Danea Key – President
A native of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Danea Key has called Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri home since 1991. As a devoted wife to Joel Key and proud mother of six, Danea’s life is deeply rooted in family, faith, and service to others.
Her passion for helping people with disabilities was born from a personal journey with her daughter, Grayson, and her service dog, Saber — the partnership that inspired the creation of the Saber Life Foundation. What began as a mission to connect individuals with custom-trained service dogs has since evolved into a broader vision of empowerment, inclusion, and accessibility for people of all abilities.
As President, Danea leads with empathy and vision, blending her lived experience with a strategic drive to create lasting impact. In 2025, she and her family relocated to Saginaw, Michigan, positioning the Foundation to expand its reach and strengthen its capacity to serve communities across the country.
Through her leadership, Danea continues to champion compassion, equity, and opportunity — ensuring that every individual has access to the support and dignity they deserve.
Joel Key – Vice President
Born in Joplin, Missouri, and raised in Baxter Springs, Kansas, Joel Key has long been grounded in the values of hard work, family, and community. After moving to Northwest Arkansas at the age of six and later settling with his family on a small homestead in Southwest Missouri, Joel built a life centered on integrity, craftsmanship, and compassion.
With over 15 years of experience in the construction industry, Joel developed a deep appreciation for dedication, teamwork, and problem-solving — qualities that would later become the foundation of his leadership within the Saber Life Foundation.
In early 2020, Joel made the bold decision to leave his long-standing career to co-found the Saber Life Foundation alongside his family. What began as a mission inspired by their daughter Grayson and her service dog, Saber, quickly evolved into a lifelong commitment to creating opportunities, independence, and inclusion for individuals with disabilities.
Guided by humility and purpose, Joel continues to play a vital role in advancing the Foundation’s mission and strengthening its ability to serve communities with compassion and integrity.
Brooke Ganes-Secretary
Brooke Ganes is a native New Yorker that recently found her way to Northwest Arkansas. She has a relentless passion for raising the bar of acceptance and inclusivity for individuals with invisible and visible disabilities. Brooke was a founding Board member of This-Ability Business Resource Group at The Coca-Cola Company, where she helped champion a number of initiatives for disability awareness within the Organization. As a proud dog Mom of a Labrador Retriever, Brooke believes deeply in the ability for service dogs to provide their owners with a quality of life that they otherwise may not have. Brooke is currently a Senior Product and Brand Manager at Sam’s Club, where she gets to use her creative energy and business background to bring new products to life.
Justin and Cindy Vandevort-Puppy Raisers
Justin and Cindy moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2014 and began to volunteer as puppy raisers a couple years later. They are currently the lucky “puppy raiser parents” to Bear, a six-month-old goldendoodle, and he is the seventh dog they have worked with. They have been fortunate to meet and work with some of the forever families for the dogs they have helped raise. The joy this has brought is unmeasurable and makes every minute of their time absolutely worth it.