Shelter to Soldier
Providing Service, Love and Comfort to those who have Served our Great Nation
Every day, an average of seventeen US veterans and at least one active-duty service member is lost to suicide. That is an average of one life lost every 80 minutes. PTSD is a major challenge for our men and women in uniform, and its effects last far and beyond the battlefield.
Shelter to Soldier (STS) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that adopts dogs from local shelters and rescue organizations and trains them to become psychiatric service dogs for post-9/11 veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma. STS also places emotional support animals with veterans and active-duty military and deploys the STS Canine Ambassadors, a team of certified therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers, to provide visits of love and comfort to local military, veterans and their families.
Every year, our nation sees approximately 7.6 million animals enter shelters. More than half of those animals are dogs, at 3.9 million every year. This year alone, 1.2 million dogs will be euthanized due to space, behavioral problems, or medical complications. The Shelter to Soldier team’s expertise in saving and training service dogs is unmatched in the field and provides a great platform to use these talents to serve our military personnel in honor of their service to our country. Sponsored service dogs serve the critical role of psychological support to his/her veteran handler.
Shelter to Soldier is paving the way of support for veterans on the Homefront. “The generosity of our supporters allows us to expand our services to veterans and dogs and to create job opportunities for many veterans as well,” Graham Bloem, cofounder of Shelter to Soldier shared with GB Magazine.
Our community is invited to support Shelter to Soldier by attending its 11th Annual “Be the Light Gala” on Friday, August 18th at L’Auberge Del Mar. This annual event raises critical funds to support the rescue dogs and veterans served by the organization’s mission. Presented by Subaru, USA, Shelter to Soldier’s largest annual fundraiser raises critical funds to support its programs that serve military, veterans, and homeless dogs in need of a forever home and life of purpose.
Guests will enjoy musical entertainment by Lady Rebecca Jade, small bites, libations, silent auction, three-course dinner overlooking the Pacific Ocean, swag bags, and memorable moments with veteran recipients and the Shelter to Soldier staff. Beer, wine, and Shelter to Soldier specialty cocktails will be available to all guests.
The evening will include an exciting silent and live auction emceed by auctioneer Clint Bell, and all proceeds from the event will benefit the organization’s service dog, emotional support animal and therapy dog programs for US Veterans. Other major sponsors include Cox Communications (Platinum Sponsor), Schubach Aviation (Gold Sponsor) and UNITE (Silver Sponsor).
For more information about tickets, table reservations, sponsorships and to donate silent and live auction items, please visit bit.ly/BeTheLight11, or www.sheltertosoldier.org.
