The Green Bay Packers recently awarded $250,000 worth of grants to support two veterans’ organizations in Wisconsin.
The NFL organization’s charitable arm, Green Bay Packers Give Back, will provide two Veterans Impact Grants of $125,000 each to Dogs2DogTags and Guitars for Vets. According to a press release from the Packers, the grants were awarded to organizations with a strong commitment to improving veterans’ quality of life.
Pairing Dogs with Veterans
Dogs2DogTags, (D2DT) from Plymouth, Wisconsin, supports veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety by providing them with highly trained rescued or donated dogs.
D2DT, established in 2016, has gifted 38 veterans with dogs, as well as eight service dog teams, following more than 9,000 hours of meticulous training and veteran instruction, highlighted by about 1,920 hours specifically for service dog training.
D2DT expanded in 2024 to offer professional service training for dogs to serve veterans’ needs. The training works with veterans and their dogs to prepare for public settings, situations in the workplace, and daily tasks with ease and confidence.
“As we approach our 10th anniversary this April, we’re proud of the decade of work behind us,” said Torre Willadsen, D2DT Founder/President and Lead Trainer. “We remain committed to preparing Veteran-dog teams for real-world environments and long-term success, and we’re grateful for partners like the Green Bay Packers who help us continue that mission.”
The organization also works with veterans who are current dog owners, training the dogs for therapy or service roles. D2DT provides training at no cost to the veteran. Results have paid off. According to the organization, veterans have praised the program for helping them cope with PTSD, building their self-esteem, restoring their sense of purpose, and helping them become more active.
“What we do goes beyond training dogs. It’s about giving Veterans the tools, the support, and the community they need to heal and move forward with confidence,” said Tammy Graf, Executive Director at D2DT. “We’re incredibly grateful to the Green Bay Packers for strengthening that impact.”
The Gift of Guitars
While Guitars for Vets is a national organization, it has a strong presence in Wisconsin.
Guitars for Vets has chapters in Milwaukee, Racine and at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee. The Packers grant will stay in the Dairy State to help Wisconsin veterans.
It’s been said that music is therapy, and the organization works toward providing that experience for veterans battling PTSD, depression and other disabilities. With help from volunteers, Guitars for Vets gives veterans free guitar lessons, a new guitar, and accessory kit, all within a structured program.
In the 10-week program, veterans get one-on-one instructions from a guitar professional, and modifications can be made to the instrument to make it accessible for the veteran. After graduating from the program, participants are invited to monthly jam sessions with other veterans.
Last year, 1,995 veterans graduated nationally. Since the program’s founding in 2007, more than 17,000 veterans graduated from Guitars for Vets. Nearly 20 years later, the organization boasts 147 chapters in more than 200 locations with over 800 volunteers providing valuable teaching to eager guitar-loving veterans.
“We are deeply grateful to the Green Bay Packers for this extraordinary investment in our Veterans,” said Anthony Paolino, an Air Force veteran on Guitars for Vets’ Board of Directors. “This generous support will directly expand access to our music instruction and therapeutic programming across Wisconsin, ensuring more Veterans can find healing, connection, and renewed purpose through the power of music and community. The Packers organization continues to demonstrate what it truly means to stand with those who have served. Together, we are changing and, in many cases, saving lives right here in Wisconsin.”
For the last six years, Packers Give Back has provided Veterans Impact Grants to organizations across Wisconsin. These organizations, combined with other Packers charities, contributed more than $13 million to grants in 2025.
