Guide Dog News
2012, Issue #2
Celebrating Milestones
Here at Guide Dogs for the Blind, we have much to celebrate in 2012. To coincide with our 70th anniversary,
we have broken ground on a new student residence hall on our California campus. It’s an auspicious
milestone in our history, positioning us to better serve future generations of students and Guide Dogs. We
invite you to join in our anniversary celebration through the stories and accomplishments shared in this issue
of Guide Dog News, and thank you for your continued support of our mission.
Pictured: Lorrie and Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger with breeder dog, Fame, at our new student residence hall
groundbreaking.
70th Anniversary
Guide Dogs for the Blind was founded in 1942 to aid blinded servicemen returning from World War II. The first
veteran to graduate from the program was Sgt. Leonard Foulk, who was paired with a Guide Dog named
Blondie. We recently caught up with Sgt. Foulk’s niece, Bonnie Cursey, and great niece, Holly Searcy (who
considers Sgt. Foulk to be her grandfather). The two shared some memories of the man who is integral to our
history and has become the face of GDB’s founding era.
Bonnie: “The first time I saw Blondie (I would have been 5 or 6 years old at the time), I thought she
was the most beautiful dog I had ever seen and immediately wanted to play with her. I did not
understand that she was a Guide Dog, with a job to do. Blondie was somewhat of a novelty and a
celebrity in the town (Canton, Illinois). She was the only Guide Dog and not many people, if any,
knew anything about service dogs at that time. Wherever they went, they were approached and were
asked questions. Blondie was so loyal and never left Leonard’s side for any length of time. At any
given time, day or night, he could put his hand down and touch her. He totally relied upon her to go
anywhere he wanted and had complete trust and faith in her training. He lived a full, rewarding life,
enjoying his family, friends and hobbies thanks to Blondie and Guide Dogs for the Blind.”
Holly: “When I was a child, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. I was fascinated by my
grandfather, or ‘Papa,’ as I called him. He could do ANYTHING, except drive a car! He walked along
the walls of the house with his fingers tracing the walls as he passed. He had every inch memorized.
He never tripped, stumbled, or asked for help negotiating stairs or furniture. He held his head up high,
and always had a smile on his face. From what I have read in his book, Still My World, I am sure his
confidence and determination was developed when he began training with his Guide Dog, Blondie.
According to my family, my grandfather loved Blondie so much, that when she passed away (before I
was born), he could not bring himself to replace her. Papa taught me that I can do anything, even if
it’s a difficult challenge. He inspired me to never give up on something I really want. When I’m
challenged by what life has to bring me, I think of him and his strength to conquer his disability. He
lead a simple life, never worked after the war, but always kept busy. These are things I often take into
account when life gets hectic and my wants are greater than my needs… keep it simple, live within
your means and keep busy!”
Read more about Sgt. Foulk from Bonnie and Holly on our blog, No Bones About It!,
guidedogs.blogspot.com
From the President’s Desk
Dear Friends—
As I write this, I hear the occasional crash of falling concrete. Well, I guess it is no longer a rumor that we are
building a new student residence hall! The first step is to tear down the old one, and that’s just about done.
We are very excited about our new student residence hall. Our groundbreaking ceremony was great fun with
all of our Board Members and key supporters donning construction hats and grabbing shovels for the photos
that will mark this moment in our history. More about that event later in this issue, but you’ll be able to follow
our progress on our website very soon.
My wife, Deirdre, and I have so enjoyed meeting many of you at recent events—in Santa Barbara and Irvine,
California, and in Portland, Oregon. I’d like to express our appreciation for the warm welcome and the great
work of our GDB friends and events committees that made these events so successful. And very big thanks
goes out to Captain Sully and Lorrie Sullenberger and to Betty White, who have supported us in so many
ways; it’s been a pleasure to meet you and learn about your passion for GDB.
I have spent much of my first months meeting with staff and supporters on both campuses and listening to
their thoughts and ideas related to advancing our mission. I realize that there is much to learn. However, in
my short time with GDB, I have been impressed with the passion and commitment of our staff and volunteers,
inspired by the many life stories of our students, and touched by the generosity of our donors. It is very clear
to me that our success is predicated on the passion and teamwork of many people. Finally, I have also
attended two puppy raiser leader meetings and have enjoyed meeting some of the good folks who work so
hard and tirelessly to bring out the best in our puppies; thank you!
Oh, did I mention the puppies? I occasionally sneak out of my office to visit our whelping and puppy kennels.
Wow, are they ever beautiful and spunky! I have also seen the great care and love provided by our kennel
staff to the mothers and their babies.
I have also been busy recruiting a few new staff members, and am pleased to welcome Chris Jones as our
new Director of Development and Judith van Es as our Director of Human Resources. Chris comes to us with
extensive fundraising experience, having worked for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Microsoft’s Community
Affairs group, and several universities in California. Judith brings many years of HR experience, having held
senior HR positions at organizations such as Blum Capital Partners, the San Francisco Zoological Society,
Charles Schwab and American Express. For more on their backgrounds, visit our website, guidedogs.com.
Finally, we are currently engaging in a discussion around our vision for the future and the development of a
five-year strategic plan. As we revisit our past efforts, successes, challenges, and as we look to the future, a
clear and compelling strategy will emerge to direct our efforts as we go forward. We’ll be sure to keep you
informed of our progress and appreciate your continued support of our journey to improve the mobility,
confidence and quality of life of our students who are blind and visually impaired through the partnering of our
beautiful and well-trained Guide Dogs.
Very Best,
Paul Lopez, President and CEO
Pictured: Paul and Deirdre Lopez at GDB’s Pinot & Pups Wine Gala in Portland, Ore., in May.
We’re mobile!
Take us with you on your smart phone—just visit our website, guidedogs.com, while browsing on
the go!
GDB Training Secrets: Your New Puppy
1. When housebreaking, stick to a schedule! Take young pups outside every hour.
2. When you’re not directly supervising your new puppy, keep him confined to a crate.
3. Socialize your pup to many different people, wearing hats, coats, costumes, etc.
4. Say a command just once; use food (from future meals) and praise as rewards for successful responses.
Keep training sessions short (5-10 minutes, 2-3 times a day).
5. Although it’s cute, don’t allow your pup to bite during play. Say “Ouch!” gruffly.
Gift Shop
NEW—Photo Frame! Perfect to display all of your GDB memories. $12 (plus tax and shipping)
guidedogs.com/shop
Norah Hamilton Straus Donors’ Circle Donor Profile: Pete and Mary Jo Egus
For puppy raisers Pete and Mary Jo Egus of Coto de Caza, Calif., their interest in Guide Dogs for the Blind all
started when they read an article about Guide Dog puppy raising. They thought it was a wonderful idea, but at
the time they had two young daughters and two dogs of their own. The notion, however, stuck with them and
when their daughters were in the 5th and 7th grades, and one of their beloved pets had passed away, they
knew that it was time for them to get involved with GDB. That was 18 puppies and more than twenty years
ago.
Their first puppy, Golden Retriever Lass, was their daughters’ 4H project. The Egus family became very
involved in the club and Pete chaired the first GDB Puppy Raiser Advisory Board. As their daughters entered
high school and became extremely involved in sports it was difficult for the girls to continue with the 4H
project. But, Pete and Mary Jo did not want to stop! In 1996, they attended GDB Leader Training and created
the VIP3 Guide Dog Puppy Raising Group, which has been going strong ever since.
“This club is our extended family and the center of our social life,” Mary Jo said. “The ability to be involved
with an organization that helps visually impaired people by partnering them with dogs is a perfect fit for us.
Puppy raisers are very special, giving people. There is no competition—they all want the best for each dog. “
Over the years Pete and Mary Jo have proudly watched their dogs go off to work as guides in Canada and all
over the United States. They have raised puppies who have become breeders, giving them the privilege of
raising “grand-pups”! Their beloved career changed dogs have gone off and brought great joy into their
forever homes. “Each of these dogs has left a paw print on our hearts and brought new people into our lives,”
said Mary Jo. “Our GDB family keeps getting bigger and better every year.”
Pete and Mary Jo's involvement and generosity, however, go beyond raising puppies. They are founding
members of GDB’s Orange County Friends Committee, the purpose of which is to generate an awareness of
our mission in the local community. The committee puts on fundraising events in the area, of which Pete and
Mary Jo have served as co-chairs.
Pete and Mary Jo say that their attitude toward giving back is out of love, appreciation and gratitude. They
believe the words of Winston Churchill to be very true: “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by
what we give.”
“Guide Dogs for the Blind provides us the opportunity to give by sharing our love of dogs and reaching out to
others,” said Pete. “We are very proud to be affiliated with GDB and its amazing mission.”
Pictured: Mary Jo and Pete Egus with their current Guide Dog puppy, black Lab Keene, who is almost ready
to return to GDB for his formal guidework training.
New Student Residence Hall Groundbreaking
In February, GDB hosted the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new student residence hall currently
under construction on our California campus. More than 150 Board members, staff, volunteers, alumni and
supporters were on hand to celebrate this milestone in Guide Dogs for the Blind’s history.
A member of the Hans Thurnauer Family, Hans’ daughter, wowed the crowd during the program by
presenting a $400,000 check for the new building. The gift was from the Hans Thurnauer Family Trust.
Everyone in the audience was pleased and delighted that GDB was the recipient of such generosity. A shovel
ceremony followed the presentations, where yellow Lab career change dog, Sparks, thrilled the crowd as he
literally broke ground by digging in a ceremonial pile of dirt, pictured below (a trick that he was trained to do
through positive reinforcement by his owner, Shannon Del Buono of our Training Department).
If it's true that "Home is where the 'hound' is," as Alumni Association Director Theresa Stern mentioned in her
comments, we are off to a stellar start in building a new residence hall where the magic of a Guide Dog
partnership begins. Thank you to all that came out to share this historic day with us.
If you are interested in learning about naming opportunities, please contact Tom Horton at
(800) 295-4050 or thorton@guidedogs.com.
Pictured:
 That was then... This is now! (Before and after pictures of the old California dormitory demolition.)
 Members of GDB’s Board of Directors are joined by longtime supporters and NSR cabinet members
Lorrie and Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger with their breeder dog, Fame, for a ceremonial
groundbreaking.
Happenings
Labs Live at Andrei’s III
In March, more than 125 people attended “Labs Live at Andrei’s III” in Irvine, Calif., a luncheon fundraiser put
on by GDB’s Orange County Friends Committee. The event raised more than $32,000 to support GDB
programs in the Orange County area.
Located at Andrei’s Restaurant, guests were treated to demonstration of vision adaptive equipment by GDB
alumnus Wayne Heidle with his guide Tuesday. They also enjoyed a presentation that featured remarks by
CEO Paul Lopez and alumna Linda Becker with her Guide Dog Anchorage. The keynote address was by
alumna Theresa Stern with her Guide Dog Dario, and the crowd’s favorite moment came during a special
“puppy delivery” where a darling yellow Lab puppy named Connie was introduced to her puppy raisers.
This was the eighth fundraiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind in Orange County. Special thanks to GDB’s
Orange County Friends Committee and the event sponsors: Companion—The Andrei Foundation (Natalia
Olenicoff ); Benefactors—Mary Jo and Pete Egus, Susan and Dave Gerke, Valerie and Jeffrey Ormont, Carol
Pukli and The VIP3 Puppy Raiser’s Club.
Pictured: Event Co-chairs Dave and Susan Gerke
Come Fly with Us!
When a hero talks, people listen! More than 180 supporters of Guide Dogs for the Blind joined us in March for
“Come Fly with Us” at the Birnam Wood Golf Club in Montecito, Calif. The intimate fundraiser featured
keynote speakers Lorrie and Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, and raised more than $52,000. The
proceeds of the event will help support veterinary care and programs in the Santa Barbara tri-county area.
Sully provided a deeply moving presentation in regard to the fateful day when he and his crew safely landed
an Airbus in the frigid waters of the Hudson River. Lorrie also spoke about that day and how the accident
changed their lives and those of their family forever. The Sullenbergers have been members of the GDB
family for more than twenty years. Their daughters have raised two Guide Dog puppies, and they have been
volunteer custodians to four of GDB’s breeding stock dogs. Their current breeder dog, Fame, was by their
side during the presentation.
Many thanks to Karen Ingalls who was the driving force behind the event planning, as well as to our Event
Sponsors and Co-Chairs, Roy and Myrna Gaskin/The Bull Foundation and Lawrence and Jan Kelly. Other
sponsors include: Silver Sponsor—Charles Alva; Bronze Sponsor—Frans Simson; Companion Sponsors—
Ferguson Enterprises Inc., Judge David W. Long, The Marborg Industries, Montecito Bank & Trust, Robert
and Valerie Peebles, Santa Barbara Bank and Trust, Smardan-Hatcher Co.
Pictured: Lorrie and Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger with their breeder dog, Fame.
Pinot & Pups Wine Gala
Excitement was in the air as 300 guests streamed into The Atrium at Montgomery Park in Portland, Ore., this
May for our annual Pinot & Pups Wine Gala. By the end of the night, more than $250,000 was raised to
support the costs of training students and their Guide Dogs at our Oregon campus.
Guests enjoyed fine wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres during the reception and silent auction, and posed for
photos with some of our adorable Guide Dog puppies. A four-course dinner and spirited live auction followed,
where Auctioneer John Glines had folks in bidding frenzies over everything from gourmet desserts to exotic
travel packages. Bestselling author and 911 survivor Michael Hingson with his Guide Dog, Africa, delivered a
compelling keynote address.
Many thanks to our generous sponsors: Companion Sponsor—US Bank Charitable Services Group. Buddy
Sponsors—NW Natural; Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt; Umpqua Bank. Friend Sponsors—American Steel;
OnPoint Community Credit Union; Pacific Power; P&C Construction; Streimer Sheet Metal Works, Inc.; West
Coast Bank.
Pictured: Irene and Bob LaRue (left) and Board member Ruth Ann Dodson.
Save the Date! Canine Heroes Wine Auction, Napa Valley, CA, October 6, 2012
For more information and to register, visit guidedogs.com/events
Team Spotlight: Marianne Robbins with Pantera
Written by Jim Price
Experts place unemployment in the blind community at more than 70 percent. As her vision declined,
Marianne Robbins of Sacramento, Calif., took steps to ensure she didn’t become another statistic.
Growing up, her corneas slowly disintegrated, but doctors told her not to worry—when it got bad enough, she
could get a corneal transplant and would likely see more clearly than she ever had. What they didn’t know
was that her body would reject multiple transplants and she would be rendered almost completely blind by
age 44. Doctors were able to surgically eliminate her severe eye pain, but her vision was pretty much gone.
At the time she was the operations manager for an online e-commerce company.
“Once I realized my vision wasn’t going to get better, I made the decision to be proactive,” she said. “I
enrolled at a state adaptive rehabilitation facility, where I got some really good training.” She learned the
fundamentals of Braille, computer technology, daily living skills, and orientation and mobility. “It was a great
start for me and it gave me skills I could build on,” she said.
Following her rehabilitation training, she came to Guide Dogs for the Blind. She received her first guide,
yellow Lab Cisco, in 2003 after years of cane travel. “The difference was huge,” she said. “Cisco really did
transform my life. Before I got him I didn’t go out much. Having him gave me so much more confidence. With
him I went places I never would have gone with a cane.”
The pair even went across the country to Lions World Services for the Blind, where she received instructional
job training. That led to a job at the Society for the Blind as an adaptive technology instructor, where she
worked for six years before having to take a leave of absence to recover from major foot surgery. Even
though Cisco was still eager to work after eight years of guiding, he was suffering from arthritis. So while
Marianne was recuperating, he was taking a break too.
That time away from work gave Marianne a chance to reflect on her future and she decided to strike out in a
new direction. “A lot of my clients were adults who did not have solid literacy skills,” she explained. She plans
to further her education and then pursue work with literacy programs for the blind.
With her feet on the mend and a new professional course plotted, Marianne was looking forward to new
challenges when she got the devastating news that Cisco had developed an aggressive form of cancer of the
spleen. He passed away in November of 2011. She came to GDB's Oregon campus in February of this year,
where she received a new guide, black Lab Pantera. “Pantera has some big paws to fill,” Marianne smiled,
patting Pantera on her head. “Cisco was an awesome guide, but I can already tell that Pantera is up for it. I
now have a new guide to go along with my new direction. I’m excited about the future and so grateful to GDB
for giving me such a wonderful gift.”
Pictured: Marianne Robbins with Pantera
Friendly Fly-By from Alaska Airlines
This past April Guide Dogs for the Blind had the exciting opportunity to welcome senior Alaska Airlines
employees to our California campus in San Rafael. The team arrived for an afternoon of educational
awareness, including a Guide Dog experience in which the blindfolded Alaska Airlines employees were
accompanied by GDB instructors and guided by dogs in their final stages of training (pictured). “We were very
pleased to be able to host the Alaska Airlines senior operations team,” said CEO Paul Lopez. “We put on a
great educational show and it was clear that both groups shared a similar passion and commitment to serving
our clients.”
“This was such a fulfilling event for our team,” said Bill Essick, Alaska Airlines Passenger Sales & Community
Marketing Manager. “I believe it opened our eyes to understand on a deeper level the daily challenges of
someone who is visually impaired.”
Karen Schierholtz, Alaska Airlines Regional Manager, Sales & Community Marketing, agreed. “Throughout
our visit, I reflected on the similarities between Alaska Airlines and GDB,” she said. “We are all in the
business of serving our customers with caring integrity and a collective desire to be the best we can be at
what we do.”
Alaska Airlines has been a wonderful supporter of GDB and has demonstrated outstanding customer service
when flying GDB staff members and dogs. “I believe we left the day with a better understanding of ways to
accommodate our students and their Guide Dogs while traveling,” said Paul. “A big thanks goes out to the
Alaska Airlines team for taking time out of their busy meeting schedule to learn more about GDB—it was an
honor to have them on our campus.” GDB looks forward to working more with Alaska Airlines and exploring
new ways to improve traveling experiences for those who are blind and visually impaired.
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You Can Make a Difference!
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Send a donation today
To send a contribution of any type or amount, please use our special mailing address for donations
only: Guide Dogs for the Blind, P.O. Box 3950, San Rafael, CA 94912-3950. You can also donate at
our secure website: www.guidedogs.com.
Eliminate checks and postage
Direct your bank to automatically transfer your donation; we’ll send you a year-end letter of
confirmation.
Make an Honor or Memorial gift
Pay tribute to a friend, relative or pet; we will send cards of celebration or sympathy in your name.
Create a Legacy in your estate plan
Make a lasting commitment by naming 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. Visit the “Case for Giving” section of
our website for more info.
For more information on any of these giving options, please contact our Development Department at (800)
295-4050.