The Horschel Family Foundation welcomes Mabel, a Service Dog in training at THE PLAYERS Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Billy Horschel, the seven-time PGA Tour winner and Ponte Vedra, Florida resident, is teaming up with K9s For Warriors to sponsor the training of a Service Dog for a Veteran suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and/or military sexual trauma. Through this partnership, Horschel and The Horschel Family Foundation will help K9s For Warriors raise awareness about the roughly 20 Veterans who take their own lives each day and the profound impact Service Dogs have changing Veterans’ lives.
Horschel and his foundation announced their partnership with K9s For Warriors at THE PLAYERS Championship Military Appreciation Day with a generous check for $25,000 and an invite for Mabel, a Service Dog in training to be on the course with Horschel as he completed his practice round on the 17th and 18th holes. (Click here for pictures).
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of Billy Horschel and his foundation to further our mission to end Veteran suicide,” said K9s For Warriors Chief Revenue Officer Lindsay Grayson. “K9s For Warriors has the privilege every day to see the impact a Service Dog has on a Veteran. With a battle buddy by their side, the Veteran returns to a life of dignity and independence. The Horschel Family Foundation’s generosity allows us to continue saving Veteran lives.”
“The military means a lot to me. The sacrifices the men and women in the military make each day allow me to do what I love and play golf. It’s an honor to be making a difference in the lives of Veterans in need with an organization like K9s For Warriors,” said professional golfer Billy Horschel. “The Horschel Family Foundation is looking forward to this Service Dog changing a Veteran’s life for the better.”
Horschel is not the only athlete to be partnering with K9s For Warriors at THE PLAYERS Championship this week. Top-ranked golfer in the world Scottie Scheffler met K9s For Warriors graduate James and his Service Dog Scottie, named after Scheffler, the 2023 PLAYERS Champion. Service Dog Scottie was sponsored by THE PLAYERS and for the past decade, THE PLAYERS has sponsored a K9s For Warriors Service Dog and named it after the tournament’s winner.
With a majority of dogs being rescues, K9s For Warriors saves two lives – the organization saves the dog, and the dog then saves the Veteran. Since 2011, K9s For Warriors has rescued more than 2,000 dogs and will be pairing its 1,000th Veteran with a Service Dog next week.
K9s For Warriors has previously partnered with sports organizations like the Washington Commanders and Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL, and athletes like Pete Alonso of the New York Mets and Lance McCullers Jr. of the Houston Astros to sponsor Service Dogs for Veterans in need.
About K9s For Warriors
Determined to end Veteran suicide, K9s For Warriors is the nation’s largest provider of trained Service Dogs to military Veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma. With most dogs being rescues, this innovative program allows the K9/Warrior team to build an unwavering bond that facilitates their collective healing and recovery. This treatment method is backed by scientific research (from University of Arizona’s OHAIRE Lab) demonstrating Service Dogs’ ability to help mitigate their Veteran’s symptoms of PTSD while simultaneously restoring their confidence and independence. Founded in 2011 as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, K9s For Warriors remains committed to bringing widespread awareness to Veterans’ mental health and contributing to policy-level reform.
The organization’s operation facilities include: K9s For Warriors National Headquarters (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) Davis Family Mega Kennel (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) Petco Love K9 Center (San Antonio, Texas) and Warrior Ranch (outside San Antionio, Texas).
Find more information at www.k9sforwarriors.org
About Horschel Family Foundation
The mission of the Horschel Family Foundation is to passionately invest in communities by partnering with organizations that inspire hope, provide healing, promote health and honor our soldiers. We believe that changing one life alters the footprint left on our earth forever and hope to help steer the world towards a more healthy, positive, and loving place for future generations to come.
Find more information at www.horschelfamilyfoundation.org
Media Contact:Dani Bozzini, K9s For Warriors, Dbozzini@k9sforwarriors.org
