The Californer - Industry Raises 3,000+ To Support Canine Assistance Organization To Help Veterans

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Longtime Supporter & Renowned Trainer Joe Verde Donates $20,000

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. - Californer -- Joe Verde Sales & Management Training Inc. announced that company president, Joe Verde, himself a U.S. Army veteran, continued his longtime support by donating $20,000 at the live auction that raised an all-time high $183,000+ for the Wounded Veterans Initiative of Canine Companions (CCI), a national nonprofit organization that provides highly trained assistance dogs to people with disabilities, including veterans.

At the 2023 National Automobile Dealers Association annual convention in Dallas, Tex., BackLotCars auctioned a liquid black LiveWire ONE™ electric motorcycle to raise funds to train service dogs for the Wounded Veterans Initiative of CCI.

After some competitive bidding and winners re-donating the bike, the final winning bid came from David Taylor of Taylor Chevrolet in Rexburg, Idaho.

"Thanks to all the bidders in the car business who helped make this a record $183,000 plus in donations at the NADA convention in Dallas," said Verde.

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Verde has been active in the BackLotCars Charity Auction for 10 years (since 2013), and has donated $303,000 to CCI's Veterans Initiative through NADA and other events.

"Our veterans have done so much for us and here's our chance to give something in return," he said. "A dog is such a great source of emotional support – when you have one you almost can't have a bad day."

He added, "I have nothing but respect for CCI and the great work it does in training and providing canine companions. I'll never stop my support – it's too important. Please do all you can to support this worthy cause and visit cci.org/veterans."

CCI trained assistance dogs provide help to those with physical disabilities and more recently, those affected by PTSD.

"It's not unusual for veterans to suffer from stress, and one of the many things a trained dog does is help them to relax," Verde explained.

Verde's father was a veteran, and his son and two grandsons are all veterans, making four generations serving in the armed forces. Verde served in the U.S. Army for more than seven years and was stationed in Vietnam in 1967, 1968 and 1969, during the Vietnam War, as a CH-47 Flight Engineer.

Visit http://www.JoeVerde.com for more details.