Dedicated to creating opportunities for independence for people with disabilities with the gift of a task-trained service dog and to enhancing the human-animal bond. Four Paws and a Wake Up-NC began with a dream and today the dream continues. Working in the service dog industry for nearly 25 years, a change necessitated an evaluation of lifetime goals and the deep desire to continue to serve others. Having met the Founder of Four Paws and a Wake Up, Andrea Joseph, my wife and I, agreed to mentor her in the service dog industry. Little did we know the decision to mentor would result in a new endeavor. u200b Four Paws and a Wake Up-NC operates as an independent chapter incorporated in North Carolina, with an employer identification number and tax-exempt status unique to the North Carolina site.

Team RWB's mission is to enrich the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. Enrichment Equation: Enrichment = Health + People + Purpose People: Creating authentic connections (defined as genuine, quality, supportive relationships that generate mutual trust and accountability), reflected in an increased number of close relationships and improvements in teammates' sense of belonging, purpose, and community engagement. Health: Creating frequent opportunities for team members to connect through fitness, sports, and recreation to improve physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Purpose: Engaging members in meaningful team and community-based experiences such as leadership and service that, beyond physical and social activities, renew self-identity and purpose in life.