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 ADDRESS
PRESENTATION of GRADUATES
AWARDING of DIPLOMAS
BENEDICTION
CELEBRATION of TEAMS
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
the class oftwenty twenty four 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
Mark and Kathy Baske Young
Annette Kirby
Tyler Sponsors
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 saintfrancisdogs.org/supporters.
Grantors and Foundations
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
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
Suzanne Thorniley
Varsity Landscaping and Grounds
Karen and Chuck Wakeford
Mr. and Mrs. Barton Wilner
Anne Marie and Reggie Wood
Ms. Dianne Woody
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
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
Our cherished group of monthly donors
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
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 your check, cash, or credit card contribution to: Saint Francis Service Dogs PO Box 19538
Roanoke, VA 24019 mail
Call us at (540) 342-3647 ext. 405 to make your contribution over the phone phone
Visit saintfrancisdogs.org/graduation to securely make your contribution online via credit card online
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