MICHELLE YOO WITH GUIDE OSCAR

NE

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HTGDB career change

dogs are doing wonderful

things in their new jobs,

including conservation

work and medical

detection, among other

things. p5

Meet GDB’s chefs,

Catherine Coppett and

David Wilson. These

two whip up delectable

meals for our clients

attending class at our

campuses. p7

Meet JR Quevedo, a

talented artist from

San Francisco, who has

found new inspiration

for his work in his

guide dog, yellow

Lab Griff. p8

GUIDE DOG NEWSThe Quarterly Publication of Guide Dogs for the Blind

2015 ISSUE 2

Full Member

Guide Dogs for the Blind recently said goodbye to two

longtime champions of our mission.

RICHARD D. GRAFFIS

(1932-2015) of Orinda, Calif.,

was an enthusiastic volunteer,

leader, and supporter at GDB,

and was always a friendly

face on our California campus

and at our fundraising events.

Dick served on our board

of directors for ten years,

including a two-year term as

board chair.

JOHN PAUL MANZELLA

(1928-2015) of San Leandro,

Calif., was also an ardent

supporter of GDB. Not only

was John a loyal attendee

of our Festive Holiday

Luncheon (he is pictured,

left at the Luncheon with

his wife, Lola, in 2004),

he produced annual golf

tournaments for many years to benefit Guide Dogs for the

Blind. In addition, John served on the California State Board

of Guide Dogs for the Blind between 1984 and 2003.

We thank Dick and John for their generosity and support,

and our condolences go to their families and loved ones.

IN REMEMBRANCEA NON-PROFIT, CHARITABLE

ORGANIZATION

800.295.4050GUIDEDOGS.COM

National Office/California Campus:350 Los Ranchitos Road San Rafael, CA 94903

Oregon Campus:32901 S.E. Kelso Road

Boring, OR 97009

Officers Bob Burke—Chair

Christine Benninger—President & CEOCathy Martin—Treasurer & CFO

Stuart Odell—Vice ChairRuth Ann Dodson—Vice Chair, PNW

Joan Boyd—Vice Chair, Finance Jay Harris—Secretary

DirectorsLen AlmalechSigrid Button

Melissa HudsonDeborah KendrickGeorge Kerscher

Stephen MansfieldAndrew Mathieson

Jack Scott

Todd Bradley, AdvisorLyle L. Hoover, Director Emeritus

Photo Credits Morry Anne Angell - p3, p6, p9, p11, p12Sierra Fish - cover, p7, p8, p10Ed Smith - p2, p11 (top)Submitted - p2, p4

Guide Dogs for the Blind follows the guidelines recommended by the Council of U.S. Dog Guide Schools for the humane care and training of our dogs, and the instruction and services offered to our students and alumni.

Guide Dog News is published for the information of GDB supporters. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without permission from Guide Dogs for the Blind.

© Guide Dogs for the Blind

Please recycle this newsletter!

GR

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Dear friends,

Welcome to the second issue of Guide Dogs News for 2015. I hope you are having a

great year thus far!

At GDB, we strongly believe that

every dog makes a difference. We

are more committed than ever

to partnering exceptional guide

dogs with exceptional people. We

find great joy in seeing our alumni

and their guides thriving together.

We look forward to seeing many

of these teams in the Fall at our

Alumni Reunion and Retreat in

Portland, Ore. See page 11 to learn

more about this exciting event.

I am also happy to share that we continue to deepen our commitment to finding

opportunities for our career change dogs to serve in significant ways. We have

strengthened our relationships with other leading assistance dog agencies and non-profit

organizations. It is amazing to see how many different ways dogs are enhancing our

lives through these organizations’ efforts: they are engaged in life-saving medical

alert and search and rescue work; help provide emotional support to individuals

experiencing PTSD and testifying in difficult court cases; bestow a nurturing and

positive presence for hospital patients and their families, and even help conservation

efforts by identifying rare plants and/or pests that threaten them. And, we are equally

proud of our dogs who are blessing families with their loyal and loving companionship.

We are so proud that our career change dogs are making a difference in the world and

extend our deepest gratitude to our amazing puppy raisers who have invested their

hearts, souls, and expertise in preparing puppies to fulfill their particular purpose.

Warm regards,

Christine Benninger

President and CEO

3

CHRIS BENNINGER, PRESIDENT AND CEO

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ELAINE WILDERMAN

WITH RETIRED GUIDE,

NOW PACTT THERAPY

DOG, CLARK.

4

When Elaine Wilderman of Beaverton, Ore., was a third grade teacher, she incorporated

education about service animals into her curriculum, teaching her students that animals have

many different roles in the world in addition to being pets. She’d invite GDB puppy raisers to

her class to share their stories, and had a goal to raise a puppy herself when she retired.

That goal was met in 2006 when she raised Black Labrador Retriever Clark, who went on to

become a guide dog in Washington. She then set her sights on another goal: adopting a GDB

career change or retired guide dog and becoming certified as a canine therapy team. Enter

Black Lab Ashlyn, a guide dog that had been retired due to glaucoma. After adopting Ashlyn,

the duo went on to complete their canine therapy team certification. Elaine was thrilled that

Ashlyn continued to lead a long, purposeful life with her new job.

When Ashlyn passed away, Elaine thought she might take a break from having a dog, but

fate had different plans. Clark—the puppy she had raised—had been retired from guidework

and was available for adoption. “There was no doubt that I would bring him home,” Elaine

said. She and Clark have followed in Ashlyn’s paw prints, becoming a certified canine therapy

team. They are members of the PACTT program (Portland Area Canine Therapy Teams),

a partnership between GDB and DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital which certifies

retired or career change dogs from GDB as therapy dogs, and then connects the teams with

volunteer opportunities at various facilities, such as nursing homes and hospitals. “Clark’s

favorite is the read to the dogs program at a local library,” Elaine said, “he loves working with

the kids!”

As a GDB President’s Circle member, Elaine said that it’s our care of the dogs that inspires her

support. “Guide Dogs for the Blind ensures that the dogs have good and healthy lives after

retirement,” she said. With her firm belief in giving back to the community, Elaine does that

both in spirit and in deed. Thank you, Elaine, for your support of Guide Dogs for the Blind.

5

Our career change dogs are making a huge difference in communities across

North America. Here are snapshots of four incredible dogs. Follow us on

Facebook or visit our blog, No Bones About it, guidedogs.blogspot.com, for

more great stories.

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Tolkien is partnered with a veteran

experiencing PTSD. Tolkien was trained by

Paws Assisting Veterans (PAVE), a non-profit

organization dedicated to training service

dogs for veterans with mental and/or physical

disabilities and to advance public knowledge

of service dogs and the essential roles they

play. paveusa.org

Cabo serves as a court dog for the San Diego District

attorney’s office and is also a certified therapy dog who

has worked in a variety of settings, including: a Veterans

Administration Hospital to visit wounded soldiers,

hospice care and hospitals, library reading programs for

children, developmental adult centers, nursing homes,

women’s shelters, and others.

Izumi is being trained to be a medical alert dog

by Dogs4Diabetics (D4D). D4D is a charitable

non-profit organization of dedicated volunteers

training medical alert dogs to detect hypoglycemia in

insulin-dependent diabetics. dogs4diabetics.com

Kilo is currently being trained in Northern

California by Working Dogs for Conservation

(WDC.) This nonprofit organization trains dogs

for scent detection work to locate invasive and/or

endangered plant and animal life. wd4c.org

How many people do you know who actually have

their dream job? Happily, GDB Board Member Andy

Mathieson is one of them. Andy is the founder and

managing partner of Fairview Capital, an independent

advisory firm with over $1.6 billion in assets under

management. Andy shares, “I have my dream job—

running an investment firm, managing a talented team,

and working with great clients. It was also an ideal

job as my wife Ann and I were raising our four kids.

It enabled me to be present and involved in the way

I really wanted to be.” He adds with a chuckle, “I also

used to dream of being a center fielder, helping to

bring a world championship to long-suffering Red Sox

and/or Cubs fans. I guess the job is still available with

regard to the Cubs.”

Andy’s position on the GDB board began in 2011 and he brings deep financial and

non-profit expertise to the role as well as his lifelong interest in dogs. He shares,

“I’ve had a lot of non-profit board experience, and given my professional background

I’m usually tasked with financial and development roles. I’m comfortable serving as

a fiduciary, and my attitude is to try and support the mission however and whenever

I can.” GDB’s mission really struck a chord with Andy, as he is also an avid dog lover

having grown up with several different breeds, including: a Beagle, a Gordon Setter,

and a Terrier. He and his wife have adopted three rescue terriers, two of which are

still living with the couple. Andy and Ann love to take the dogs out for long walks on

Mt. Tamalpais and he also enjoys running, cycling, and enjoying the outdoors.

Andy is extremely passionate about GDB’s mission and loves seeing it come to life:

“The graduations are always inspirational, and a great reminder and validation of our

reason for being. I also greatly enjoy meeting the volunteers that are so critical to

our organization.” Andy is an ardent ambassador for GDB and wishes there were a

few things that everyone knew. “First, I wish that people knew that we don’t charge

for any aspect of our services,” he said. “Second, that this highly unique model is

made possible only through the continued generosity in both time and treasure

from our exceptional base of volunteers and donors. This is particularly important as

GDB provides its graduates with a lifetime of support.” Many thanks to Andy for his

ongoing support, stewardship, and enthusiasm for all things GDB!

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ANDY

MATHIESON

Guide Dogs for the Blind is fortunate to have two highly trained chefs working in the

student residences on both of our campuses. They not only provide three complete

nutritious meals a day for clients, but they also play a key role in creating a comforting

atmosphere during the two-week training period.

Catherine Coppett is the chef on our Oregon

campus and is originally from Iowa. She

attended the Western Culinary Institute in

Portland, Ore., and then went to work as the

head chef of a restaurant in Austin, Texas.

She joined the team at GDB in September of

1995. “Over the years, I have learned so much

from our clients about what they like to eat,”

she said. “If I can alleviate dietary concerns

by listening and offering alternative solutions,

that is especially rewarding. I’m always happy

to hear when our clients come back, and

that the hospitality services we provide were

one of their reasons for choosing us again.”

Catherine enjoys running, playing guitar and

piano, cooking vegetables from the garden,

and grilling outside in the summertime. She

currently lives in Portland with her partner and

their daughter, along with a well-fed hamster

named Fuzzy.

David Wilson is the chef on our California

campus and is originally from Colorado. He

attended City College of San Francisco’s Hotel & Restaurant Program. After 27 years

in the food service industry, David came to GDB in 2014. “I really enjoy the positive

atmosphere at GDB and the fact that my pet dog is welcomed,” he said. “The highlight

is seeing the uncontrollable happiness of the clients in class.” David enjoys surfing,

playing drums, and grilling the perfect rib eye. He currently lives in San Rafael and has

three teenage children.

“Both Catherine and David’s willingness and desire to accommodate our clients’ needs

plays a significant role in our ability to support and contribute to the mission,” said

GDB Dormitory Manager Scott Kahler. “When clients know that their food-related

needs and preferences will be met, they can focus on the task at hand.”

ST

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GDB CHEFS CATHERINE COPPETT (TOP)

AND DAVID WILSON (BOTTOM).

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8

When John Rosd “JR” Quevedo was in class to receive his first guide dog, yellow Lab

Griff, he remembers thinking it was like ballroom dancing. “Working with a guide dog has

a lot to do with body positioning and foot work, especially on turns,” recalls JR. “As a new

handler, I practiced every turn in my room while I was at GDB—I danced every night.”

JR has a degree in graphic design from The Art Institute and Academy of Arts in

San Francisco. He is a graphic illustrator with a passion for typography and visual

development through storytelling. “I might be visually impaired, but my imagination

and storytelling is very much alive,” he said. “I draw on paper where my eye is inches

away from where I can literally kiss my artwork. I’m inspired by experiences and my

surroundings—I just love to tell stories through illustrations.”

Upon graduating from GDB in February of this year, JR and Griff returned home as a

confident team ready to take on the world. “In the short amount of time having Griff

by my side, I’ve gotten to know San Francisco a lot more,” JR said. “I have this new

confidence to become more of a risk taker and have more initiative now when I’m outside.

And the best part—it’s just the beginning!”

To read more of JR’s story and to see more of his artwork, please visit our blog, No Bones

About it at guidedogs.blogspot.com. You can also follow JR on Instagram @urbsters.

JR QUEVEDO AND GRIFF;

JR’S ARTWORK (RIGHT).

• Marla Runyan of Boston, with her

guide dog Grafton, was recently

honored as a “Hero Among Us”

by the Boston Celtics Shamrock

Foundation. Marla was recognized

for being an inspirational role model

for athletes who are blind, and for

encouraging children with disabilities

to reach their full potential. Marla is a

two-time Olympian in long-distance

running, and currently is a teacher at

the esteemed Perkins School for

the Blind.

• Janine Brindle of Eunemclaw, Wash.,

and her now-retired guide, Cranberry,

were recognized by the American

Kennel Club with an honorable

mention ACE award (Awards for

Canine Excellence). Cranberry is the

first working guide dog to earn the

coveted AKC Utility Dog Title. Janine

and Cranberry worked together for

six years to attain the title.AL

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We are pleased to share with you

our new video, “Campus Life,” which

provides a comprehensive overview

of what our clients can expect when

coming to class at GDB to receive their

new guide dogs. It’s a must-watch

for anyone considering attending or

recommending Guide Dogs for the Blind

as their guide dog school of choice.

Please visit our website to check it out,

guidedogs.com.

• Dan McKay, with guide dog Hansel, was

honored for his work for people with

disabilities by the City of Timmons, Calif.

in March; his name will be included on the

city’s Human Rights Wall of Fame.

• Did you know guide dogs are also news

hounds? Recently, Alyssa Minwell and

her guide Adella were featured in The

San Antonio Express-News, while Laurel

Wheeler and her guide Stockard graced

the pages of The Oklahoma Daily. In

Oregon, Sue Phillips and her guide Kabuki

were profiled in The Cedar Mill News, and

the article was written by fellow alumna

Jennifer Hemmeyer who has guide dog

Fred. On television, Phil Dimeo, with his

guide Tessie, was on a Milwaukee morning

show to discuss his book, Binoculars, and

Laura Ann Grymes was on KBTX-TV in

College Station, Texas, educating viewers

about ADA and state access laws for

guide dogs after being denied access to a

restaurant with her guide, Dyson.

ON THE SET FOR THE FILMING OF

OUR NEW VIDEO, “CAMPUS LIFE.”

LEGACY SOCIETY

MEMBERS SANDY

HONTALAS AND FORMER

BOARD CHAIR PHIL

SPALDING WITH GDB

PRESIDENT AND CEO

CHRIS BENNINGER.

HA

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SSAVE THE DATE

CANINE HEROES AUCTION

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2015

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

FEATURING KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

LORRIE AND CAPTAIN “SULLY”

SULLENBERGER

PAWS & PINTS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015

SEATTLE, WA

10

LEGACY SOCIETY LUNCHEON

In April, more than 150 Bay Area Legacy Society members gathered at The City Club of

San Francisco for a luncheon to thank them for their commitment to our mission. Guests

were treated to a delicious meal, and enjoyed an inspirational keynote address by GDB

alumna Sarah Outwater with her black Lab guide, Ferdinand. Guide Dogs for the Blind’s

Legacy Society honors the generosity of those who have chosen to include GDB in their

estate plans. Their visionary planning will ensure that Guide Dogs for the Blind remains a

world leader in guide dog training for the blind and visually impaired for many years to

come. For more information or to enroll, please visit guidedogs.com/plannedgiving.

Visit guidedogs.com/events for more information or to register.

JOIN US AT THE 2015

ALUMNI REUNION RETREAT

GDB Alumni, puppy raisers, family, and friends

are invited to GDB’s 2015 Alumni Reunion

Retreat in Portland, Ore., September 11-13. The

theme of this year’s retreat is “Paws around the

World,“ and topics for seminars and activities

will relate to all the great adventures—both big

and small—our alums have with their guides.

Attendees will learn more about fulfilling dreams of travel as well as pausing to enjoy life’s

everyday journeys. Attendees will also learn about guide dog schools worldwide and how

technology can enhance national and international travel. In addition, there will be a number

of excursions that capitalize on some of Portland’s finest offerings, including a chocolate

decadence walking tour, a craft beer/brewery tour, and a picnic lunch at GDB’s Oregon

campus. To learn more or to register, please visit guidedogs.com/reunion. See you there!

PINOT & PUPS

GDB’s 8th annual Pinot & Pups fundraising auction was

held in May at the Portland Art Museum. Attended by 320

GDB supporters, the event featured wines from the Pacific

Northwest, an elegant dinner, silent and live auctions, and

of course, plenty of puppies! GDB alumna Vickie Kennedy,

with guide dog Angela, gave a stirring keynote address,

and a highlight of the live auction came during the fund-a-

need paddle raise. The event raised more than $300,000;

proceeds will be used to offset the costs of training GDB

clients with their new guide dogs.

Thank you to all of our sponsors. Companion Sponsor:

US Bank Charitable Services. Buddy Sponsors: Alaska

Airlines, American Steel, Banner Bank, Kuni BMW, OnPoint

Community Credit Union. Winery Sponsors: Alexana

Winery, Andrew Rich Wines, Bergstrom Winery, De Ponte

Cellars, Elk Cove Vineyards, McCleskey Cellars, Major Creek

Cellars, Thomas Cellars. Brewery Sponsor: Hair of the

Dog Brewing Co.

11

FILE PHOTO: ALUMNI REUNION 2013.

TOP: BIDDING ACTION DURING THE

LIVE AUCTION AT PINOT & PUPS.

ABOVE: BOARD MEMBER SIGRID

BUTTON AND DAUGHTER WHITNEY.

P.O. Box 151200

San Rafael, California

94915-1200

PAID

NONPROFIT ORG

U.S. POSTAGE

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

• SEND A DONATION TODAY Please use our mailing address for donations: Guide Dogs for the Blind, P.O. Box 3950, San Rafael, CA 94912-3950. You can also donate online: guidedogs.com.

• ELIMINATE CHECKS/POSTAGE Direct your bank to automatically transfer your donation.

• MAKE AN HONOR OR MEMORIAL GIFT Pay tribute to a friend, relative, or pet; cards of celebration or sympathy will be sent in your name.

• CREATE A LEGACY IN YOUR ESTATE Name GDB in your will, trust, or as a beneficiary of your annuity, life insurance policy, IRA, or retirement plan. We honor such commitments with membership in our Legacy Society.

• DESIGNATE YOUR GIFT Designate your donation to go toward a specific GDB program. Contact us for more info.

Guide Dogs for the Blind will, on

occasion, share donor information with

like-minded non-profit organizations in

an effort to better fulfill our mission and

serve our clients. If you do not wish to

have your information shared, please

call our Development Department at

800.295.4050 extension 4160 or email

us at donations@guidedogs.com.

DMS

!GIFT ANNUITY PROPOSALq How would a charitable gift annuity work for me? (Minimums: age 50, $5,000 gift)

My birthdate: ___________ My spouse’s birthdate: ___________

Sample gift amount: q $5,000 q $10,000 q $25,000 q Other: $ ___________

Name: ____________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________

Phone: _______________________ Email: ______________________________

Return to Joan Scott, Planned Giving CoordinatorGuide Dogs for the Blind, P.O. Box 151200, San Rafael, CA 94915-1200

800.295.4050, ext. 4073

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY = Income for your life, and a gift to Guide Dogs for the Blind

Want to learn more? Simply complete and send us the coupon below,

or visit us online at guidedogs.com/plannedgiving.