IEC Foundation Community Service Project to Unite Veteran with New Service Dog

With the leadership of the IEC Foundation, your participation and generosity in the IEC Partner Community Service Project resulted in the purchase of a yet-to-be-born service dog for a United States veteran. IEC supporters donated $35,360 and have named their dog, Sparky. Sparky will be trained by the Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs organization and awarded to a veteran in need.

“Over the past three years, IEC Foundation has been intentional about supporting the communities we serve,” says Tom Alexander, Atkins & Stang and IEC Foundation chairman. “The Strategic Partner Community Service Project undertaken at each year’s SPARK aligns with our mission and core values.”

For SPARK 2023, the Foundation teamed with the Guardian Angels organization. Through their incredible dogs, they make a difference in the lives of those struggling with a variety of service-related issues including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, seizure disorders, mobility issues, and more. Guardian Angels Chief Administrative Office Sylee Gibson attended SPARK to tell the organization’s story.

“We raise and train highly skilled medical service dogs that are then donated to veterans and first responders,” Sylee says. “They receive their dogs for free. Our dogs help with PTSD, mobility, scent detection for diabetes, and seizure alerts.”

Sylee says the Guardian Angles has been in operation for 13 years and has paired more than 400 dog teams. In addition to the named medical issues, she says supportive dogs make a difference with related veteran and family issues. In fact, within those 400 teams, they’ve had zero suicides notes Sylee.

Service dog recipient Mike Danielson was present in Dallas to tell how being partnered with his dog changed his life. Mike spoke of his struggle with PTSD, as well as his thoughts of suicide. His dog, Santa Paws, changed that for him and his family.

“My dog is with me almost 100% of the time,” Mike says. “I’ve been apart from him about three hours since I had him and that’s because I had cataract surgery.”

Mike says Santa Paws provides him with comfort and support, which extends to his wife and children as well. Santa Paws knows if they’re having a rough time and is sure to offer care to them.

Additionally, the IEC Foundation staff team, along with Pennsylvania electrical contractors, were present when the Guardian Angels broke ground for a new service dog training facility in southwest Pennsylvania. Foundation Executive Director LaNa Al-Amin expects to partner with the Guardian Angels on future projects.

“Through our staff service in Rotary International, we were introduced to the staff of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs,” LaNa says. “Meeting them and service dog recipient Mike Danielson was a life changing experience for all of us.”

Tom is especially grateful for the leadership of IEC Foundation staff members LaNa, Jenn Strozier, and Denise Sims; Strategic Partner Chair Scott Teson of Milwaukee Tool; and Troy Corrigan, IEC past president from Corrigan Electric.

“The support of all made this community service project a complete success,” Tom says. “We look forward to continuing this partnership and we are proud of the investment we were able to make with the IEC community to help change and save lives of those in need. We look forward to meeting Sparky and his veteran partner in the future!”

Thank You to Our Donors!

Donations to purchase Sparky were received from: