canine companions

I am a volunteer puppy raiser for Canine Companions, a charity that provides service dogs (FOR FREE) to people with disabilities, and dramatically changes lives. In 2025, I covered their 50th Anniversary Gala in Orlando, Florida, which ended up being their largest-ever fundraising event. They brought in over $1.2 million dollars in a single evening!

The evening's keynote speaker was Daniel, who with his service dog Norwood, gave a powerful speech that brought the crowd to its feet.

Being able to capture powerful moments of serenity amid the swirl of the gala was one of my goals for the evening. As Daniel waited in the wings for his stage cue, his silent meditation and a brief moment of comfort from Norwood encapsulated everything wonderful about the service dogs that Canine Companions provides.