Dawn Thompson – South Central Region

Dawn Thompson became involved with Canine Companions nearly 10 years ago, and year after year, her volunteerism and dedication to the  mission grows.  

 

Initially drawn to  our organization through volunteer puppy raising, Dawn has raised two Canine Companions puppies who have both gone on to graduate and make a life-changing impact  on our clients. The first puppy she raised, Freckles, was placed as a service dog for a young boy whose independence and confidence has been greatly enhanced. The second puppy , Orbit, is a facility dog at Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation in Dallas, where he works with patients with a variety of injuries to achieve their treatment goals. 

 

Dawn lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex near the Kinkeade Campus. In addition to raising puppies, she is also a mentor to new volunteers in the Lone Star Volunteer Chapter, and she runs personal fundraisers in her community. Dawn has also served on the chapter leadership team in many roles: president, vice president and co-chair of outreach and fundraising event committees. 

 

In 2021, Dawn worked with the DogFest committee daily, beginning eight months before the event date. She recruited and organized volunteers, planned fundraising initiatives and event day, and handled hundreds of detailed projects. Her work continued through the event, and her efforts led to our region’s most successful DogFest event yet, raising over $250,000.  

 

Dawn’s passion for the Canine Companions mission and the people we serve clearly shows in all she does. Dawn shares, “I am grateful to be able to participate in an organization that helps make a difference in the lives of those with disabilities. I also love meeting and working with so many other wonderful volunteers and the staff.”  

 

We are honored to recognize Dawn with the regional volunteer award. We are grateful for her leadership and the countless hours she has contributed to the mission of Canine Companions.