Big Donation For Nonprofit, Pairs Vets With Dogs

LILBURN, GA — A Gwinnett-based nonprofit was given $10,000 by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, according to a media release. The benefactor of the donation is Top Dogg K9 Foundation, which rescues dogs, trains them and pairs them with disabled military veterans.

"It is always our goal to serve as many military veterans in metro Atlanta as we can," Top Dogg K9 Foundation’s Executive Director Sheila Rashad said in the release. "We are extremely thankful for this donation."

The donation was given to Top Dogg through the Overwatch Fund, the Blank Foundation's committee of veterans and associates who manage grantmaking for veterans in Georgia, the release says.

"The Overwatch Fund Committee knows our four-legged friends bring great friendship and guidance to our vets," said Thomas Videki, a member of the Overwatch Fund committee. "Any efforts to provide a helping hand—or paw—to our vets in need is a step in helping reduce the psychological and physical effects that many of our returning soldiers are faced with."