Guide Dog News
2014, Issue #4
COVER PHOTO
Danelle Umstead and her guide Aziza, on stage for her keynote presentation at GDB’s Oregon Fall luncheon
in November. Danelle is a two-time Paralympic alpine skier. Read more on Page 10.
INSIDE
 Saying Goodbye: Join us as we honor and remember longtime GDB supporter and advocate, the
legendary actress and comedienne Joan Rivers.
 Board Profile: Meet GDB Board member George Kerscher and his yellow Lab guide dog Mikey, who
have just reached an impressive travel milestone.
 Staff Member Profile: GDB’s beloved California campus veterinarian, Dr. Craig Dietrich (“Doc”), is
retiring after 36 years. Read the reflections on his illustrious career.
Remembering an Icon: GDB Supporter Joan Rivers
GDB sends our condolences to the family and loved ones of actress and comedienne Joan Rivers, who
recently passed away. The iconic entertainer had a profound and lasting impact on our organization; what
started as a $50 memorial gift from Joan more than 25 years ago became an ongoing relationship with GDB
in which she supported and championed our cause in numerous ways. Not only did Joan personally donate
(including a team sponsorship of GDB alumna Kellie Dewveall and her guide dog Rivers, who had been
named after Joan), she would routinely contribute proceedings from her live performances, tv appearances,
and contest winnings. In addition, she consistently raised awareness of our organization in media interviews
and via her sizable social media presence. Upon her passing, GDB was even mentioned in tributes worldwide
as one of Joan’s three favorite charities. For all this and more, we are extremely grateful for Joan’s support.
We are so honored that with all the demands on her time and resources she remained a loyal fan and
supporter of our organization. She will be missed.
GREETINGS FROM THE CEO
Greetings,
In the nine months I have been with Guide Dogs for the Blind, I have met many wonderful people and had a
number of really moving and memorable experiences. As the year comes to a close, I want to share a few of
the reasons I continue to be inspired by Guide Dogs for the Blind, our incredible community of support, and
the collective commitment and dedication to both sides of the harness.
It takes a village to launch and support a successful guide.
It takes a minimum of 50 people just to launch and support one guide! Breeder custodians, puppy raisers,
campus volunteers, veterinarians, all manner of GDB staff, and many, many more …. all of whom come
together to focus on one objective: supporting a guide dog that will change the lives of many.
A guide is so much more than a mobility aid.
Guide dogs are more than just a means to get from one place to the next. They help increase confidence,
independence, and freedom for our grads. They are also relationship builders, providing a social bridge
between our alumni and the world at large.
Our clients are so amazing.
I’ve been awed by our students and our grads! Every single person is a hero in his or her own right. They
negotiate the world so positively and with such grace. And they have such interesting lives—our alums
include artists, lawyers, professors, nurses, parents, students, and much more.
We have the most compassionate, caring, and committed community of support.
I’ve never worked with such an incredible group of people who are so dedicated to an organizational mission.
What a gift to the world you all are! We could not do what we do without all of you and we are so grateful for
your generosity of time, spirit, and resources. Thank you for joining us on this uplifting journey of the soul!
With gratitude for all that you do and best wishes for 2015,
Christine Benninger, President and CEO
When it rains, it pours!
A very special thanks to the generosity of many who provided new rain jackets for our students to use in class
while training in inclement weather. The jackets were made possible by donations from the Training Paws
puppy club in King County, Wash., and Bay Area puppy raisers Joe and Ellen Aguirre. Our corporate partner,
Marmot, supplied the jackets at cost, and Andy’s Tee SHIRTS donated the reflective logo printing. Bring on
the rain!
NORAH HAMILTON STRAUS DONORS’ CIRCLE PROFILE
San Franciscan Dan L’Abbe has long known about Guide Dogs for the Blind, and even knows people who
have gotten guide dogs from GDB, but it wasn’t until he attended the 2013 Canine Heroes Auction that Dan
got actively involved with our organization. He was so impressed with the mission and the caliber of our work,
that he’s been an ardent supporter ever since. In addition to his generous personal contributions, Dan now is
a member of the Auction’s Host Committee and has enlisted his employees at Granite Solutions, where he is
CEO and Head of Recruiting Services, to provide a company-wide day of volunteering at our California
campus.
Dan has a long list of what draws him to GDB. It includes the dogs of course (Dan has two pet dogs, a Great
Pyrenees and a Border Collie/Newfoundland mix), but it’s the graduation of our guide dog teams that appeals
to him the most. “I like the fact that GDB provides amazing people with the opportunity to live amazing lives
by providing them with a partner and companion that literally opens doors for them,” he said.
There are two key tenets in Dan’s philosophy of life: to keep moving, and to live every day to the fullest, both
of which he feels are embodied by GDB’s mission. “I think it is so important for everyone to keep moving—it
stimulates your mind, your body—and the two together allow you to live life to the fullest,” he said. “It is
wonderful to be part of an organization that helps people do just that.”
Pictured: Dan L’abbe with lab/cross Anja
BOARD PROFILE
GDB Board member and alum George Kerscher is an internationally-known advocate for access to
information to all, particularly, helping to make published works accessible to persons with print disabilities
through his job with the Daisy Consortium. In addition, he recently celebrated a remarkable achievement: in
concert with his two guide dogs (first Nesbit and now Mikey) George has traveled over two million miles on
Delta Air Lines. They have been to countries on every continent but Antarctica, as well as extensive travel
throughout the U.S. and Canada (including to the White House several times to be honored by President
Obama for his work). “My guide dogs have been all over the world with me,” he said. “There are a few places
I have gone alone, but that is rare.”
George clearly embodies the spirit of independent travel, and appreciates the confidence and precision that a
guide dog can offer him. George is an avid outdoorsman and apparently so is Mikey. “I live in Montana and
the outdoors is part of my DNA,” he said. “This summer at Glacier National Park, Mikey got me to the top of
the Avalanche Lake Trail. He did a perfect job on a complicated narrow rocky trail; he is amazing.”
When asked what the most rewarding aspect of being affiliated with GDB is, he said, “Well, Mikey and Nesbit,
of course! However, knowing that my volunteerism contributes to the delivery of the finest guide dogs in the
world is a pretty great reward.” The one thing he wished people knew about GDB is that by becoming
involved, there’s a strong, connected community of which you are a part. “I’ll be almost anywhere and
somebody will say that they volunteer, or puppy raise, or donate, or that their guide is from GDB, etc.,” he
said. “We strike up an instant relationship. I think this stems from everybody working together toward a
common goal, and there is a magical guide dog behind it all.”
George is making a difference through the passion and expertise he brings to GDB. As he said,“I certainly
can contribute to the technology GDB uses to disseminate information to persons who are blind, but
otherwise, I am simply an alum with a profound love for the organization.”
Pictured: George Kerscher and guide Mikey with a gift from Hartmann luggage to commemorate his two
million miles of travel on Delta Air Lines.
GDB welcomes Len Almalech of Saratoga, Calif., to our Board of Directors.
GRAD PROFILE
Marlaina Lieberg of Burien, Wash., is nothing if not tenacious. As a 7th grader in the 1960s, she was the only
visually impaired student at her school, and was not permitted to participate in PE classes. With the
determination of a preteen keen to do all the same things as her classmates, Marlaina did what any 12 yearold would do: she wrote to President John F. Kennedy. To her delight (but not surprise), the President did
intervene, and in due haste Marlaina was playing dodgeball with her peers.
About that same time, Marlaina knew that she wanted a guide dog. “It took a bit longer to get into guide dog
school than it did for the President to help me with gym class,” she said, “but after two years of letter-writing, I
got my first guide, a German Shepherd named Scamp.” Flash forward to 2014, and Marlaina, whose current
guide is yellow Lab Agnes, is celebrating 50 continuous years as a guide dog handler, during which she has
seen her fair share of changes. For instance, “It was a hard leap for me to make to give my dog food
rewards,” Marlaina said (a practice GDB uses today as part of our positive reinforcement training techniques).
“However, this old woman can learn new tricks, and now there isn’t a day that I leave home without my dog’s
treats. It is so joyful to reward a dog with love, respect and encouragement.”
Marlaina enjoys being a part of the greater GDB community. “When you meet new people who have dogs
from GDB, there’s an instant spark of friendship,” she said. “Additionally, graduates support each other
through the Alumni Association, and I can’t forget the puppy raisers! They are all truly amazing people, and
I’m glad to count many of them as my friends.”
Marlaina believes that a commitment to the guide dog lifestyle pays rewards in spades.
“I think of my dog as my magic carpet to freedom of movement; with my guide, I’ll go just about anywhere and
do so with confidence. I’m told that when I walk, I have a smile on my face and my head is held high. The key
is total trust at both ends of the harness. It’s a joy to give it, and it’s a joy to receive it!”
This is an excerpt of an article that appears in its entirety on our blog, No Bones About It, available at
guidedogs.blogspot.com.
ALUMNI UPDATES
 Dr. Walter Oi, an internationally esteemed economist, WWII Japanese-American internment camp
survivor, and GDB alum since 1987, passed away in December 2013 after a distinguished life and
career. Walter was the Elmer B. Milliman Professor of Economics at the University of Rochester New
York; a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; a distinguished fellow of the Society of
Labor Economists, and a recipient of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service.
He also served as the staff economist on President Nixon's Commission on an All-Volunteer Armed
Force, and as the Vice-Chair of the President's Commission on Employment of People with
Disabilities. Walter’s guide dog at the time of his death was yellow Lab Rosellen; Walter’s widow,
Marjorie, recently wrote to us with the following news:
“I just wanted to update you about Rosellen. She was certified [in September] to be a therapy dog. I
met with a trainer for an evaluation and she felt Rosellen didn’t need a class since she was already so
well trained. I spent a couple of weeks working with her to prepare for the test. She passed easily. I
still remember when Walter first received Rosellen in 2009 and how very good and sweet she was
from the beginning. Walter was so pleased to have her. Even when he was no longer able to work
with her, he would respond to her in the nursing home when I put her leash in his hand. It will be good
for Rosellen to have a new career - I think she misses working and being out and about. Thank you
for all you did for Walter and for us.”

Wayne Heidle of La Habra, Calif., was recently honored by the Low Vision Center at Marshall B.
Ketchum University with the Individual Humanitarian Service V Award. As an assistant professor and
adaptive technology specialist at the university, Wayne volunteers his expertise and teaches the
Center’s clients how to use new technologies and adaptive equipment like computers and digital
books. Wayne’s guide dog is yellow Lab Poncho.

Ernest Jones, who is paired with black Lab guide Randy, recently celebrated 11 years of writing a
monthly column entitled “Different Views” for the Walla Walla Union Bulletin. You can find his column
online at union-bulletin.com.

Anne Ng, a management analyst in the Administrative Department of the Navy, and her black Lab
guide dog Iza, are featured in a new promotional video by the U.S. Department of Labor about its
Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP). The WRP helps find and place qualified candidates with
disabilities in internships and jobs with federal agencies. You can watch the video at youtu.be/wCX6_Y4jGY.
Support GDB by shopping at AmazonSmile
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This Is How We Roll
If you live in Texas, keep an eye out for GDB’s new van cruisin’ down the road! GDB Community Field
Representative Sandi Alsworth will be behind the wheel waving at y’all. Thank you to the Lone Star Puppy
Raisers in Dallas for the vehicle donation. Look for more wrapped GDB vehicles in the future as we continue
to update our fleet.
New Licensees
Congratulations to GDB’s newest licensed guide dog mobility instructors
April Hegland, who hails from Bremerton, Wash., was a GDB puppy raiser and got her bachelor’s degree in
Biology (with minors in Equestrian Studies and Bible Studies) from Houghton College prior to coming to
GDB’s Oregon campus. She also was a wrangler at Miracle Ranch Summer Camp. April enjoys hiking with
her dog, riding horses, and playing the piano at her church. What does she love most about her job?
“Everyday I get to do something I love while changing other people’s lives,” she said.
Rachel Sutton, originally from Snohomish, Wash., raised 11 puppies for Canine Companions for
Independence, and worked at a dog boarding kennel teaching training classes before joining our Training
Department in Oregon. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Zoology from Central
Washington University. “I love training dogs and working with people,” she said. “It is still amazing to me how
quickly the dogs learn to be guides, and watching the teamwork develop in class.”
STAFF PROFILE
When people talk about Dr. Craig Dietrich, fondly known as “Doc,” they use words like kind, generous,
dedicated, selfless, and genuine. The beloved veterinarian is retiring after 36 years with GDB, and we are
grateful for the numerous contributions to our program that he leaves as his legacy.
Doc noted that seeing the evolution of the California campus veterinary clinic, from a modest two-room area
in the 1970s to the modern facility that it is today, has been one of the highlights of his career. “Another
equally important highlight is meeting as many of the grads, staff, and volunteers that I did,” he said. “I wish I
could personally thank each and every one, because they all make GDB what it is.”
Longtime co-worker and friend, GDB Canine Welfare/Neonatal Manager Kathy Fenger, reflected on Doc’s
dedication: “He has ALWAYS been there for us at all hours of the night and any day of the week,” she said.
“Doc is one of the greatest and most giving teachers ever to come through this organization. In the most
serious of situations Doc always had a steady hand and was a brilliant veterinarian sharing information as he
goes, but at the same time saving the day for the animals and people related to them.”
Last year Doc was the recipient of the Sue Sullivan Award as an outstanding staff member. While he
graciously accepted the award, he also made sure to mention the close collaborative efforts he shares with
his fellow Veterinary Department staff. “I’m fortunate to work with such incredibly talented, mission-driven
people; there is always a total commitment to the dogs and the people we serve,” Doc said.
Not only is Doc a highly-regarded veterinarian, he also possesses an exceptional bedside manner. He’s the
whole package and it’s never been just a job to him. He invests himself in every dog he treats and conveys an
extraordinary level of sensitivity to anyone at the other end of the leash. GDB is a better place because of
Craig Dietrich. Thank you, Doc, for all that you have given through the years. Your kindness, generosity,
dedication, selflessness, and genuine nature will always be remembered by everyone who has been fortunate
enough to cross your path.
HAPPENINGS
GDB Graduation at Microsoft
Congratulations to GDB’s Oregon Class 285 that celebrated its graduation in October at a special ceremony
held at the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Wash. Several Microsoft employees are tremendous
supporters of GDB; not only as volunteer puppy raisers, but through generous fundraising efforts as well.
During Microsoft’s Month of Giving campaign in October, Debra Mailman, a puppy raiser and Microsoft’s
Principal Solution Manager ECIT, spearheaded a “Puppy Piling Give Campaign” for the IT Department, where
several stuffed guide dog puppies circulated around their offices to keep the campaign active amongst
colleagues. Thank you to Microsoft and our champions there for your continuous support.
Pictured: Microsoft employees and GDB puppy raisers Gary and Kim Griffiths with yellow Lab
puppy Turbo.
Alaska Airlines Hangar Event
Alaska Airlines recently held an exclusive event for GDB guests in a private hangar at SEA-TAC airport. At
this interactive event, GDB graduates, puppy raisers, and staff had the opportunity to spend time aboard an
Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 plane, which included: visiting the pilots in the cockpit, learning more about ways
to improve the overall travel experience, sharing feedback and questions with Alaska Airlines personnel, and
enjoying snacks and trivia games. This event was a tremendous success in celebrating independent travel
and the guide dog lifestyle. In addition, Alaska Airlines also worked with GDB to create an educational video
to help Alaska Airlines’ staff assist guide dog users and other visually impaired travelers so that they can have
the best possible experience in the airport and while on board their planes. The video features GDB grad
Jake Koch and his guide Angelina. A big thank you to Alaska Airlines for being such a wonderful partner, for
supporting GDB, and working to improve the travel experience for all.
Canine Heroes Auction
GDB’s annual Canine Heroes Auction held in September was a rousing success, raising a record-breaking
$886,000 for veterinary care. The event was held at Raymond Vineyards in the Napa Valley, and was a
festive and lively affair with gourmet food, fabulous wine, and incredible auction lots on the block. Costumed
performers, including a stilt walker and an aerialist, thrilled the nearly 300 guests during the reception and
after parties; the exciting live auction was led by auctioneer Greg Quiroga.
Thank you to our event sponsors: Presenting-Kiewit Infrastructure West. Gold-Akin Gump Strauss Hauer &
Feld LLP. Silver-Callan Associates, Crowe Horwath, GCM Grosvenor, JP Morgan/Highbridge Capital
Management, Silicon Valley Bank. Bronze-BlackRock, Inc., Goldman Sachs, Harrah’s & Harveys Lake Tahoe,
Invesco, KOVARUS, Mesirow Financial, Natural Balance, Standish Mellon Asset Management. Wine
Storage-Neil Aldoroty/55 Degrees. Printing -All-American Printing Services. Postage-The Engine is Red, First
Republic Bank. Cocktail Napkins-Carol Ornstein in partnership with Granite Solutions.
Oregon Fall Luncheon
In November, a sold-out crowd of 300 people joined us at The Nines Hotel in Portland for our 15th annual
Oregon Fall Luncheon. Emceed by local media personality Kelley Day (pictured below with puppy raiser
Bailey Cheetum and black Lab pup Leonard), the event’s keynote address was given by Danelle Umstead
with her guide dog, yellow Lab Aziza. Danelle is a Paralympic alpine skier; she won a bronze medal at the
2014 Sochi, Russia games, and two bronze medals at the 2010 Vancouver, Canada games. A puppy delivery
capped the festivities. Special thanks to our corporate supporters: Companion Sponsor—NW Natural. Buddy
Sponsors—OnPoint Community Credit Union, The Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation. Friend
Sponsors—Charles Schwab/Portland, Oregon Branch, Banner Bank.
SAVE THE DATE
Pinot & Pups Wine Auction
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Portland, OR
Dogs with Hearts of Gold V
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Reno, NV
Visit guidedogs.com/events for more info.
Want to Increase Your CD Income? Create a Charitable Gift Annuity
If you own low-performing CDs that are maturing, you might consider transferring your CDs to Guide Dogs for
the Blind for a higher paying charitable gift annuity. The payments will be fixed for your life at a rate based on
your age and a portion of your income could be tax free.
Contact us to request a free illustration that includes your gift annuity rate and income payment.
For all the latest news and tips on estate planning, visit the planned giving section of our website:
guidedogs.com/plannedgiving.
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 and postage
Direct your bank to automatically transfer your donation.
 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
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. For info, contact us to receive a copy
of our “Case for Support.”
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please call us at the phone number below, or email us at donations@guidedogs.com.
For more info, please contact our Development Department at (800) 295-4050 extension 4160.