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Who We Are

Board, Staff & Trainers

Julie Wirtanen

Julie Wirtanen

Julie Wirtanen serves as Managing Director with Carter, a team of philanthropy specialists who work with nonprofit organizations worldwide. She has worked in all sectors of nonprofit organizations in the US and Canada, helping them build capacity to better serve their missions.

Julie grew up in Portland, OR and is a graduate of Willamette University in Salem, OR. Julie and her family live in Scottsdale, AZ and are the proud family of three dogs – Ryder, Pearl, and Lola, and one desert tortoise named Elden.

Personal passions include animal welfare and volunteering at wildlife sanctuaries worldwide. Julie is excited to help lead SBF’s mission of serving military veterans and their canine partners to be heroes for each other.

Our Impact

  • Graduate Veteran/Dog Teams

    350

  • Rescued Arizona Homeless Dogs

    200+

  • Our Goal for Veterans Served in 2023

    145

  • Training Hours Provided in 2022

    2,712.50

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