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July 2009 | Issue #17 |
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It’s been a high profile month for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. In June, the media took notice
of Guiding Eyes and its graduates in a big way. Here’s a sample:
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Guiding Eyes Graduates Visit White House
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Guiding Eyes grads Crystal Morales and Umbro, and Kelvin Crosby and Jerry, were in D.C. to celebrate
Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week.
| On Friday, June 26, President Barack Obama became one of the very few American Presidents to personally greet and welcome people who are deaf-blind to the White House Oval Office.
Guiding Eyes grads Crystal Morales and Umbro, and Kelvin Crosby and Jerry, were in D.C. to celebrate Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week. The Helen Keller National Center, where both Crystal and Kelvin have taken classes, designed a week of activities intended to demonstrate that successful deaf-blind people lead full, active, and productive lives.
Their week in D.C. culminated in their visit to the White House. Said Crystal of this special day:
“It was really exciting. Umbro enjoyed the White House tour. He navigated through a lot of people there and did his job perfectly. I was so proud of him. We did a lot of walking around the monuments and other places during that week and Umbro had a good time.
At the end we got to meet President Obama. He asked me many questions about the class I was taking in D.C. at Gallaudet University for the Deaf. He wanted to know more about Umbro, my guide dog from Guiding Eyes. The President said, "Umbro, you're a good boy" and then reached down and pet him! He said that he wished his new dog would behave as well as our guide dogs.”
Read the official White House blog on the visit | |
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CBS correspondent Bill Geist interviewing
Guiding Eyes Graduate Dick Pomo
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32nd Annual Guiding Eyes for the Blind Golf Classic
This year’s Golf Classic, our major public fundraiser, received press at the local, regional, and national levels. With Eli Manning once again as event host, sports broadcasters swarmed around our favorite quarterback to query him about his team and the upcoming season.
But it was our blind golfers who received most of the press’s attention. Thirteen of the top U.S. blind golfers competed at Mount Kisco Country Club for the coveted Corcoran Cup, and the quality of play was truly first-rate.
Particularly impressed by our golfers was Bill Geist, correspondent for the iconic television program CBS Sunday Morning. Bill and his production crew spent the entire day interviewing the golfers and filming play. They were all awe-inspired, not just by the great shots made, but also by the spirit and camaraderie among the competing golfers.
Watch the CBS Sunday Morning segment
Here’s a small sample of other Golf Classic coverage:
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Sheila Drummond, from Leheighton, Pennsylvania:
Times News -
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Yusef Dale and Guiding Eyes Weldon
(Photo credit: John H. White/Sun-Times)
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Another Grad in the News: Yusef Dale and Weldon
After serving two years as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Social Security Administration, Guiding Eyes grad Yusef Dale has accepted an offer from the U.S. Attorney of the Northern District of Illinois to serve as Assistant United States Attorney. This is one of the most elite U.S. Attorney offices in the country in which to practice trial litigation. Yusef's new position is highly coveted by some of the best and brightest legal minds and practitioners across the nation.
Yusef’s brother, Kareem Dale, is Special Assistant to President Obama for Disability Policy.
Congratulations Yusef! | |
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About Guiding Eyes for the Blind |
Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded in 1956 to enrich the lives of blind and visually impaired men and women by providing them with the freedom to travel safely, thereby assuring greater independence, dignity and expanded horizons of opportunity. Since that time, Guiding Eyes has become one of the foremost guide dog schools in the world, graduating more than 7,000 guide dog teams. It provides superbly bred Guiding Eyes dogs, professional training and follow-up support services to students at no cost to them and depends on contributions to fulfill its mission. The comprehensive cost of breeding, raising, preparing, training, and supporting a Guiding Eyes team is $45,000. Guiding Eyes for the Blind's Headquarters and Training Center is located in Yorktown Heights, New York and the Canine Development Center is in Patterson, New York. Visit us at donate.guidingeyes.org.
Guiding Eyes for the Blind | National Headquarters and Training Center
611 Granite Springs Road | Yorktown Heights | NY | 10598 | | 
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