Amanda Balionis’ stated goal is to use her public platform to protect and advocate for dogs in need while supporting families and military veterans who benefit from the companionship and service dogs provide, and she has made that objective central to her public work since founding Puppies and Golf in 2020. A familiar face to golf and sports audiences through her reporting for the PGA Tour and CBS Sports, alongside her broadcasting career, she has built a nonprofit focused on tangible support rather than publicity.

Puppies and Golf began in 2020 with a mission grounded in three operational pillars: providing financial grants and awareness to shelters and rescues across the United States; offering emergency grants to families that face unexpected medical or training costs for their dogs; and supporting organizations that rescue and train service dogs for military veterans coping with PTSD and other invisible injuries. It was launched with community fundraising and digital outreach, and over the past five years, it has distributed funds and support to dozens of shelters and programs.

Since its founding, Puppies and Golf has reported donations exceeding $500,000 to shelters, rescues, community programs, and veteran service dog training organizations, a figure that reflects cumulative fundraising, grantmaking, and collaborative partnerships established since 2020. The 5th anniversary of the nonprofit coincided with Giving Tuesday, the international day of charitable action, and the timing provided an opportunity to both celebrate progress and raise funds that sustain the organization’s ongoing grants and services.

To mark the five-year milestone, Balionis took to Instagram with a Giving Tuesday announcement  “Happy #GivingTuesday ! Today also marks @puppiesandgolf 5th anniversary 🐶⛳️ to celebrate, our Pro Shop is stocked with BRAND NEW limited edition hats and t-shirts. All proceeds (and donations through our live fundraiser!) go towards continuing our mission in helping shelters, families, and communities in need as well as organizations that train service dogs for our military veterans.”

The post combined celebration with a clear fundraising call to action and reiterated the organization’s purpose without embellishment. The merchandise drive and live fundraiser named in the caption function as immediate mechanisms for supporters to contribute, while the public statement also reinforced the nonprofit’s community-based model.

For Amanda, the anniversary represents measurable results rather than symbolism: funds distributed, families assisted, and partnerships formed since 2020. This underlines how a media career and a nonprofit mission have progressed in parallel, and it provides a practical moment for supporters to translate attention into continued financial support for shelters, rescue groups, and veteran service dog programs.

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Joyita Das