LIGHT UP TO LIVE PROUDLY SUPPORTS THE PATRIOTIC SERVICE DOG FOUNDATION
The Light Up To Live Foundation has helped improve the lives of Veterans by funding service dog training and supportive care. With the support of our donors and in partnership with the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation, wounded Veterans are matched with highly-trained and skilled service dogs.
Through this partnership, Veterans are able to become more independent, self-confident, and comfortable with life outside of the military. It is through this close-knit community of volunteers and professional trainers who work alongside Veterans that they are able to develop lasting and meaningful bonds with dogs that can change their lives.
Watch the video below to learn how Light Up To Live Event Supporters are changing Veterans’ lives with the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation.
According to the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation, there are an estimated 460,000 Veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan war who are struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). One of the most difficult statistics to read is that approximately 22 Veterans take their own lives every day. The Light Up To Live Foundation is working to find ways to help provide support, hope, and help to our military men and women, especially those who are returning home from active duty and entering civilian life again.
The Light Up To Live charity, founded by Randall and Sherry Reed, first partnered with the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation in 2018. The Reed family was proud to be part of helping provide two very special service dogs, Gentle Ben and Jackel, named after two fallen heroes. During the 2018 Gala, multiple patrons donated funds via Light Up To Live to help raise and train Gentle Ben and Jackel. Upon completing training, each continued training with their Veteran “handler.”
Gentle Ben is now teamed up with U.S. Army Veteran Michelle Rivera. Together, they made their debut during the 2019 Light Up to Live Gala. As Michelle shared in her video interview (above), having a Patriotic Service Dog has changed her life. She shared that she plans to turn post-traumatic stress into post-traumatic growth. That can already be seen not only in her daily life, but in how she is sharing her story. She has made public appearances sharing her story, including Fox 5 in San Diego with Patriotic Service Dogs Gentle Ben and Jackel. During the program, she represented women Veterans, minority Veterans, combat Veterans and Veterans with PTS.
Light Up To Live helped provide training and support for the 2019 Patriotic Service Dog, Lincoln, a yellow Labrador who is now placed with U.S.A.F. Veteran, Tosha. Randall and Sherry Reed donated the 2020 Patriotic Service Dog, Star who was placed with her U.S.M. Veteran, Tom. The other 2020 Patriotic Service Dog, Doc, has been placed with his U.S.N. Veteran, James. Doc is helping James make strides in navigating everyday life.
TRAINING
Tom Tackett is a behaviorist and competition dog trainer based in Orange County, CA since 1977. As a recognized authority on obedience and protection training, Tom has appeared as an expert witness in court cases and on numerous local television programs. Competitive in Schutzhund Trials, he won the first all Rottweiler National Schutzhund III Trial in Florida in 1985 with a perfect score (100) points in protection. While in Germany acquiring “Arras Zur Spielmans-Au”, the 1985 European Champion and World Champion Rottweiler, Tom was certified as a Schutzhund Trial Decoy by the German Rottweiler Club (ADRK). He was president of the Southern Counties Rottweiler Club from 1992-1995. With an emphasis on continued education, he has sponsored numerous Police seminars. Additionally, he has composed nationally distributed audio tapes on dog behavior for veterinarians and written articles for the Orange County Register entitled, ”Dogged Dilemmas” from 1992-1995. California & Orange County Rehabilitation Programs recognized Tom’s school for Trainers from 1988-1996. In August of 2006, Tom and his Black Lab, “Kona” were certified as a “Certified Mold Detection Team” at Von Kaiserhof Training Center” in Lawrence, Kansas, as well as with the “World Detector Dog Organization” based in Vincent, Alabama.
In December 2009, Tom and “Hark Von Schwarzen-Eis” completed the “BH” title. That is the obedience and traffic-sure title pre-requisite for Schutzhund. Tom is also a CGC evaluator for AKC, a Professional Premium member of APDT, and a Professional member of IACP, and certified evaluator for the Foundation for Service Dog Support, Inc. and Tackett Service Dogs, Inc.
Visit our events and donate page to learn how you can be part of helping Light Up To Live continue to support the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation.
TWO EVENTS WITH ONE MISSION!
LIGHT UP TO LIVE
Light Up To Live Foundation provides polychromatic light therapy systems and highly trained service dogs to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Veterans living with the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress, TBI, pain, and depression. The Dallas-based 501(c)(3) charity connects and supports like-minded organizations that benefit this community.
FUNDS RAISED DIRECTLY SUPPORT:
- Polychromatic LED Light Therapy Systems are purchased and donated to other charities that provide physical and emotional therapy to Veterans learning adaptive skills.
- Polychromatic LED Light Therapy Systems are donated for personal use by Veterans who can use the systems at home or away from their physical therapy center.
- Funding of Service Dogs trained specifically for Veterans with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury to enhance their daily adaptive living needs – including 24 months of training, canine food, and veterinary care.
VOLUNTEER SIGN UP
If you would like to volunteer to help with these events, please give us your information and we will contact you.