Saint Francis 2023 Annual Report

“The Mayor of Saint Francis” Leo Sorensen

just talking with people and helping to answer any questions they may have. And I listen. “

It is impossible to talk about Kris without mentioning the apple of her eye and stealer of all our hearts...LEO! If you have visited Saint Francis in the last decade, odds are you have had the pleasure of making his acquaintance. Even better odds that he has (not so subtly) asked you for a treat. When he was just a puppy, he was dubbed “The Mayor” for the way he enthusiastically greeted every single person who walked through our front door. His effortless charm and unmistakable howl have made him a fixture here, and the cornerstone of the quirky crew of our staff’s personal dogs who accompany us to work every day. When Kris decided to puppy raise Beatrice, Leo was...well, not thrilled. But, now he relishes his role as big brother and after the birth of Beatrice’s litter, funny “Uncle Leo” to the next class of Saint Francis Service Dogs.

Kris’s commitment to our mission goes beyond the hours she puts in at the office. When a new litter of service dogs to-be arrived in the summer of 2021, she stepped up to be a Volunteer Puppy Raiser, taking home sweet Beatrice, who graduated into our Breeding Program last year. Now, as Beatrice’s new litter of puppies gets ready to start their own journeys to be service dogs, it seems fitting that Kris will help find the partners whose lives they will change. While she is pouring her heart into supporting our mission, Kris is often entertaining us with her musical talent at the same time - always humming or singing an obscure song that tends to stay in your head for the rest of the day. She is quick to make us laugh, or quick to make us cry as she relays the poignant moments she witnesses while she guides our candidates and partners through their Saint Francis journeys. “I’m touched every single day by the stories and experiences of our applicants, candidates, and partners. It’s an honor to be a part of the process in getting them matched with a service dog.”

“These dogs provide opportunities – opportunities for independence and

dignity and friendship and confidence and community. These opportunities are priceless, and that’s why we are so invested in what we do and in the people we serve,” says Kris.

Leo

Thank you, Kris! You are such an important part of our Saint Francis Family.

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