Anniversary Of Bailey’s Gift Fund Results In Gift To K-9 Program

Five years of service on four paws and 23 years of service on two feet; the admirable careers of certified therapy dog Bailey and Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Wondra were honored with a gift of $2,052 to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Program. As Wisconsin’s first certified dental therapy dog, Bailey supported patients at Boudry Dental for five years before his passing on August 4, 2019. December 31 of the same year, Dr. Tammy Boudry established Bailey’s Gift Fund, a donor advised fund at the Fond du Lac Area Foundation. Dr. Boudry has marked the first anniversary of Bailey’s Gift Fund with a meaningful donation to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Program in honor of Bailey but also in particular memory of Deputy Mike Wondra. Deputy Wondra, who passed away December 15, 2016, served the law enforcement needs of Fond du Lac County for 23 years.

Dr. Tammy Boudry explained the significance of serving the unique needs of her community through Bailey’s Gift Fund, “The first 12 months have been an incredible light for so many individuals and groups that have faced unexpected trials during an unprecedented year. I couldn’t have imagined the support the fund has received and the difference in lives Bailey continues to make, even after his death.” The mission of Bailey’s Gift Fund is to provide resources and training for service, therapy, and facility dogs to help those in need and enhance the lives of individuals and groups in our community. In Dr. Boudry’s eyes, a gift to support the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Program checked each box of that mission.

The donation will be used by the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office to help fund their K-9 program, which is 100% underwritten and maintained through contributions from community members and organizations. Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt said, “We are very thankful for the generous donation from Bailey’s Gift Fund, and the monies will be used to keep the K-9 program successful and thriving.”

Sheriff Waldschmidt went on to say, “Our two K-9s, Koda and Ace, work every patrol shift with their respective handlers, deputies Mike Vis and Andy Kohlman. They are routinely used to detect drugs and narcotics, track dangerous criminal suspects who flee, and track lost or missing children. Their favorite task, however, is interacting with children and adults alike at community events throughout the year. Everyone loves to pet a friendly dog, and our deputies enjoy the community engagement as much as the K-9s enjoy being petted.”
The donation and the specific amount of $2,052 hold a deep meaning for Boudry Dental staff member Crystal Patterson. Deputy Mike Wondra proudly wore Badge #52 throughout his career. He was also the dedicated father of Patterson and her sister, Angel Larson.

“My dad was more than Badge #52. For a large part of his career, he was a loving parent trying to balance a career with the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office and being a single parent to my sister and I. He worked hard to keep food on our table and keep us all safe,” said Patterson.
“It seemed only right to end the year as special as it began, with a donation that keeps a father’s legacy thriving for a team member who Bailey worked with and loved; a donation that will protect and serve the very people Bailey cared about. This donation honors the legacy of a man who supported and served our community, which seemed precisely what this world needed now.”

The donation to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Program not only honors Deputy Wondra’s career and badge number, but also his love for law enforcement and the men, women, and canines who keep our community safe. Anyone who knows Dr. Tammy Boudry is aware of her giving spirit, and the story of Bailey’s Gift Fund and this donation are no exception. Each unique aspect of the gift was designed with great thought and consideration – creating awareness for the mission of Bailey’s Gift Fund, celebrating the fund’s first anniversary with a special donation, providing a gift to support a local K-9 program, and selecting a donation amount to honor the legacy of her staff member’s father.

Patterson shared powerful words in closing the December 31 check presentation. “This donation from Bailey’s Gift Fund will provide needed items to help the deputies and their dogs stay safe and do their jobs with greater efficiency. Dr. Boudry’s decision to memorialize my dad’s badge number in the gift amount brings me great joy and pride; he would be so honored by this gesture.” She continued, “My dad loved the people of the sheriff’s office and would be so happy to see this gift going to support the deputies – both two-legged and four-legged – in the fight to keep our community drug-free, crime-free and a great place to raise children.”

For those interested in supporting the mission of Bailey’s Gift Fund, there are three ways to give. Online gifts are accepted at www.fdlareafoundation.com/donate; checks may be made payable to the Fond du Lac Area Foundation, ATTN: Bailey’s Gift Fund, 384 N. Main Street Suite 4, Fond du Lac, WI 54935; or individuals and families are invited to participate in Whitening for a Paws at Boudry Dental LLC. Receive a free custom whitening kit for a minimum donation of $99. Call Boudry Dental at (920) 933-6400 to learn more.