Month: January 2014

A poem by graduate Pam Garde How four legs and one heart makes the journey to work so much safer… She wakes me with a kiss, and some whimpers to boot It means, “Mom, get up,” and oh, what a hoot. We run down the stairs and park, feed, water and park It’s only after 6… Continue reading The Journey to Work

We recently caught up with Heidi Surette, the volunteer puppy raiser for Puppy Bowl star and future guide dog, Benton.   Guiding Eyes: What inspired you to raise a Guiding Eyes puppy? Heidi: My inspiration is my dad, Paul.  My dad is blind and lived a very active life.  He was employed as a piano… Continue reading Raising a Puppy Bowl Star

Westchester County, NY (January 28, 2014) – On Saturday, January 25, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, known around the globe as one of the foremost guide dog schools, celebrated the graduation of Cecil Williams and Guiding Eyes Godiva, a two-year old yellow Lab and successor guide for Orlando, who received widespread praise across the globe… Continue reading Cecil Williams Returns to Guiding Eyes

Guiding Eyes for the Blind, known around the globe as one of the foremost guide dog schools, has announced that William D. Badger, the organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer, will retire after a twenty-year tenure. A new President and CEO, Thomas A. Panek, will join Guiding Eyes on February 18, 2014. Badger will begin… Continue reading Guiding Eyes Names New President and CEO

Hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season! Janice and I have been super busy with the festivities, along with school and preparation for my father’s wedding.  We participated in several walks for charity, including one that supported Relay for Life and another for The Iris Network, a Portland based charity providing rehabilitation to… Continue reading Janice has an IFT date

Grad Charley Tipps works as a rehabilitation specialist in Oklahoma.  His best bud, guide dog Hobbs, is never far from his side. Charley was recently recognized for “outstanding achievement, dedication and leadership in the field of rehabilitation teaching” by the Mid America Conference of Rehabilitation Teachers. Congratulations Charley – we’re grateful for what you do!… Continue reading Congratulations Charley Tipps!

by volunteer Cheryl Lawyer As puppy raisers, we do the best we can do to help these furry kids grow up to prepare for their future careers as guide dogs for the blind.  But as we all know – there are no guarantees in life. Not all Guiding Eyes dogs become guides.  When pups go… Continue reading Proud to be a Puppy Raiser

Guiding Eyes grad Arthur Krieck wrote the article below for the New York Times as a Metropolitan Diary item.  You can check out the original story here.   Dear Diary: I’m a legally blind, native New Yorker, a musician by training and profession. I’ve lived here, gone to school here and worked here all my… Continue reading A Well-Trained Guide Dog

by Guiding Eyes graduate Deni Elliott Theme parks and guide dogs might not seem like a compatible match. But, if you are a guide dog user within a few hours of Orlando, as I am, or within a half-day’s drive of any amusement park, some visitor is sure to make such a place an essential… Continue reading Theme Parks a Walk in the Park for Guide Dogs