AmerisourceBergen Foundation Reinforces Commitment to Improving Animal Health and Invests in Agricultural Entrepreneurs, Service Animals with New Grants for 2020

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. – The AmerisourceBergen Foundation (the Foundation), an independent not-for-profit charitable giving organization dedicated to supporting human and animal health-related causes, announced today a number of grants aimed at improving education and access to care in animal health throughout 2020 and beyond. This philanthropic effort includes new collaborations with the National FFA Foundation, the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation and K9 Partners for Patriots.

“At the AmerisourceBergen Foundation, we are constantly seeking to build impactful relationships with nonprofits we believe will contribute to the betterment of the animal health industry now and into the future,” said Gina Clark, President of the AmerisourceBergen Foundation. “We are incredibly proud of these partnerships as they allow us to fulfill our mission to improve the wellbeing of animal populations, while also bolstering a strong pipeline of agricultural entrepreneurs and creating enhanced access to care for all.”

National FFA Foundation (FFA) is a dynamic youth organization and an intra-curricular component of a school-based agricultural education model that offers the training necessary for students to build successful careers in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) areas of the agriculture industry. FFA’s Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) grants are a crucial part of the model, allowing students to apply their classroom learnings in an entrepreneurial setting with experienced farmers. The Foundation has pledged to further support the SAE program, enabling FFA to offer more SAE grants for students to pursue projects that align with their passions.

The NationalDisaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) recruits and trains rescue dogs to find people trapped in the wreckage of disasters, partnering them with firefighters and other first responders on an ongoing basis at no cost. Once recruited into SDF's program, all dogs – including the canines that are unable to complete training but remain important members of the SDF family – receive premium medical care and support. The Foundation’s grant will enhance SDF’s ability to care for and fund the medical needs of America’s canine heroes, which includes prescription medications, vaccines, physical therapy, end of life treatment and more.

K9 Partners for Patriots, Inc. is a nonprofit Service Dog Training Program that honors and empowers Veterans and active military with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Military Sexual Trauma (MST) through the experience of training and caring for their own service dog. The program includes 19 weeks of training, a rescue dog if needed, and all necessary equipment at no charge. The Foundation’s grant will assist K9 Partners for Patriots in providing routine professional veterinary and unplanned emergency care on an ongoing basis for the service dogs belonging to more than 300 active Veterans.

“We are thrilled that our mission resonated with the AmerisourceBergen Foundation and we feel honored to receive its support,” said Molly Ball, president of the National FFA Foundation. “We look forward to touching more lives and working together to support the wellbeing of animals in 2020.”

The AmerisourceBergen Foundation is dedicated to creating positive impacts on human and animal populations by expanding access to quality healthcare, operating sustainably and upholding the highest standards of safety and quality. Through its Human and Animal Grant Program, the Foundation supports organizations at the local and national levels who increase access to human and animal care, as well as education.

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About the AmerisourceBergen Foundation          
The AmerisourceBergen Foundation is an independent not-for-profit charitable giving organization established by AmerisourceBergen Corporation to support health-related causes that enrich that global community. The Foundation aims to improve the health and well-being of its patient populations – both human and animal – by investing in its communities. Through strategic partnerships and community collaboration, the Foundation works to expand access to quality healthcare and provide resources to ensure prescription drug safety. For more information, visit www.amerisourcebergenfoundation.org.

About the National FFA Foundation
The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of more than 700,000 student members as part of 8,600 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization at www.FFA.org and on Facebook and Twitter. 

About the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation
Founded in 1996, the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Santa Paula, California. SDF’s mission is to strengthen disaster response in America by rescuing and recruiting dogs to find people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters. SDF offers professionally trained canines at no cost to fire departments and other first responders. To learn more, visit www.searchdogfoundation.org.

About K9 Partners for Patriots
K9 Partners for Patriots is an organization transforming the lives of veterans and active duty service members struggling with the effects of PTS, TBI, and/or MST. Founded in 2013 by nationally known Certified Master Dog Trainer Mary Peter on the belief that service dogs could help these men and women re-integrate back into civilian life with confidence and regain their independence. K9 Partners for Patriots rescues homeless dogs and teaches veterans to train them as their own service dogs in a safe and judgement free, family environment. We work in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations, and all levels of government to raise awareness about PTSD and educate the public about the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and virtually all state laws, about service animals that have been trained to perform work or tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. To learn more, visit www.K9PartnersForPatriots.com.