SAVE THE DATES!
Something to look forward to? You bet! Save these dates for three blockbuster Light Up To Live fundraising events scheduled for Fall 2021. Our organization continues its mission to support one military veteran at a time to better manage life-challenging issues including brain injury, pain, depression, and post-traumatic stress. With your support we can meet two important goals: fund two amazing service dogs currently in training and fund a tricked-out Ford Transit Van for use by the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation to safely transport its canine assets to events and to their Veteran handlers.
Register TODAY to hold your spot at our Clay Shoot, Golf Tournament, and Dinner, Concert & Auction Under the Stars! And don’t forget to check out our great sponsorship opportunities!
This Sister and Brother Will Change Two Lives!
Meet Bonney and Ellis! This sister and brother German Shepherd duo are cuter than cute and smarter than most canines! Bonney and Ellis were gifted by the Randall Reed Family to be trained at the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation for later placement with a military veteran. Bonney is named in memory of Randall Reed’s beloved Uncle Bonney, and Ellis is named in memory of Steve Ellis, Light Up To Live’s first volunteer board chairman.
German Shepherds are considered one of the best breeds for serving the needs of human handlers living with physical, emotional, or intellectual differences. The dogs are physically strong, emotionally intuitive, super-intelligent, and incredibly loyal. We are especially fortunate that our presenting sponsor – Ethos – is taking on the challenge of funding Ellis through contributions from its employees. Each pup requires about $35,000 to pay for training, nutrition, and veterinary care during the 18-24 months of training and placement. Funding for Bonney will come in large part from our 2021 fundraising events.
New Ford Ride for Our Four-Legged Life-Changing Friends
We are excited to share that our Patriotic Service Dogs are getting a new Transit Connect Van from the Reed Family of dealerships and the Light Up to Live Foundation!
What does it take to customize a Ford Transit Van to transport these one-of-a-kind service dogs? Our Light Up To Live volunteer extraordinaire, Sheena Sharapata is leading the charge on getting this Ford Van ready to serve the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation. Sheena, who handles promotions at Planet Ford 635 in Garland, explains that the van will get a custom wrap designed by SKINZ featuring the name of the organization, but it will also include the names of primary sponsors. The patriotic theme features images of service dogs and an American flag. After the wrap, it will be sent in June to Kustom Krates for a customized and climate-controlled interior, including six kennels for safely transporting service dogs along with storage for their gear and nutrition.
The van will cost nearly $90,000 upon completion. A portion of the expenses will be covered by donations from Randall Reed’s Ford and Lincoln dealerships in Texas! Stepping up are Planet Ford 635, Planet Ford Dallas Love Field, Planet Ford Spring, Planet Ford Humble, Planet Lincoln Dallas Love Field as well as RAD-Rides. Light Up To Live’s first volunteer board chairman.
German Shepherds are considered one of the best breeds for serving the needs of human handlers living with physical, emotional, or intellectual differences. The dogs are physically strong, emotionally intuitive, super-intelligent, and incredibly loyal. We are especially fortunate that our presenting sponsor – Ethos – is taking on the challenge of funding Ellis through contributions from its employees. Each pup requires about $35,000 to pay for training, nutrition, and veterinary care during the 18-24 months of training and placement. Funding for Bonney will come in large part from our 2021 fundraising events.
Light Up to Live Light Systems Get Thumbs Up from These Veterans!
We made a special effort in the last year to reach out to Veterans using our Polychromatic Light Systems for reducing pain and increasing blood circulation from injuries. We asked that they give us an honest assessment of whether or not the regular use of the light system was giving them any relief from debilitating pain that many of them are resigned to live with for the rest of their lives.
Kyle Kulczyk (USMC) wrote to us:
“I would like to give a huge thank you to the Light Up To Live Foundation and all that support it. The polychromatic light therapy system that I was given has aided me in alleviating the pains that I have lived with for years. By having this system at home to help me between the therapy sessions I am able to do normal everyday functions again and have even seen improvements in my therapy sessions. Thank you again for all that you do.”
Read stories from four others who felt compelled to share their experience with light therapy. We will continue to donate the systems for as long as it makes sense. Our most recent gift was to the March 2021 graduating class of the Adaptive Training Foundation. The organization remains solely focused on getting veterans back to their best physical and mental selves through physical therapy, sports challenges, mental and emotional empowerment, and social connection.
Light Up to Live SPECIAL GUEST! Meet Lew Hoyt, USMC (Ret.)
Don’t miss a chance to meet one of the most decorated military pilots in U.S. history at our 2021 fundraising events! Lew Hoyt is renowned among aviation circles for his service as both a fighter pilot and instructor in the USMC and the USN, and he also served in the Vietnam War. His stories of how the U.S. Military’s Top Gun program was founded are fascinating.
The track athlete earned a four-year scholarship to attend the University of Southern California, where he made four years on the Academic Dean’s List and was Track Team Captain for two years. Lew also served as an alternate for the USA Olympic high jump team in 1964 and 1968. Post military, Lew was a commercial pilot for Delta airlines for 25 years. Lew is a frequent public speaker to community groups about his military life and his Christian faith. He also mentors local high school youth. He and his wife Nancy are retired in Sedona, AZ. We thank Lew and his aviation alums for their generous donation to the Light Up To Live Foundation last year in honor of our work to support Veterans.
Light Up To Live Achieves Gold Status!
Friends, we have not been idle during this year of the pandemic! We took it upon ourselves to plan ahead and set our eyes on 2021 and achieve Gold Level status with Guidestar. This means that our not-for-profit organization maintains the highest standards and principles of a public charity.
Operational transparency, focus on mission, expeditious distribution of funds raised and minimal staff expense remain our hallmarks. If you have an interest in joining our efforts, please reach out to us regarding joining our board of directors and or volunteering at our fundraising events.