Amanda Balionis celebrates $45,000 donation for heartwarming cause for dogs on Veterans Day

CBS announcer and reporter Amanda Balionis celebrated Veterans Day by making a donation of $45,000 through her organization Puppies and Golf. She shared the update through her Instagram Story.

Balionis' organization donated to K9s for Warriors, a nonprofit that provides service dogs to veterans with PTSD, brain injuries and other service-related challenges. Sharing the video of the donation on her Instagram Story, she wrote:

"No better way to celebrate Veterans Day (heart and USA flag emoji). Grateful for all those who have protected us and sacrificed so much. You deserve to be celebrated every day."

Screenshot of Amanda Balionis' Instagram Story (Images via @balionis/Instagram)

In the video shared, Holly Hooper from Puppies in Golf presented the check for $45,000 to Dani from K9s for Warriors. In the video, Hooper explained the three key missions of Puppies in Golf which included supporting animal shelters, aiding families with vet care and funding veteran service dog training.

Hooper highlighted that their founder, Amanda Balionis volunteered with K9s for Warriors even before establishing Puppies in Golf in 2020. She said:

"Before our establishment in 2020, our founder, Amanda Ballionis, volunteered with K9s for Warriors and firsthand saw the life-saving work that you all do. So when we make sure to support you guys, both financially and through spreading awareness, and I mean, we just can't thank you guys enough for taking care of our veterans."

At the end of the video Dani from K9s for Warriors said that on the eve of Veterans Day, there was nothing better than to see the support of Puppies in Golf.

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When Amanda Balionis shared the inspiration behind Puppies and Golf

Amanda Balionis founded Puppies and Golf in 2020. In an interview with Golf Digest the same year, Balionis shared that the inspiration behind her non-profit organization came while working at K9s for Warriors. The 39-year-old said:

"I was volunteering for K9s for Warriors when I worked for the PGA Tour in Jacksonville, Florida, and it was really fulfilling and gratifying. It made me feel like more of a whole, well-rounded person. And then when I moved to San Diego and took my job with Callaway, all of a sudden I didn’t have that in my life, and I realized how important giving back was to me."

"A friend of mine owns an apparel company called “Puppies Make Me Happy,” and I thought, “Why don’t we do a ‘Puppies and Golf’ shirt?” We’ll have all the proceeds go to K9s for Warriors," she added.

She shared that even though she couldn't volunteer in person, she saw it as an opportunity to give back and spread awareness about the national organization. She added that Callaway also joined the cause. So far, many golfers including Brooks Koepka and Jessica Korda have supported the cause.