PTSD Service Dog Program Named a Mutual of America 2016 Community Partnership Award Winner

NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mutual of America announced today that PTSD Service Dog Program was named a Merit Finalist award recipient in the 2016 Community Partnership Award competition.

PTSD Service Dog Program was started by America's VetDogs^®, which was founded in 2003 to provide guide, hearing, service and facility dogs at no cost to veterans and first responders with disabilities from all eras. The Program pairs specially bred and trained service dogs with veterans whose primary diagnosed disability is post-traumatic stress. Many of these dogs receive training through America's VetDogs^® puppy prison program, which utilizes inmates who are veterans themselves to help raise puppies.

To ensure veterans with PTSD have access to the same benefits as other war heroes, America's VetDogs^® partnered in 2014 with the Department of Public Health at Western Kentucky University to help measure the impact of PTSD service dogs.

"America's VetDogs^® is one of the first assistance dog programs in the U.S. to be accredited by both the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International," said Wells Jones, chief executive officer. "Our partnership with Western Kentucky University will help ensure that our service dogs make a measurable difference in helping our country's veterans to live with pride and self-reliance."

About the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Community Partnership Award annually honors the outstanding contributions that nonprofit organizations, in partnership with public, private and other social sector organizations, make to society. Since 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 210 partnerships from cities and towns across America. To watch videos of all of the national award-winning programs, visit the official YouTube channel for the Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award.

About Mutual of America

Mutual of America specializes in providing retirement products and services to organizations and their employees, as well as to individuals. Since 1945, Mutual of America has remained committed to offering plan sponsors, plan participants and individuals carefully selected, quality products and services at a competitive price and the personal attention they need to help build and preserve assets for a financially secure future. For more information, visit mutualofamerica.com.

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SOURCE Mutual of America

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