June 19, 2024 • 7 mins
LIVE! Birdies for Charity interviews Puppies & Golf!
CBS Sports AnnouncerAmanda Balionis is the founder of Puppies & Golf andorganization that is focused on helping people and their pets, adoption and so much more. Puppies & Golf helps by supporting and promoting organizations dedicated to connecting humans and dogs for a lifetime of purpose and love, with an emphasis on Military veterans.
CBS Sports AnnouncerAmanda Balionis is the founder of Puppies & Golf andorganization that is focused on helping people and their pets, adoption and so much more. Puppies & Golf helps by supporting and promoting organizations dedicated to connecting humans and dogs for a lifetime of purpose and love, with an emphasis on Military veterans.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
I hear communities. Thank you somuch for listening. I'm Renee Danino.
We are here live at the TravelersChampionship and our Berties for Charity booth,
which is sponsored by Webster Bank andiHeartMedia. It is a beautiful day.
If you're hearing a noise in thebackground, know that it is all good
because that, my friends, isthe air conditioner. Thank you very much.
The Travelers is through Sunday, endof play Berties for Charity. You
(00:21):
can help so many great organizations inher stake. Go to Travelers Championship dot
com click Berties for Charity. Chooseone that resonates with you. Maybe it'll
be Puppies and Golf and I amI'm a little nervous right now when the
announcer interviews the announcer and has alike a massively larger following venue. Ladies
and gentlemen, please welcome Amanda Balionis. She is also a CBS sports announcer,
(00:45):
but also with Puppies and Golf.Amanda, thank you for being here.
Thank you so much for having me, and thank you for what you
do in the animal advocacy world.I always love someone who comes up and
knows immediately. Why what we domatters. Listen my motto I say this
on all my radio show, onmy TV show, I say people and
pets. When we're kinder to animals, we're kinder to people. That's exactly.
I always say that the animal advocacyworld is not just about saving all
(01:08):
the animals, which is always thegoal, but it's about how saving those
animals actually improves the quality of lifeof your community of you know, people
in your household. Like it trulyis a full circle moment. It certainly
is. And for those that maynot know, we were introduced to puppies
and golf last year here at thetournament, but back again now in our
booth today. So if you arecoming and you hear this interview on the
(01:30):
first day of the of fun,I should say the Traveler Championship wins that
you guys are gonna be spending sometime here in our Bertie Se Charity booth
by Mini Golf. But reminder audiencewho you are and how you help and
how they can help you. Yeah. So, I guess my day job
is I'm an announcer for CBS Sports. I conduct all the post round interviews,
you know, just a little something. She does do the post round
(01:51):
interviews for the PGA Tour on CBS, and then I'm also a sideline reporter
on NFL for CBS as well.But really my passion is my foundation.
So I founded Puppies and Golf duringCOVID. It was really kind of a
slow build into what Puppies and Golfis today, which started with me actually
volunteering at Canines for Warriors when Ilived in Jacksonville, Florida. So for
(02:13):
those of you who aren't familiar withthem, go check them out. Talk
about a perfect full circle moment.They go into shelters, rescue dogs that
are sometimes within hours of being euthanized, train them to become service animals who
then turn around and save our militaryveterans who are battling PTSD Post nine to
eleven, and you know all thoseother invisible injuries that so many suffer when
(02:35):
they come back from protecting our freedoms. So I realized, very quickly,
oh my gosh, look how amazing, how many amazing dogs there are in
these shelters that are not making itout with no fault of their own.
And I think also, maybe evenmore importantly, oh my gosh, look
at how the impact these dogs aremaking on these on these veterans. You
know, these veterans can be onup to thirteen medications a day. Within
(03:00):
a year of having their service dog, most of them are down to one
or zero. And if I mayinterject, because I'm familiar with the organization
and we do a lot of workwith our veterans here, you know,
the suicide rate with our veterans.You know, there was one statistic with
twenty two a day that actually hasbeen increased in our twenty three a day.
Yep, depending on which statistic,either way, it's it's too many,
it's one is too many a day. Yeah, when I first started
(03:23):
with canine Sports, it was itwas one one every hour, it was
twenty four a day. So togo down any amount is huge, but
there's still a whole lot of workto do. Either way, they've proven
these comfort dog service dogs have madea difference and saved lives. So many
military veterans have told me the firstday they didn't think about suicide was the
(03:46):
first day they woke up with theirservice dog. It's it's just an incredibly
impactful organization that has certainly changed mylife forever. So of course that is
one of our major pillars is tosupport organizations that train service animals to help
our military veterans. We donated sixtythousand dollars last year and can Ie for
Warriors alone, we're doing a highfive. Yeah, and also twenty five
thousand dollars to e Cad. Okay, another high five. You're in Connecticut
(04:09):
and we love them, We loveyou Cad. Yeah. So you know,
I just think that's such an importantthing. That's that's certainly a large
tenant of ours. Our second pillaris to support shelters and rescues all across
the country with not only financial need, so that they don't have to waste
the time raising money. We canjust give them the money and then use
that time that they'd saved to actuallygo do the real work. So we
(04:30):
also help them not through financial notjust through financial needs, but also through
awareness and promoting them at events likethis and on our website. And then
our third pillar, which I knowyou know personally through a mutual friend of
ours, is we help support familiesthat have an unexpected medical bill with their
dog. Yeah. So many timesthat dog will either end up back in
his shelter or euthanized. We stepin and we will pay that medical bill
(04:55):
so that that dog can just worryabout getting healthy and the family doesn't have
to deal with the financial verdict ormake a horrifying decision. That's right,
And you know this is so timely. I don't know if you saw the
headlines as of yesterday, there's aI won't name names at this point,
hmm, excuse me, but thereis a national insurance company, not the
Travelers. Just so we're clear hereat the Travelers Championship, they're dropping their
(05:16):
pet insurance. Thousands and thousands andthousands of people are horrified right now.
They've paid into this. They don'tknow what they're going to do. Some
of the policies they're canceling are witholder dogs with pre existing conditions. So
organizations like yours puppies in golf arenow even more important. And I wonder
(05:40):
if down the road the next fewweeks, months, even you may even
feel more requests because of this particularsituation. And I am truly hoping and
praying this is not a trend.I can't imagine that it would become a
trend. I think it's a necessarypart of our society right now, and
obviously insurance companies and all states arehaving kind of a reckoning right now.
(06:02):
That's way above my pay grade andmy understanding of our politics. But yeah,
our goal is to never have toturn down a grant request because we
don't have the fund. So interviewslike this, being able to have the
sport of, you know, theTravelers Championship like this, it matters so
much because we are literally helping tosave and change lives. So the website
(06:24):
that I want you guys to goand check out is Puppies and Golf dot
org. That's Puppies and A andD Puppies and Golf dot Org. You're
gonna get all the information there.You're gonna find out all the ways that
you can help. You're going tofind out even if you can volunteer or
come and support events. Follow themaround wherever they madization going to sporting events.
Follow Amanda. How can we followyou too? Yeah, you can
follow me on Instagram. It's justat Ballyonis my last name, and Twitter
(06:47):
it's at Amanda Underscore ballionis and ofcourse at Puppies and Golf right So so
follow support as you know me hereand in Connecticut as an animal advocate.
I'm stamping my approval on this andour mutual friend introduced to this organization last
year, so I've been happy tosupport this, but I'm glad to spend
some time with you here in thebooth. We're gonna talk off Mike now
because all of my audience is probablysaying, tell her about the canine ball,
(07:10):
the second one ever in Connecticut justhappened. I started that, Uh,
we're gonna talk about amazing canine duos, and we're gonna talk about a
whole lot more. So we're gonnahave some fun today with Amanda here at
the Travelers Championship in the fan zoneagain for more information about Puppies and Golf
who Actually we're supporting another local charityhere today at Protectors of Animals, you
know POA Inc. Dot org.You know I love them, but again,
(07:31):
more importantly Puppies and Golf dot orgto help Amanda Ballionas. Thank you
so much for being here today.Thank you so much for having me
I hear communities. Thank you somuch for listening. I'm Renee Danino.
We are here live at the TravelersChampionship and our Berties for Charity booth,
which is sponsored by Webster Bank andiHeartMedia. It is a beautiful day.
If you're hearing a noise in thebackground, know that it is all good
because that, my friends, isthe air conditioner. Thank you very much.
The Travelers is through Sunday, endof play Berties for Charity. You
(00:21):
can help so many great organizations inher stake. Go to Travelers Championship dot
com click Berties for Charity. Chooseone that resonates with you. Maybe it'll
be Puppies and Golf and I amI'm a little nervous right now when the
announcer interviews the announcer and has alike a massively larger following venue. Ladies
and gentlemen, please welcome Amanda Balionis. She is also a CBS sports announcer,
(00:45):
but also with Puppies and Golf.Amanda, thank you for being here.
Thank you so much for having me, and thank you for what you
do in the animal advocacy world.I always love someone who comes up and
knows immediately. Why what we domatters. Listen my motto I say this
on all my radio show, onmy TV show, I say people and
pets. When we're kinder to animals, we're kinder to people. That's exactly.
I always say that the animal advocacyworld is not just about saving all
(01:08):
the animals, which is always thegoal, but it's about how saving those
animals actually improves the quality of lifeof your community of you know, people
in your household. Like it trulyis a full circle moment. It certainly
is. And for those that maynot know, we were introduced to puppies
and golf last year here at thetournament, but back again now in our
booth today. So if you arecoming and you hear this interview on the
(01:30):
first day of the of fun,I should say the Traveler Championship wins that
you guys are gonna be spending sometime here in our Bertie Se Charity booth
by Mini Golf. But reminder audiencewho you are and how you help and
how they can help you. Yeah. So, I guess my day job
is I'm an announcer for CBS Sports. I conduct all the post round interviews,
you know, just a little something. She does do the post round
(01:51):
interviews for the PGA Tour on CBS, and then I'm also a sideline reporter
on NFL for CBS as well.But really my passion is my foundation.
So I founded Puppies and Golf duringCOVID. It was really kind of a
slow build into what Puppies and Golfis today, which started with me actually
volunteering at Canines for Warriors when Ilived in Jacksonville, Florida. So for
(02:13):
those of you who aren't familiar withthem, go check them out. Talk
about a perfect full circle moment.They go into shelters, rescue dogs that
are sometimes within hours of being euthanized, train them to become service animals who
then turn around and save our militaryveterans who are battling PTSD Post nine to
eleven, and you know all thoseother invisible injuries that so many suffer when
(02:35):
they come back from protecting our freedoms. So I realized, very quickly,
oh my gosh, look how amazing, how many amazing dogs there are in
these shelters that are not making itout with no fault of their own.
And I think also, maybe evenmore importantly, oh my gosh, look
at how the impact these dogs aremaking on these on these veterans. You
know, these veterans can be onup to thirteen medications a day. Within
(03:00):
a year of having their service dog, most of them are down to one
or zero. And if I mayinterject, because I'm familiar with the organization
and we do a lot of workwith our veterans here, you know,
the suicide rate with our veterans.You know, there was one statistic with
twenty two a day that actually hasbeen increased in our twenty three a day.
Yep, depending on which statistic,either way, it's it's too many,
it's one is too many a day. Yeah, when I first started
(03:23):
with canine Sports, it was itwas one one every hour, it was
twenty four a day. So togo down any amount is huge, but
there's still a whole lot of workto do. Either way, they've proven
these comfort dog service dogs have madea difference and saved lives. So many
military veterans have told me the firstday they didn't think about suicide was the
(03:46):
first day they woke up with theirservice dog. It's it's just an incredibly
impactful organization that has certainly changed mylife forever. So of course that is
one of our major pillars is tosupport organizations that train service animals to help
our military veterans. We donated sixtythousand dollars last year and can Ie for
Warriors alone, we're doing a highfive. Yeah, and also twenty five
thousand dollars to e Cad. Okay, another high five. You're in Connecticut
(04:09):
and we love them, We loveyou Cad. Yeah. So you know,
I just think that's such an importantthing. That's that's certainly a large
tenant of ours. Our second pillaris to support shelters and rescues all across
the country with not only financial need, so that they don't have to waste
the time raising money. We canjust give them the money and then use
that time that they'd saved to actuallygo do the real work. So we
(04:30):
also help them not through financial notjust through financial needs, but also through
awareness and promoting them at events likethis and on our website. And then
our third pillar, which I knowyou know personally through a mutual friend of
ours, is we help support familiesthat have an unexpected medical bill with their
dog. Yeah. So many timesthat dog will either end up back in
his shelter or euthanized. We stepin and we will pay that medical bill
(04:55):
so that that dog can just worryabout getting healthy and the family doesn't have
to deal with the financial verdict ormake a horrifying decision. That's right,
And you know this is so timely. I don't know if you saw the
headlines as of yesterday, there's aI won't name names at this point,
hmm, excuse me, but thereis a national insurance company, not the
Travelers. Just so we're clear hereat the Travelers Championship, they're dropping their
(05:16):
pet insurance. Thousands and thousands andthousands of people are horrified right now.
They've paid into this. They don'tknow what they're going to do. Some
of the policies they're canceling are witholder dogs with pre existing conditions. So
organizations like yours puppies in golf arenow even more important. And I wonder
(05:40):
if down the road the next fewweeks, months, even you may even
feel more requests because of this particularsituation. And I am truly hoping and
praying this is not a trend.I can't imagine that it would become a
trend. I think it's a necessarypart of our society right now, and
obviously insurance companies and all states arehaving kind of a reckoning right now.
(06:02):
That's way above my pay grade andmy understanding of our politics. But yeah,
our goal is to never have toturn down a grant request because we
don't have the fund. So interviewslike this, being able to have the
sport of, you know, theTravelers Championship like this, it matters so
much because we are literally helping tosave and change lives. So the website
(06:24):
that I want you guys to goand check out is Puppies and Golf dot
org. That's Puppies and A andD Puppies and Golf dot Org. You're
gonna get all the information there.You're gonna find out all the ways that
you can help. You're going tofind out even if you can volunteer or
come and support events. Follow themaround wherever they madization going to sporting events.
Follow Amanda. How can we followyou too? Yeah, you can
follow me on Instagram. It's justat Ballyonis my last name, and Twitter
(06:47):
it's at Amanda Underscore ballionis and ofcourse at Puppies and Golf right So so
follow support as you know me hereand in Connecticut as an animal advocate.
I'm stamping my approval on this andour mutual friend introduced to this organization last
year, so I've been happy tosupport this, but I'm glad to spend
some time with you here in thebooth. We're gonna talk off Mike now
because all of my audience is probablysaying, tell her about the canine ball,
(07:10):
the second one ever in Connecticut justhappened. I started that, Uh,
we're gonna talk about amazing canine duos, and we're gonna talk about a
whole lot more. So we're gonnahave some fun today with Amanda here at
the Travelers Championship in the fan zoneagain for more information about Puppies and Golf
who Actually we're supporting another local charityhere today at Protectors of Animals, you
know POA Inc. Dot org.You know I love them, but again,
(07:31):
more importantly Puppies and Golf dot orgto help Amanda Ballionas. Thank you
so much for being here today.Thank you so much for having me
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