Featuring Graduate Speaker - Morgan McCarthy & Wolf

Morgan McCarthy has grown up with Canine Companions! In 2016 the Saratoga Springs, New York resident was matched with her much loved service dog Dewey.  Dewey and Morgan were teammates in the truest sense of the word. Dewey helped Morgan in all aspects of her daily activities, allowing her to live a truly independent life.  Morgan was matched with service dog Wolf in August after Dewey passed in 2023.  Wolf is happy to fill the shoes of her successor Dewey!  “I’ve been handed a new ‘leash’ on life—life with independence at the forefront.  Because of Canine Companions, I’m no longer sitting by a window watching the world go by around me, because I have four paws, a wet nose, lots of kisses, and a forever friend by my side for it all.”

Yvonne Dagger & Picasso

A woman, Yvonne, with glasses sits on a couch with a therapy dog, Picasso, in a blue vest beside her.

Yvonne Dagger, a Long Island native and professional artist, first taught her Canine Companions Release Dog, Dagger II, how to paint in 2015. While in her studio one day, Dagger approached Yvonne and nudged her with his snout. Jokingly, Yvonne asked Dagger if he wanted to paint, and his tail began to wag. Within a month, Dagger learned how to paint. Dagger started creating amazing artwork and quickly assumed his role as DogVinci, raising more than $213,000 for multiple charities. Since then, Yvonne has taught her Canine Companions Therapy Dog Picasso how to paint as well! Picasso will be joining us at the gala, come watch how Picasso creates a painting from start to finish, and then you will have a chance to bid on the masterpiece created!

Tom Stebbins

man wearing a peacock jacket standing in front of a leaf wall

Tom has helped raise millions for internationally recognized non-profits all over the world including, the American Heart Foundation, the American Liver Foundation, Best Buddies, Make-A-Wish, and Teach for America.

Tom is also a sought-after speaker, advocate, and commentator who was twice named to City & State’s Law Power 100. Tom has been published or quoted in over one hundred media outlets, including The New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Fox News, NBC, and NPR.

Tom has an MBA from Cornell University and a BA from Vassar College. Tom lives with his wife and two children in Upstate New York