To Whom It May Concern,
I am honored to write this letter in support of Mark Eberle and Paws Healing Heroes, an organization that is truly changing and saving lives.
I first had the privilege of meeting Mark in 2019 while I was a producer at The Rachael Ray Show. Through that experience, I became aware of his organization and the remarkable work he was doing to support veterans suffering from PTSD and to combat the devastating rates of suicide among our military community. At that time, we honored Mark for helping save more than 25 veterans by pairing them with trained therapy dogs (a number that has since grown to over 100 veterans). It was truly an honor to showcase his incredible and life-changing work.
What I could never have imagined then was how profoundly Mark would impact my own life and family. When I met Mark, my husband was serving (and continues to serve) in the United States Air Force. He had recently returned from a deployment during which he lost seven of his brothers-in-arms in a tragic helicopter accident. The loss deeply affected him, and he began struggling with severe depression and grief. At the time, I did not have the knowledge, tools, or resources to fully understand how to help him.
Hoping to bring some light into his life, we adopted a dog we named SoCrates. After hearing our story, Mark selflessly and immediately offered to have SoCrates trained as a therapy dog for my husband. He did this without hesitation, without expectation, simply out of compassion and commitment to helping veterans heal. The impact of that gift is impossible to put into words.
Through Mark’s support and guidance, SoCrates became a true source of comfort, stability, and healing for my husband. The bond they formed was extraordinary. Over time, the night terrors began to fade. Anxiety gave way to calm. Joy slowly returned. My husband found healthy ways to cope even on his hardest days.
Mark didn’t just help train a therapy dog. He helped restore hope, dignity, and peace to our family. There are no words that could ever fully express our gratitude to Mark and Paws Healing Heroes for what they have done for us. Their work reaches far beyond individual veterans, it strengthens families, saves lives, and restores hope where it is often hardest to find.
I sincerely wish Paws Healing Heroes will be able to continue and expand this life-changing mission for many years to come. Veterans, families, and communities across this country need and deserve the compassion, dedication, and impact that Mark brings to this work.
To us, and to so many others, Mark and Paws Healing Heroes are the true heroes.
With deepest gratitude and respect,