Guiding Eyes cares deeply about our mission – to provide guide dogs to people with vision loss. We are excited to present our newest Guide Dog Teams and congratulate all involved! We are grateful to the many volunteers who provided so much and thank all who have worked so hard or supported our efforts in making these teams possible.
Our first Virtual Graduation, honoring our 2020 graduate teams, was held March 6, 2021. Click HERE to watch the Zoom recording and celebrate with us! If you are interested in sponsoring a future virtual graduation, please read below for further information.
Virtual Graduation Sponsorship
While our in-person graduation celebrations are canceled temporarily, you can still celebrate our graduating teams with us. Becoming a virtual sponsor is a great way to honor someone or raise awareness of your company while furthering Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s work to pair exceptional guide dogs with people with vision loss.
Benefits include:
- -Your special message will appear on our graduation page for 1 month
- -You will receive copies of the bios of anyone graduating during that month
- -You will receive a branded Guiding Eyes for the Blind keychain
We kindly request a donation of $500 or more to become a digital sponsor
Questions? Please reach out to Rebekah Cross, Special Gifts Officer, by calling 914-243-2211 or emailing rcross@guidingeyes.org.
Thank you to our generous Sponsors…
In memory of my wife, Barbara Woods, who loved dogs and Guiding Eyes. Through our entire marriage, we have had dogs, usually two at a time, and enjoyed them! Sponsoring the graduating class is a perfect way to honor her memory.
– Richard Woods
2021 Home Training Graduate Teams
2021 Residential Graduate Teams
2020 Home Training Graduate Teams
Visit the Celebrating Our 2020 Graduate Teams page
2020 Graduate Classes
2019 Graduate Classes
2018 Graduate Classes
More Resources
- Area Lodging: Visit http://www.besthotels.com/ for hotel accommodations.
- Driving Directions to the Yorktown Heights Headquarters and Training Center
2021 Home Training Graduate Teams
2020 Home Training Graduate Teams
2020 Graduate Classes
2019 Graduates
2018 Graduates
More Resources
- Area Lodging: Visit http://www.besthotels.com/ for hotel accommodations.
- Driving Directions to the Yorktown Heights Headquarters and Training Center
2021 Home Training Graduate Teams
2020 Home Training Graduate Teams
2020 Graduate Classes
2019 Graduates
2018 Graduates
More Resources
- Area Lodging: Visit http://www.besthotels.com/ for hotel accommodations.
- Driving Directions to the Yorktown Heights Headquarters and Training Center
2021 Home Training Graduate Teams
2020 Home Training Graduate Teams
2020 Graduate Classes
2019 Graduates
2018 Graduates
More Resources
- Area Lodging: Visit http://www.besthotels.com/ for hotel accommodations.
- Driving Directions to the Yorktown Heights Headquarters and Training Center
![This week's feature for Transformation Tuesday is a steady and sweet black lab named Ira. The handsome pup trained with first-time handler David, a Vietnam veteran from Caribou, Maine. Swipe ⬅️ to see Ira all grown up as an official guide dog!
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David can already feel the difference with Ira at his side. "The absolute biggest thing for me is that I have independence again. For the first time in years, I can go Christmas shopping for my wife completely on my own. He’s opened doors and opportunities for me too."
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David remembers a particularly sweet highlight from training, "One of the best moments during training happened on a day we were working in the mall. Being able to stand up next to my wife and hold her hand as we walked – that was a huge, huge thing for us. It was enormously special."
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A special thanks to Robin Liberty, Ira's volunteer puppy raiser from our Eastern Massachusetts Puppy Raising Region (@guidingeyes_ema). She sent us this lovely write-up about her experience raising Ira: "To say that raising Ira was life-changing would not be an over-statement. His nickname amongst my region team was 'Sweet Boy Ira' and he was my best friend. He brought me out of my shell as he drew curiosity and wonder wherever we went. Every afternoon became an adventure because there was no outing he wouldn’t try(and excel at). Together, we visited festivals, hit a theme park, and cruised the mall. He was fearless, curious, and kept me on my toes. I am so proud that he is fulfilling his destiny of providing independence to someone with low vision. To the new team, I wish many years of happiness and bold adventures. May he bring you as much joy as he brought me."
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Read more about David and Ira by clicking the link in our bio.
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Picture Description:
[1] Ira is pictured as an adorable puppy while wearing a light blue pup on program bandana.
[2] David & Ira’s official graduation photo: David stands in the grass with Ira in a sit by his side.
📷 [1]: @trainer.in.training
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#GuidingEyesForTheBlind #MansBestFriend #GoodNewsFeed #ForTheLoveOfDogs #CharityTuesday #GoodNewsTues #ServiceDogsOfInstagram #DogsOfNewEngland #DogsOfMaine #AssistanceDogs](https://www.guidingeyes.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
