Marine veteran BJ Ganem available for Columbus media interviews during Bush portrait exhibit

BJ Ganem, founder of Wisconsin-based nonprofit Sierra Delta, will be in Columbus Sept. 22-24 as a guest speaker at the National Veterans Memorial & Museum and available for media interviews. His visit coincides with the museum’s showing of George W. Bush’s “Portraits of Courage,” which includes two portraits of Ganem.

Why it matters: - Ganem’s appearance links a high-profile veterans art exhibit to a broader conversation about life after military service. - Sierra Delta’s model gives veterans more control over dog training by letting them choose their own dog and trainer. - The organization says that approach is aimed at helping veterans build routine, responsibility and connection.

What happened: - Sierra Delta announced that founder BJ Ganem will be available for in-studio and other media interviews in the Columbus area from Tuesday, Sept. 22, through Thursday, Sept. 24. - Ganem will be a special guest and speaker at the National Veterans Memorial & Museum. - The museum is featuring “Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors,” the traveling portrait collection by former President George W. Bush. - Ganem will be at the museum on Sept. 22 and remain in Columbus through Sept. 24. - The visit is open to live television, radio, podcast and newspaper interviews.

The details: - “Portraits of Courage” includes 66 full-color portraits of 98 service members and veterans Bush personally met. - Ganem is featured in two portraits in the collection. - Ganem lost his left leg to an IED in Iraq in 2004 while serving as a Marine. - Nearly a decade ago, Ganem founded Sierra Delta, a Wisconsin-based national nonprofit centered on the human-dog bond. - Through Sierra Delta’s Life Buddy Program, veterans select their own dog and their own professional trainer. - Sierra Delta provides a $3,500 training grant paid directly to the trainer. - The training can support a service dog, companion dog or family dog, depending on the veteran’s goals. - Sierra Delta says it has funded more than 1,100 training grants for veterans nationwide. - Nearly 200 grants are expected in 2026. - The nonprofit is approaching its 10th anniversary in 2027. - Ganem said, “The portraits are powerful because people connect with the sacrifice.” - Ganem also said the harder part to capture is “the work that has come after.”

Between the lines: - Ganem’s inclusion in the Bush collection gives him a platform to talk about both visible injury and the less visible work of recovery. - The timing of the museum appearance also serves as a media push for Sierra Delta and its veteran-focused dog program. - Sierra Delta’s emphasis on choice may set it apart from more traditional service-dog models that are more prescriptive.

What’s next: - Ganem is available for live interviews in Columbus, including early morning newscasts. - Interviews can include Ganem with a companion dog if requested. - Sierra Delta said the Columbus visit offers a chance to discuss the organization’s next chapter as it nears its 10th anniversary. - Reporters can schedule interviews through publicist Robb Leer at 612-701-0608 or Robbl@leercommunication.com.

The bottom line: - Ganem’s Columbus stop combines a veterans art exhibit, a personal recovery story and a pitch for a different way to support veterans through dogs.