July 23 photo event in Sarasota for people and their pets to benefit nonprofit My Service Dog’s Place

AAF Suncoast sponsoring the fundraiser

On July 23, representatives of AAF Suncoast, the local chapter of the American Advertising Federation, are inviting members of the public and their “furry friends” to come to MakSchu Productions for the Paws for Purpose charitable event supporting veterans and their service dogs.

MakSchu Productions is located at 1748 Independence Blvd., Suite F5, in Sarasota.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, photographer Yana Parker “and some of our community’s leading professionals in advertising and media” will help individuals “create memories that last a lifetime” with participants’ four-legged best friends, a news release says.

AAF Suncoast is partnering with My Service Dog’s Place, a non-profit that provides refuge for all veterans, military service members, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and Blue Star, Silver Star and Gold Star families, including their service dogs, the news release explains.

“As a vital program of My Warrior’s Place, an organization working to provide a safe refuge and bring about healing and hope to all Veterans and Military Service Members who have returned from the battlefield, My Service Dog’s Place has a vision to serve as the ultimate resource so that no American Hero would ever need to choose between his or her well-being and their service dog,” the release adds.

“Enjoy patriotic photos of your pets decked out in red, white, and blue as you help raise funds for a new state-of-the-art kennel facility benefitting My Service Dog’s Place,” and support the programming of AAF Suncoast, the release continues.

For a $20 donation, a person will receive three professional photos of one pet, the release notes. For $35, an individual will receive six professional photos with two pets. “A portion of the proceeds will benefit AAF Suncoast and My Service Dog’s Place,” the release points out.

Classically trained artist Hao Penghe also will be at the event to raffle off both an original artwork, with tickets at $10 each, and to help participants learn to create their very own pet portraits, for $15. The fundraiser will run until July 30, with the raffle drawing taking place on Aug. 1, the release adds.

For more information, visit www.mywarriorsplace.org/.

“AAF Suncoast is a collective of professionals representing the unifying voice of advertising on Florida’s Suncoast,” the release explains. AAF is the nation’s primary trade association, actively representing 50,000 professionals — media members, advertisers and agencies — industry-wide. The primary goal of its Public Service Committee is to identify local nonprofits in need and to develop advertising campaigns that generate “donations of time, talent, and treasure,” the release says.