The founders and bakers of Pawfectly Delicious. (L-R): Terry Wilson (community volunteer), Neil Dawes, Bryan Tuccillo, Anne Tuccillo (executive director), Julian Stephens, Charlie Flynt (operations team lead), Karen Svilich (production assistant and board secretary) and Joseph Cahill.

IT STARTED WITH A PUPPY – as all good stories do.

In 2014, Anne Tuccillo got a puppy for her son, Bryan, to keep him company when his younger brother left for college. 2014 was also the year Bryan aged out of special education services in the Fairfax County school district. Bryan was born with Mitochondrial Disease, which impacts his ability to see clearly, walk without a wheelchair, speak clearly and live independently, Tuccillo explained.

“The timing was perfect; we became a dog family,” Tuccillo said. “And after eight job coaches were unable to assist Bryan in obtaining a job that paid, my friend Holly encouraged me to start baking treats out of my home kitchen with Bryan’s assistance.”

The underemployment rate for people with different abilities is almost 80%, Tuccillo shared. With that in mind, she and Holly started talking about building a business where Bryan and others with similar abilities could find job training and meaningful work.

Anne and Bryan Tuccillo sell treats with their family member, Grace Stout.	The organization partners with a local vocational culinary arts program at the Pulley Vocational Training Center. Trainees help prepare and mix the dough.

After success baking and selling dog treats to family and friends using Holly’s all-natural ginger cookie recipe, Pawfectly Delicious Dog Treats officially became a nonprofit organization in 2017 – with Anne and Bryan as cofounders.

“Each young adult who engages with us in the dough making, baking, packing and selling process is a person who lives right in their own community – and in turn creates a sense of belonging, purpose and of contributing to the area where they live,” she said.

In October 2019, NVAR Cares awarded the nonprofit its first grant, which was used to pay rent for the church kitchen where they bake. The organization’s primary goal for the future is to begin compensating its team of bakers and packers, who are currently considered volunteers.

The NVAR Cares Committee grants a donation to Pawfectly Delicious in October 2019.

“We’d love to connect with the NVAR community,” Tuccillo said. “We know that with each home sold, it is highly likely that a dog might accompany the homeowners. We would love to team up with Realtors® to provide products that could be used as welcome gifts, promotions and supporting events.”

Learn more: Browse Pawfectly Delicious Dog Treats products at pawfectlydelicious.org or purchase through NVAR’s Realtor® Shop. To learn more about NVAR Cares and the organizations it supports, please visit NVAR.com/Cares.



Kate O’Toole is the NVAR digital content manager & senior editor.