Legacy News, 2011 Issue #1
Across the Miles
For Guide Dogs for the Blind Legacy Society members, 1,500 miles is a stone’s throw. That’s the distance
between Midland, Texas, home of Legacy members Linda and John Leazar, and Novato, Calif., home of
Legacy member Wallis (Wally) Smith. Wally and the Leazars bridged the miles and came together over a
retired guide named Panda that Wally had adopted from GDB in 1998. Panda passed away four year ago
when she was 17.
In memory of Panda, Wally established the Panda Fund. The goal of the fund is to financially assist
adopters of retired Guide Dogs who face extraordinary veterinary care costs that they are unable to
afford. “I wanted to make sure that these older guides were adopted out to loving families and did not
want age and inability to afford veterinary care costs to impede an adoption,” Wally said.
Enter Linda. Several years ago, Acting GDB President Morgan Watkins and Planned Giving Director Tom
Horton met Linda and John on a visit to Midland, Texas. Linda, a talented artist, mentioned that one of
her specialties is painting animal portraits. She requested that Tom send her some dog photos from
GDB's archives, which he did, and Linda produced three wonderful paintings, one of which was of
Panda. For Linda, something clicked. “Painting the portrait of Panda was a joyous experience for me, she
said. “In Panda's eyes I saw what I think of as all the best dog traits: love, eagerness to please,
intelligence and loyalty. In fact, with this picture I did something that I had never done before - I painted
a second original so that I could have one, too.”
The painting was presented to Wally this past Fall while Linda and John were vacationing in the Bay Area
and visiting GDB's campus. “I was so surprised. I could not believe it!” said Wally. “I looked at the
painting and she had captured the essence of Panda.”
Linda was equally overjoyed to meet Wally. “Wally is a bundle of kindness, joy, energy and quick
intelligence. And she said the words guaranteed to bring a tear to any artist's eye: 'You captured Panda's
soul with your painting.' What further recognition could any artist want?”
The Leazars and Wally took different paths to GDB. Wally grew up in San Francisco and learned about us
from a neighbor who was on the board of directors. She fell in love with the organization and has been a
volunteer puppy tester, docent, and major contributor for more than twenty years. The Leazars, on the
other hand, received a donation appeal in the mail and found the materials enclosed to be both friendly
and professional. Since Linda had experienced a short incidence of temporary blindness when she was
17, she still retains an acute awareness of the feelings which can accompany that sort of change. “I've
always bonded easily with animals. My life has been deeply enriched by my associations with them.
Guide Dogs for the Blind was a natural pairing of my interests,” she said.
Both Wally and the Leazars chose to participate in GDB's Legacy Society as a way of leaving a lasting
legacy. “Giving through the Legacy Society is a way for John and I to positively impact the lives of
multiple people, and to support the wonderful work done by the organization," said Linda. For Wally,
she wants to ensure that the organization is still around for the GDB alumni who go on to receive their,
fifth, sixth or seventh Guide Dogs.
We thank all of you John, Linda and Wally. We're so glad you got a chance to finally meet.
For more information about the Panda Fund contact Janet Benjamin at (800) 295-4050.
Message from the Legacy Society Chair
Dear members of the Legacy Society,
Several months ago, while attending a GDB graduation, I met Carol, a student who was graduating with
her new Guide Dog. When I mentioned that I was the Chair of the Legacy Society, she asked me to
please deliver a message to all of its members.
For more than twenty years, Carol had used a cane, seeing the world as she said, "through the constant
chaos of collision." She relied on her husband and three sons to guide her safely. She related that her
boys were trained by the time they were 10 years old to let her know when there was a curb ahead, a
low hanging tree branch or a flight of stairs. Through tear-filled eyes, she said, “This isn’t the way it
should be! A mother should take responsibility and care for her children, not the other way around.”
Carol decided to make some changes. With the encouragement of her family and friends, she came to
Guide Dogs for the Blind.
She was introduced to a beautiful black Labrador, who greeted her with licks and tail wags. As the days
turned into weeks, she was so amazed with the patience of GDB's trainers, teaching her new skills,
building her confidence, enabling her to become a team with her dog. She loved the warmth of the
dormitory staff, the great food and the friendliness of all she met. Carol said this was the most amazing
experience she has ever had.
Carol’s home now, experiencing her new life, filled with days of joyous, independent travel with her
Guide Dog. She asked me to express her heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you, thrilled to know
that we, the members of the Legacy Society, would hear her message. "You have given me more than
just a Guide Dog," she said. "You have enabled me to feel a part of society again, to raise my sons with
the strength and the spirit of independence." Carol’s family also expressed their thanks. They now have
peace of mind knowing that with a Guide Dog by her side, Carol will be safe in her travels.
Although this article is based on one woman’s experience, I know that each of GDB's 2,200 alumni would
extend their hearty thanks and best wishes to you as well. Your foresight, wisdom and generosity is
making a difference in the lives of blind men and women throughout the United States and Canada, now
and far into the future.
Thank you all for supporting Guide Dogs for the Blind.
May the New Year bring you all good health and happiness!
Susi Cherry
Legacy Society Chair
SAVE THE DATE!
For those of you living in the Sacramento/Rocklin Area, we are planning a recognition luncheon for
Legacy Society members and their guests on March 3, 2011 at the Whitney Oaks Golf Club in Rocklin,
Calif.
Invitations will be mailed in late January.
Questions? Contact Joan Scott: jscott@guidedogs.com (800) 295-4050 extension 4073.
Sidebar
GDB's Planned Giving team is ready to help you with any questions you may have regarding bequests,
charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts or other deferred gifts, as well as their tax
consequences and use at GDB. Call us at (800) 295-4050; we are here as a resource for you.
Pictured: Planned Giving Director Tom Horton, Planned Giving Coordinator Joan Scott and Associate
Planned Giving Director Bob Sonnenberg with his black Lab guide Niño.
In the Spirit
Legacy Society members and their guests from the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond gathered at the
Westin St. Francis Hotel in Union Square this past December for the 2010 Legacy Society Holiday
Reception. Guests enjoyed a chance to visit and bring in the holiday cheer. Planned Giving Director Tom
Horton expressed his gratitude on behalf of GDB for the commitment of each Legacy Society member,
along with sharing an update on the latest news at GDB. The keynote address was given by
GDB alumnus Bob Sonnenberg and his wife Cindy. Bob is GDB’s Associate Planned Giving Director and
has black Lab guide Niño.
Pictured:
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Shawn Brown and Debra Brusatori
Lucille Fjoslien
Dottie Lynch and Beth Aaron
Pat Shaughnessy, Dorothy Tchelistcheff and Betsy Pelkan
Wedding, Wine and Wags
Who would have expected that an online chat room would lead to a budding romance and a connection
to Guide Dogs for the Blind? Not many, but that’s exactly what happened to Doug and Laura Marsh of
Alhambra, Calif. After initially connecting online, the couple made history last September when they
became the first Legacy members ever to marry on GDB's California campus in San Rafael. Their career
change dog, Cassie, served as ring bearer, while GDB's Outreach Director Aerial Gilbert, with her Guide
Dog Splash, officiated at a small gathering under the Redwood Grove.
The idea for the wedding site was a mutual one. “Each of us had come up with the idea independently,"
said Doug, "so when I suggested having the ceremony at GDB, Laura looked at me in disbelief and said
that she was thinking the same thing!”
The setting was very appropriate for the couple. Dogs have been a huge part of each of their lives. Doug
grew up in Rochester, Mich., near another guide dog training organization. His neighborhood was filled
with breeder keepers, puppy raisers, and career change dogs. In fact, there were so many dogs around,
his dad didn’t feel Doug needed one of his own.
Laura has always been a dog lover as well. Her flat-coated retriever, Sophie, and Doug became a therapy
team at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. When Sophie passed away, Doug and Laura
pursued a career change adoption with GDB and shortly after Christmas 2008 adopted Cassie, a
beautiful yellow Lab. Cassie hopes to follow in Sophie's paw prints and also become a therapy dog.
Doug's pet therapy mentor at the hospital, Sharon Weiser, attended the wedding and is keeping a close
eye on Cassie. Doug and Laura also are active puppy sitters with a local GDB puppy raising group, Pups
to Partners.
The decision to support GDB and its Legacy Society program has always been an easy one for Doug and
Laura. “Dogs and the work of Guide Dogs for the Blind are so incredibly important to the both of us,"
said Doug. "We are thrilled to be associated with an organization that does such incredible work.”
GDB is happy to be associated with such enthusiastic and generous supporters. Thank you Doug and
Laura. We’re glad you two connected!
In the Spirit
Legacy Society members from the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond gathered at the Westin St. Francis
Hotel in Union Square this past December for the 2010 Legacy Society Holiday Reception. Guests
enjoyed a chance to visit and bring in the holiday cheer. Planned Giving Director Tom Horton expressed
his gratitude on behalf of GDB for the commitment of each Legacy Society member, along with sharing
an update on the latest news at GDB. The keynote address was given by GDB alumnus Bob Sonnenberg
and his wife Cindy. Bob is GDB’s Associate Planned Giving Director and has black Lab guide Niño.
CRTs: A Winning Combo for You and GDB
Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRT) are an important part of Guide Dogs for the Blind’s planned giving
program. They allow individuals to make substantial gifts to GDB while retaining a stream of income for
a period of years or for life. At the end of the term, the property in the CRT reverts to charities like GDB.
CRTs are popular to fund with appreciated stock or real property because when these assets are
transferred to a CRT and sold, there is no capital gain tax payable upon sale. There are other tax
advantages as well, such as:
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Potential for increased income because you may reinvest the entire sale proceeds of
appreciated property without paying tax on this amount
Tax free investment environment because the trust can sell appreciated property within the
trust and reinvest the gains tax free
A charitable income tax deduction upon establishment of the trust
A reduction in federal estate taxes upon your death because you have effectively taken the
appreciated assets out of your estate.
GDB sets up many CRTs with rental property. Many donors are tired of managing the property seek to
replace the rental income with the income stream from the trust.
For more information about establishing a trust, or for a personal illustration, please contact GDB's
Planned Giving office at (800) 295-4050 or contact Associate Planned Giving Director Bob Sonnenberg
via email at bsonnenberg@guidedogs.com.