San Diego Gulls Announce 2019 “Pucks & Paws” Calendar to Benefit Shelter to Soldier
by Eva M. Stimson
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League. The local team, San Diego Gulls, is launching their 2019 annual calendar to benefit Shelter to Soldier, featuring 14 Gulls players with Shelter to Soldier service dogs on each calendar month of the year. This is the second consecutive year that the San Diego Gulls Foundation has selected Shelter to Soldier as their charity of choice for the calendar project.
Sponsored this year by Raising Cane’s, the “Pucks & Paws Calendar” is available for sale in person at a San Diego Gulls game and through the DASH Auctions mobile App; all proceeds will be donated to Shelter to Soldier, a San Diego-based non-profit organization that adopts dogs from local shelters and trains them to become psychiatric service dogs for post-9/11 combat veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Disorder (TBI) and/or other afflictions associated with traumatic combat experiences.
“The San Diego Gulls Foundation, members of the Gulls Team and their significant others and Raising Cane’s, all worked to put on a different kind of game face in an effort to share the story of Shelter to Soldier. Together we thank all for supporting a cause that is near and dear to their hearts as dog owners and supporters of our local military families,” said Melissa Werman, Director of Community Relations for the San Diego Gulls. Unsigned copies of the calendar are available for $15 and a limited number of autographed copies are available for $30 each. In addition, the San Diego Gulls are extending an invitation to a “Pucks & Paws” VIP Meet Up and Dog Party on Sunday, March 10th, with a donation of $50 that includes an autographed copy of the calendar. Additional “Pucks & Paws” VIP event information will be provided to those who qualify by February 1, 2019.
Raising Cane’s will be catering the VIP event. According to Mica Brandt, Raising Cane’s Marketing Advisor, “Raising Cane’s is thrilled to partner with both the San Diego Gulls and Shelter to Solider — we’re committed to supporting our local community organizations that align with our company philosophies of Athletics, Education and Pet Welfare. The work that both organizations do to support the community and our military is commendable, and it’s an honor to align with both to raise funds to help our military receive the support they deservingly need through service dogs.”
While supplies last, calendars may be purchased in section 10 on the concourse at a San Diego Gulls game or via their mobile action app ‘DASH Auctions’ (available for iOS and Android users) as a ‘Buy it Now’ item.
Visit https://web.dashapp.io/auctions/sandiegogulls to access or to download the DASH Auctions App on a mobile device, text “Dash” to 66866. (All calendars purchased on DASH will require a handling fee of 3 percent. The calendar will be mailed to the billing address provided in the payment information section. Calendars will be mailed within three business days to the address provided at payment unless otherwise notified).
Shelter to Soldier Co-Founder and President Graham Bloem comments, “We’re extremely honored and grateful that the San Diego Gulls have selected STS for a second year as the charity-recipient of their calendar program for 2019. The funds raised from calendar sales will be utilized to help serve the deserving veterans who are waiting to be paired with a psychiatric service dog through our program. The amount of applicants reaching out for assistance continues to grow, and we could not fulfill each request without the help and support of our partners, such as the San Diego Gulls, Raising Cane’s and Allison Shamrell Photography. Each sponsored service dog serves the critical role of psychological support to his/her veteran handler and our sponsors help us make this happen.”
To learn more about veteran-support services provided by STS, call (855) 287-8659 for a confidential interview regarding eligibility. Shelter to Soldier Co-Founder, Graham Bloem, is the proud recipient of the 10News Leadership Award, The Red Cross San Diego/Imperial Counties Real Heroes Award, Honeywell Life Safety Award, CBS8 News Change It Up Award, and the 2016 Waggy Award. Additionally, Shelter to Soldier is a gold participant of GuideStar and accredited by the Patriot’s Initiative. www.sheltertosoldier.org.
