Sheri Greene Honors Daughter’s Legacy with $30,000 Gift to Warrior Freedom Service Dogs
CHATTANOOGA, TN — Warrior Freedom Service Dogs is honored to announce a generous $30,000 donation from Sheri Greene, made through the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, to support the training of future service dogs for Veterans living with service-induced brain injuries, including Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
The gift will provide partial funding for the training of three service dogs. The average cost to train and place a service dog ranges from $30,000 to $50,000 per Veteran and service dog team, making community support critical to ensuring Veterans receive these life-changing partners at no cost.
The donation also carries a deeply personal meaning. Prior to a dog being selected, Greene shared her desire to dedicate a future service dog in honor of her daughter, Mary Clare, whose nickname was “Bear.” Greene hoped that, through a service dog, her daughter’s light and legacy could continue impacting the lives of others.
Later, a black German Shepherd named Attie was donated to Warrior Freedom Service Dogs by a private donor. Because the dog already knew and responded to her name, Head Trainer Julie Jones-Thornton made the decision to retain Attie’s original name. The opportunity then arose to combine both names, creating Attie Bear — a tribute that honors both the dog’s established identity and the memory of Mary Clare.
Recently, Greene visited the Warrior Freedom Service Dogs kennel to meet with staff and spend time with Attie Bear in person. The visit provided an opportunity to learn more about the training process, see firsthand the impact her gift will have on future Veterans, and meet the dog that now carries such a special connection to her daughter’s legacy.
For Greene, the dedication represents a meaningful way to share Mary Clare’s light with Veterans and their families.
“Mary Clare was a bright light,” Greene said. “I hope that through Attie Bear and the Veterans these dogs will serve, her light continues to shine and bring hope, healing, and comfort to others.”
Attie Bear is currently training to become a service dog and will one day be paired with a Veteran whose life may be transformed through the partnership. Like all dogs in the Warrior Freedom Service Dogs program, she will receive extensive training to perform tasks that mitigate the effects of PTS and TBI while providing companionship, confidence, and renewed independence.
“We are incredibly grateful to Sheri Greene for her generosity and for entrusting us with such a meaningful tribute,” said Monica Piper, Executive Director of Warrior Freedom Service Dogs. “The story of Attie Bear is a beautiful reminder that even through loss, there can be purpose and hope. This gift will help us train future service dogs and support Veterans living with PTS and TBI, allowing Mary Clare’s light to continue impacting lives for years to come.”
Warrior Freedom Service Dogs serves Veterans throughout Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama who are living with service-induced brain injuries, including PTS and TBI. Through highly trained service dogs, ongoing support, mentorship, and follow-up services, the organization helps Veterans regain independence, reconnect with their families and communities, and rediscover a purpose-filled life.
About Warrior Freedom Service Dogs
Warrior Freedom Service Dogs is a Chattanooga-based nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting Veterans living with PTS and TBI to highly trained service dogs at no cost. Through comprehensive training, mentorship, and lifelong support, the organization helps Veterans restore independence, confidence, and freedom while building lasting partnerships with their canine companions.
