Wounded Warrior receives service dog from Zilinski Memorial Fund

Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Fund

Provides Service Dog Leo to Wounded Warrior Richard

HOLMDEL, N.J., Feb. 27, 2017 – Thanks to the generous support of the Middletown Lions Club, the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund was instrumental in providing a specially trained service dog named Leo to wounded warrior Richard to help him move forward with his life after suffering a traumatic brain injury.

Leo was trained at K9s for Warriors in Ponte Vedra, Fla. for six months and spent three weeks at the school living with his new partner Richard. They took their last test prior to graduation, and Leo was officially certified under the American Disabilities Act. Leo and his warrior graduated on Jan. 26. Board member Quentin Walk was on hand to represent the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund.

“This donation is possible thanks to the generous support we received from the Middletown Lions Club,” said Marion Zilinski, co-founder of the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund.

“We wish Leo and Richard success, health and much happiness together,” Marion said. “The continued support of our patrons is critical.”

The organization’s next major fundraising event is the K9 Sgt. Denny Dog Walk on June 3 at the New Jersey Army National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt. For more information, visit www.runwithdennis.org, or request a personal invitation at Runwithdennis@yahoo.com.

The Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski Memorial Fund provides care and support for those serving our country and their families. The Sgt. Denny Project has sponsored 40 service dogs to date, costing approximately $15,000 per dog.

The program is named for Sgt. Denny, a two-year-old German shepherd who was stationed in Afghanistan with his handler.

For those returning home from combat, the transition back into society can be overwhelming. The hyper-vigilance and hyper-reactivity to situations, sensations, sounds and smells that kept them alive in the war zone often continues despite the peace of civilian life. Service dogs are trained to help wounded warriors with many of the fight or flight reactions and health issues they face upon returning home from combat.

For more information please visit: www.runwithdennis.org or email RunwithDennis@yahoo.com.

About the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Fund:

The Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial was created and founded in 2006 in order to honor Lt. Zilinski’s memory and spirit for life. The Fund sponsors programs for injured soldiers and scholarships to Lt. Zilinski’s alma mater, Christian Brothers Academy. The Fund provides support to improve the morale and welfare of members of the United States Armed Forces and their families. Additionally, by providing scholarships, the Fund invests in the future of high school students who embody the leadership qualities and community spirit of Lt. Zilinski.

Additional donations may be sent to: Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski Memorial Fund, PO Box 35, Holmdel, NJ 07733.

# # #

Photo Caption: Quentin and Ellen Walsh, Airman Richard, Leo, and Richard's father.