CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Hard work and a servant’s heart has awarded Dustin Maxfield, Army veteran and founder of the Sheepdog Initiative in Clarksville, tickets to Super Bowl LIV.
The honor came as part of the NFL Salute to Service, a partnership with the NFL, USAA, and military non-profit organizations. Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill made the announcement in a tweet Monday, January 27.
From helping homeless veterans, to arranging for service dogs for vets suffering from PTSD & TBI, Army vet Dustin Maxfield continues to serve. Thank you @usaa & @AmericanLegion for helping me get him 2 tix to #SBLIV. I look forward to seeing you in Miami! #SaluteToService pic.twitter.com/Qeeu4koBid
— Ryan Tannehill (@ryantannehill1) January 27, 2020
The Salute to Service program began in 2011 as a way to fund programs that positively impact active duty soldiers and veterans.
Several active duty, veterans, and surviving family members across the country were awarded tickets to Super Bowl LIV through the program. Maxfield and his father Rodney, a US Air Force veteran, will join the group February 1 at USAA’s Salute to Service Lounge. There, Tannehill and fellow NFL stars will have the chance to meet the servicemembers.
“Staff Sergeant Dustin Maxfield’s sixteen years of service in the US Army in defense of our country justly makes him a true Titan,” Tannehill said. “I am proud to partner with USAA and The American Legion to award Dustin and his father Rodney, a US Air Force veteran, with a trip to the Super Bowl LIV in Miami.”
About Sheepdog Initiative
After serving three tours in Iraq and two in Afghanistan, 2007 – 2017, Maxfield left the military but continued to serve. In 2018, Maxfield has been assisting homeless veterans in the Clarksville community and surrounding area through the Sheepdog Initiative.
The organization provides aid to veterans transitioning from homelessness. The organization also buys service animals for veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI. They work to raise awareness of veteran suicide, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and PTSD.
In an interview with Clarksville Now, he said everything came together after he joined his sister helping serve breakfast at an event with Manna Café Ministries. “I decided that this is what I wanted to do and the next thing you know we were packing up my van and handing out hygiene and snack items wherever we could,” said Maxfield.
Maxfield also shared the passion and purpose behind starting the non-profit during an interview on Rewind 94.3.
Learn more about The Sheepdog Initiative on Facebook.