With perfect weather and outstanding community support, the 2023 Community Mutt Strutt was a fantastic success and the best one since we began the event seven years ago! It was a beautiful day on the Great Lawn at the North Shore, filled with generous community support, live music, and loads of fun for all.
We had significant participation from the community, with over 350 participants, many of whom brought their dogs along to enjoy the event. “PNC Bank was our title sponsor for the seventh year in a row, which we deeply appreciate,” said Carol Borden, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs.
The Pirates also played a significant role in the event and even brought their mascot, the Pirate Parrot, to visit with attendees at the event. Bully Max, Lamar Advertising, iHeart Radio, and Higher Images are just a few notable sponsors, among many others, who helped make this event a success.
The Great Lawn at the North Shore was an excellent location for this year’s event, allowing plenty of room for people and dogs to roam and mingle while 
enjoying the vendors and the great weather. With this event, we raised over $300,000 to support our mission of training life-changing service dogs for veterans and civilians with disabilities.
“Everybody had a great time, and we are looking forward to doubling and tripling the numbers each year as the word spreads about this event and our life-saving mission,” said Carol.
Thank you to all who attended our in-person event and those who participated in our online auction supporting the Mutt Strut! We look forward to seeing you next year.
Mary Jo has an extensive history working with the media as well as a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology at Northern Illinois University. Mary Jo has worked for companies such as Gannett, News Bank Inc., E.W. Scripps Company, Lee Enterprises, Pulitzer, Inc., Arthur Andersen, and has been involved with Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Inc. since 2011. Ms. Brandt has had many hours of training in leadership, coaching, and mentoring. Her teams have consistently been highly effective in support of organizational mission and goals. She has one son, Paul who is currently in the Navy, and a daughter, Amanda in college and working full-time for a law firm in Naples. Ms. Brandt began volunteering with Guardian Angels after both her father and previous employer received a Guardian Angels Service Dog in 2011. Seeing the incredible difference service dogs could make in the lives of their recipients, she became involved through volunteering her time & talent to Guardian Angels. Ms. Brandt was then asked to join the Board of Directors and has served as a Board Member since 2013. Recently, Mary Jo has been named as a 2021 Patriot Scholarship recipient from Colorado Technical University. When asked why this scholarship and completing her Master’s Degree in Business Administration was so important to her, she responded, “This scholarship represents how important education is to our military/veterans and their families. I am honored to be part of this unique community. I am already in a career that demonstrates my commitment to helping others, I expect finishing this degree will allow me to be much more effective in my pursuit of working with our Veterans. This scholarship isn’t just about me. It is about how I can help others.” Today we face an even bigger challenge that none of us saw coming during the midst of the pandemic and worldwide economic collapse beginning to unfold. Yet again, Mary Jo is stepping up to the plate to be sure that our organization continues to serve those that need us, as we triumph in the face of untold adversity of today’s world. Businesses will only survive these difficult times because of leaders like Mary Jo.
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