At just 14, Jennifer Lutes walked up to a 4 Paws for Ability booth at a county fair and signed up to volunteer. Her very first foster, a golden retriever mix named Yanni, went on to change the life of a young man with cerebral palsy. Seeing Yanni fulfill his purpose sparked a lifelong passion.
After college, that passion became a career. As a full-time trainer, Jennifer worked side-by-side with families to turn hope into reality.
“Jennifer has always felt like part of our family!” shares 4 Paws family recipient, Donnie Winokur, who met Jennifer in 2008 when her son was matched with his service dog, Chancer. “She’s a huge part of why we keep going back for another 4 Paws dog.”
It’s impossible to measure how many lives Jennifer has touched, a profound impact that ultimately led her to become our Executive Director in 2022.
Tomorrow, Jennifer’s journey comes full circle as she steps back into the role where her heart first opened to this mission: as a volunteer. This next chapter brings her closer to her own family, where they will continue to raise the next generation of life-changing service dogs, starting with puppy Dozer!