A Salute to Soldiers to Host Fundraiser, Golf Classic to Benefit America’s VetDogs

WESTFIELD — On Friday, Oct. 17, A Salute to Soldiers will host its seventh annual fundraiser and its first annual golf tournament at Tekoa Country Club in Westfield to benefit America’s VetDogs (AVD), a nonprofit that breeds, trains, and places service dogs with disabled veterans and first responders.

The service dogs trained through AVD provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence, allowing graduates to once again live a life without boundaries. AVD trains and places service dogs for those with physical and/or mental disabilities, such as PTSD; guide dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision; and facility dogs as part of the rehabilitation process in military and VA hospitals. It costsmore than 50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one assistance dog; however, all of AVD’s services are provided at no charge.

Since 2018, A Salute to Soldiers has raised nearly $75,000 and sponsored 10 future service dogs. This year, the fundraiser is expected to raise more than $20,000 and sponsor three future service dogs, all of whom will be named by attendees during the event. The fundraising goal of $25,000 would bring the event’s all-time donation to $100,000.

Tickets for both the golf tournament and the reception are still available. Golf tickets are available for $150 per golfer, or $500 per foursome, and include lunch and dinner. Reception tickets are available for $30. The reception will feature a dinner, live music, a 50/50 raffle, raffle prizes donated by local businesses, and a long putt competition.

In attendance will be local veterans who have graduated from the VetDogs program with their service dog, as well as service dogs in training.

Golf registration begins at 10 a.m., with a shotgun start time of 11:30 a.m. Doors open for the reception at 4:30 p.m., with dinner served at 6 p.m. The speaking program will begin at approximately 6:45 p.m. Click here to register.