Community Corner

Veteran Who Overcame PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury Sets Out to Help Others

All of Frank DeLorenzo's spare time and energy goes to the dogs. Sponsored by Grape-Nuts.

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Frank DeLorenzo, the founder of Wags 4 Warriors, works full-time at what he refers to as his “normal job” or “Wags.”

The organization helps to match injured U.S. military veterans with service dogs and one-on-one training for free. 

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“The challenge was working full-time and doing Wags 4 Warriors full-time as well,” DeLorenzo said. “You ask why it is worth the effort? These men and women have given so much, so that the public never has to deal or see what they have seen. It is no effort, it is my honor to serve the ones who have served.”

DeLorenzo, of Brecksville, has a service dog of his own who helps pull him out of flashbacks and nightmares, and, literally, watches his back.

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An injured veteran himself, DeLorenzo suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and a traumatic brain injury, which makes running a nonprofit organization unusually challenging.

“I have a battle every day to remember what I have to do to help my brothers and sisters,” DeLorenzo said. “I have to learn how to control getting mad, and I have to keep focus on the mission.”

He credits his wife, Jen, with keeping Wags – and DeLorenzo himself, running smoothly.

“With my wife founding the program with me, she has become my way around the obstacles,” DeLorenzo said. “She is the brains of the operation.”

Going forward, DeLorenzo said the biggest challenge for Wags is just to keep going.

“The goal we are trying to achieve now is to make sure the support for the program keeps up. We don’t get paid to do this, but we have to make sure we have enough money,” DeLorenzo said.

Wags 4 Warriors makes the dogs available to injured veterans at no cost to them, including veterinary care and equipment. In the past, the organization has seen people seeking them out to donate money and host fundraisers, but the operating expenses are considerable for an organization like Wags 4 Warriors.

“So many Warrior have come to us for help, and if I fail at the goal, I fail them,” DeLorenzo said. 

However, helping just one veteran is enough for DeLorenzo to celebrate the organization's achievement.

“We have helped so many with the program, but if we were only able to help one, we have succeeded,” he said.


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