Facebook birthday donations make major difference for K9s for Warriors

A new option on Facebook is making a major difference for a local nonprofit benefiting servicemen and women. K9s For Warriors said it received tens of thousands of dollars a year through Facebook birthday donations.

Normally, you sign a card and sing "Happy Birthday." But now, thousands of people are doing something more meaningful on someone’s birthday.

“All of a sudden, they have a way to help out and it’s super easy ... they just click it on Facebook. Tell their friends about it and then they can be a part of all the work we are doing,” said Rory Diamond, CEO for K9s for Warriors.

Diamond said thousands of people are asking for one wish on their birthday to donate to K9s for Warriors. He said the group has received tens of thousands of dollars just this year, and July was their best month.

“It literally increases every single month, almost doubles the number of people participating, how much money we raise,” said Diamond.

And Diamond said its people from all over the world who are donating through Facebook.

“Over 3,000 people have done little fundraisers for K9s for Warriors. Sometimes it’s $5, sometimes it’s $20, all the way up to $100 to $200. It’s unbelievable,” he said.

“Every time we raise $15,000, we get to sponsor another dog through the program,” Diamond said.

Greg Wells, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, said he is forever grateful for his dog, Utah.

“I came back from Afghanistan in 2012 and I was suicidal. Utah saved my life, K9s for warriors saved my life,” he said.

Diamond said it’s this money that will continue to bring more warriors and K9s together.

Around 160 warriors go through the program a year, and the organization trains around 400 dogs a year.

Cox Media Group