ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION

Golden PAWS
Assistance Dogs

What is Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs?

Founded in 2012, Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs is designated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.

Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs provides highly skilled service or assistance dogs to combat wounded Veterans, first responders, and children with life-changing disabilities.

DID YOU KNOW...

Our dogs are always placed at no cost to those they serve.

CONNECT WITH US

What Sets Us Apart?

Our program integrates our service dog training philosophy and methodology with our commitment to community service.

With three highly acclaimed community outreach programs, our dogs are our partners in healing for both our recipients and our community.

FROM THE DESK OF JEANNIE C. BATES

Dear Friends of Golden PAWS,

When Golden PAWS was founded in 2012, we made a commitment to adhere to specific Core Values.  These values guide us in our devotion to serve both our community and the veterans, first responders, and children we serve. Our Core Values inspire and guide us in all we do.

We believe that we have an undying obligation to ensure the health and safety of the Golden Retrievers and Labradors in our care and, ultimately this extends to those we serve.

Like the heroes and warriors, we hold true to our values and love for our Southwest Florida Community and our Golden PAWS family.

Our team makes a commitment every day to do better than the last.  Dedication and service defines the character of our organization and commitment to serve those who need us most.  We will forever remain dedicated to the brave warriors, first responder heroes and the children who depend on us.

Our volunteers, our supporters, staff and our dogs stand ready to serve.

I invite you to join our mission.

Jeannie Bates

FOUNDER & CEO

We believe in...

OUR GOLDEN PAWS PROMISE:

We believe in leadership — we are leaders both in our community and our industry.

We believe in honesty and integrity — we practice this every day.

We believe that we are stewards of our mission and the gifts we receive that support it.

We believe in honor, commitment and courage in the face of adversity.

Why Support Golden PAWS?

Golden PAWS Financials

Ken and Susan Meyer Center for Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs in Naples, Florida

To Better Serve Our Community

Named the Ken and Susan Meyer Campus, our state-of-the-art 30,000-square-foot training academy situated on 2.5 acres will support our growth to better serve our community.

Volunteer training with Golden PAWS cadet puppy

We Rely on Our Generous Sponsors

We receive no government funding and rely solely on the generous support of our private donors, family foundations and corporate sponsors to provide the financial means needed to accomplish our mission.

GOLDEN PAWS ASSISTANCE DOGS

Board Members & Staff

Kyle Reed

PRESIDENT

Kyle was a member of the Chicago Board of Trade from 2002 to 2015.  From 1997 through 2000, he practiced law in the corporate finance department of the New York law firm Chadbourne & Parke.  He holds a BA from the University of Texas as well as a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law.  He has been our Board President since 2017, a member of the board since 2016 and a volunteer and supporter since 2012.

Donna Sisia-Hagan

VICE PRESIDENT

Donna contributes many years of professional experience to the board with over 20 years in the financial field including a career with Ernst & Young from 1986 to 1991 in New York and Boston, and Wasmer, Schroeder & Company, Inc. (WSC), a registered investment advisor, from 1991 to 2005. She was also a WSC shareholder and served on their Board and affiliates. In 2005, Hagan retired as Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of WSC.  Donna is a founding member of the board.

Ken Meyer

Meyer was chairman and managing director of Lincoln Capital Management, where he founded the fixed income business in 1981. He became president in the early 1990s and chairman in 2001. In 2003, he negotiated the sale of the company and served as chairman through June 30, 2004. His current affiliations include serving as the director of LINK Unlimited, a minority education program in Chicago; a director of the Homestead Mutual Fund Family; and a trustee for the National YMCA Endowment Fund. Meyer is a member of the CFA Society of Chicago and a Chartered Financial Analyst. He was awarded the Hortense Freidman Award for lifetime achievement in the industry in 2006.

Meyer, who graduated magna cum laude from Notre Dame in 1966 and received his MBA from the Wharton School of Finance in 1968, has served as a key member of the Business Advisory Council for the Mendoza College and also endowed the Kenneth R. Meyer Professor of Global Investment Management.

Stacey Moody

SECRETARY & TREASURER

Stacey Moody is a registered tax return preparer and principal at Stacey Moody Inc.  Stacey, a graduate of the University of Connecticut, has over 31 years of experience working in the corporate and public accounting and her firm specializes in tax return preparation, bookkeeping and forensic accounting.  Stacey’s other affiliations include: St. Ann School Finance Council member, St. Ann Parish Pastoral Council member, and St. Ann Parish Finance Council member.

Jeannie Bates

FOUNDER & CEO

Founder & CEO of Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs – after leaving a successful career as a corporate level hospitality manager, Jeannie formed one of the largest dog training companies in SW Florida.  Later her company partnered with the Humane Society Naples and she was named Director of Training & Behavior.  Under the guidance of the Executive Director of HSN, she founded Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs in 2012 to fulfill her desire to serve those in need of assistance dogs.

HONORING THE MEMORY OF:

Timothy Ubben

1936 - 2021

Honoring the Memory of Timothy UbbenTim is the founder of Lincoln Capital Management, a Chicago-based investment firm that had more than $60 billion in assets under management when he retired in 1999. He has a BA from DePauw University and an MBA from Northwestern. At DePauw, he served as President of the Alumni Association, as a Trustee on the Board of Trustees, and as Chairman of the Board. He founded the Posse Foundation of Chicago, a unique college access program, and served on the national board of that organization.

GOLDEN PAWS ASSISTANCE DOGS

Former Board Members

M. Richard Mellon

Golden PAWS Staff

Jeannie Bates

Golden PAWS Founder & CEO

Ashley Zani

Associate Executive Director

Tiffany Campbell

Director of Training & Behavior

Arden Vorperian

Associate Development Director

Cheryl Barrett

Development Specialist – Community Engagement