 exceptional dogs for extraordinary people

a message from

our Executive Director Welcome to Graduation 2024!

We are thrilled that you can join us to celebrate this momentous occasion!

The graduates you will meet today are the reason for everything we do. They are why our staff works with such dedication. They are why these beautiful dogs are cherished, lovingly raised, and taught for over two years by people who will ultimately have to say goodbye to them. They are why our volunteers work tirelessly and why our donors give generously.

Together with all of you, we are engaging, empowering, and transforming lives - one dog, one person, one family, one community at a time.

Today we celebrate the beginning of new chapters in the lives of our graduates. Our partners are ready to tackle the opportunities and challenges of life with the assistance, independence, freedom, and love provided by their new fourlegged teammates. We send them into a world with more opportunities, more joy, and a lot more laughter with their Saint Francis Service Dog by their side.

Thank you for being here to share in this celebration of all the possibilities that can grow from the love of a talented Saint Francis Service Dog. I hope you will be as inspired by our graduates as I am.

WELCOME John Carlin ADDRESS Cabell Youell PRESENTATION John Carlin of GRADUATES AWARDING of DIPLOMAS Training Staff Members BENEDICTION Rev. Dr. Robert T. Copenhaver CELEBRATION of TEAMS Dessert Reception

the class of

twenty twenty four Bobby Haurand and Anna Maura Gabriel and Greta Caleb Swartzlander and Lola Hayley Gregory and Rumour Jeff Main and Gus Rick Caudill and Lion Porter Anderson and Knox Bill Pendleton and Fabio

congratulations!

John Carlin, Master of Ceremonies Rev. Dr. Robert T. Copenhaver, Benediction Delila Spradlin, Interpreter

Bobby and Anna

Handler: Eileen Bobby’s wife

Breeder: Saint Francis Service Dogs Whelper: Kathy Marr Puppy Raisers: Vicki Baker, Brian Cox Foster: Allyson Perdue Trainers: Debbie Clifton, Sharon Grant

Maura

and Greta

Breeder: Saint Francis Service Dogs Whelper: The Harmon Family Puppy Raisers: Dianne and Fred Rencsok Trainers: Debbie Clifton, Sharon Grant Dedicated to the Saint Francis Friends Club

Caleb and Lola

Handler: Lynn Caleb’s mother

Breeder: Saint Francis Service Dogs Whelper: The Harmon Family Puppy Raisers: Sue and Dennis Sulka Trainer: Carol Waters Dedicated to The Hittman Family Foundation

Hayley

and Rumour

Breeder: Les and Deb Kidwell of Debandles Kennel Puppy Raisers: Christopher Saul, Brad Toelle Trainer: Cortney Thibodeau Dedicated to Kroger

Jeff and Gus

Handler: Doreen Jeff’s wife

Breeder: Saint Francis Service Dogs Whelper: The Harmon Family Puppy Raisers: Brandy Disbennett-Albrecht Trainer: Sharon Grant

Rick

and Lion

Breeder: Saint Francis Service Dogs Whelper: The Harmon Family Puppy Raisers: The Frazier Family Foster: The Frazier Family Trainer: Cortney Thibodeau Dedicated to Marvin and Joy Smith

Porter and Knox

Handlers: Dan and Candice Porter’s parents

Breeder: Saint Francis Service Dogs Whelper: The Harmon Family Puppy Raisers: Meagan and David Henry Foster: Jessica Stragand Trainer: Cortney Thibodeau Dedicated to The Jack and Anne Glenn

Charitable Foundation

Bill and Fabio

Handler: Jan Bill’s wife

Breeder: Saint Francis Service Dogs Whelper: The Harmon Family Puppy Raisers: Janine Joyce Trainers: Lesleigh Cook, Sharon Grant

This celebration would not be possible without our family of graduation sponsors, grantors, and donors.

Graduation Sponsors Willoughby Sponsors

Sam and Sally Craver

Tyler Sponsors

Mark and Kathy Baske Young

Annette Kirby

Grantors and Donors More than 1,000 individuals, foundations, and businesses give of their time, talents, and means to help us fulfill our mission each year. The partnerships we are celebrating today would not be possible without them. Due to space constraints, we regret that we are only able to list a small number of them here. For a complete list of our generous supporters, please visit: saintfrancisdogs.org/supporters.

Grantors and Foundations

Individuals who give generously to our vital Prison Pup Program at Bland Correctional Center Mr. and Mrs. Jake Allison Kenneth “Andy” Anderson and Dr. Marti Anderson Mike and Carol Anderson Dr. Tim Andriano Peggy Bizjak Mr. and Mrs. Michael Brunette Mr. and Mrs. Sam and Sally Craver Jo Lynn Draper Duffy Family Foundation Mr. Peter Emch Dr. and Mrs. Mark Finkler First Four Petroleum LLC Linda and Frank Foti Foti, Flynn, Lowen & Co. Mr. and Mrs. Victor Foti Dr. and Mrs. Paul Frantz Mr. Ed Hall Happy Endings Bar and Grill

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Milward Ms. Mary Anne Mullins and Mr. Christopher Robinson Ms. Yvonne Olson Mr. and Mrs. John Olver Ms. Elizabeth Parsons Mr. and Mrs. Jim Petrine Mrs. Emily Reynolds Mike and Krista Sinnott Mrs. Joy Davis Smith Mr. Marvin Smith Mr. and Mrs. Steve Strauss Mr. Maury Strauss Jr. Suzanne Thorniley Varsity Landscaping and Grounds Karen and Chuck Wakeford Mr. and Mrs. Barton Wilner Anne Marie and Reggie Wood Ms. Dianne Woody

The American Endowment Foundation The Amy Elizabeth Lauth Charitable Foundation The Arthur L. and Elaine V. Johnson Foundation The Carter and Kay Craigie Family Foundation Ceres Foundation Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia County of Roanoke Duffy Family Foundation Gary and Sandra Bradford Charitable Fund Guilford Foundation Hammer Family Charitable Fund Harper Foundation Heartland Midwest Foundation The Helen Cadd Elderly Protection Fund Hittman Family Foundation Jack and Anne Glenn Charitable Foundation Kirk Family Foundation Krevere Foundation LEEPS Foundation The Louise R. Lester Foundation MW Armistead III Family Foundation Musgrave Family Foundation Nestle Purina Petcare Co. Ruritan National Smith Mountain Lake Rotary Foundation The Sam and Marion Golden Helping Hand Foundation United Way Upchurch Family Trust

Our cherished group of monthly donors Ms. Sandi Adkins Mr. and Mrs. Ed Allen Jourdan Alvarado Cat Ayers Mr. Ralph Baker Ab and Julie Boxley Chris Brown Mr. and Mrs. John Carlin Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Cody Mr. William Corey and Ms. Kathy Umbdenstock Ms. Lee Cox Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Crist Ms. Kathy Cvizic Ms. Carole Denney Mrs. Brandy Disbennett-Albrecht Ms. Deborah Duerk Mrs. Kay Early Mr. and Mrs. Hutton Easley Ms. Carole Edwards Ms. Charlene Fay David and Mona Fazzina Mark Fisher

Mr. and Mrs. David Fretwell Marc Gagne Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Grim Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hack Mr. and Mrs. George Hales Mr. Charles Henton Mr. and Mrs. Steve Hornick Ms. Christy Izard Dr. and Mrs. David Johns Patty Johnson Mr. and Mrs. David Kapp Cort Kirkley Mrs. Jacqueline Lantz Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lash Mr. John Lawrence and Ms. Elizabeth Adams Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Love Ms. Cynthia Martin Mr. Tim Masick Mrs. Lynda McGarry Mr. and Mrs. Karl McNeece Mark and Amy Milberger Ms. Jeannette Mistele Ms. Erin Morris

Mr. and Mrs. David Nickell Mrs. Susan Paganelli Mr. and Mrs. Demetrio Perez Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Pinkley Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Read Ms. Carol Reedy Ms. Elizabeth Sensabaugh Mrs. Drusilla Sexton Mike and Krista Sinnott Derek and Jennifer Slaughter Ms. Nancy Smith Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Smith Ms. Kris Sorensen Mr. Bodo Stock Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Sulka Brian and Nadia Summo Mr. David Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Barry Vann Mr. and Mrs. Bob Villamil Ms. Jackie Werb Dr. and Mrs. Edward White Mr. and Mrs. Jim Wisser Matthew Witting Ann Marie and Reggie Wood

For more information about these giving communities or other ways to give, visit saintfrancisdogs.org/ways-to-give

Staff Madeline Bruggeman Debbie Clifton Deborah Duerk Sharon Grant Kari Grim David Henry David Johns Bob Lee Kathy Marr Tiffany Moeltner Erin Morris Michelle Moseley Autumn Overstreet Kristine Sorensen

Maggie St. John Cortney Thibodeau Loreen Thompson Rebecca Thompson Andrew Via Marilyn Wilson Cabell Youell Field Trainers: Jenny Cole Lesleigh Cook Lisa Warden Carol Waters

Board of Directors Krista Sinnott, President Jo Lynn Draper, Vice President Anne Jenkins, Secretary Marie Wimmer, Treasurer Mark Finkler, Veterinary Advisor Nadia Summo, Past President Craig Balzer Julie Boxley John Carlin Sally B. Craver, MSW Annette Kirby Paula Mitchell Jim Petrine Steven S. Strauss Robert Villamil Kathy Baske Young Courtney Wiegard, DVM

Saint Francis Service Dogs empowering and transforming the lives of people with disabilitiesone dog, one person, once family, one community at a time.

We are a nonprofit organization serving the entire Commonwealth of Virginia, plus a three hour driving radius from our Roanoke training facility, encompassing parts of North Carolina and West Virginia. Our mission is to help people with disabilities achieve their goals and have greater independence through partnership with exceptional service and facility dogs. We are proud to be accredited by Assistance Dogs International, cementing our commitment to adhering to the highest standards in all aspects of our operations.

Ways to GIVE If you would like to help support our graduates for the lifetime of their partnerships and help us train our next class of dogs, please consider making a tax-deductible gift today.

mail Mail your check, cash, or credit card contribution to: Saint Francis Service Dogs PO Box 19538 Roanoke, VA 24019

phone Call us at (540) 342-3647 ext. 405 to make your contribution over the phone

online Visit saintfrancisdogs.org/graduation to securely make your contribution online via credit card

The Balaban Center for Service Dog Excellence PO Box 19538 . 8232 Enon Drive . Roanoke VA 24019 Telephone: 540-342-3647 . Fax: 540-342-0906 www.saintfrancisdogs.org

/SaintFrancisServiceDogs @saint.francis.service.dogs