Portland, OR. Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) held its annual fundraising luncheon event, Caps and Tails, on June 1st at the Downtown Hilton. At the event, a GDB litter of puppies met their volunteer puppy raisers for the first time. Caps and Tails featured a luncheon and graduation ceremony for guests to enjoy. With dogs, GDB staff and clients, guests were able to experience first-hand some of the services that Guide Dogs for the Blind provides its clients. All of GDB’s services are funded by donations and community support. (Photo credit, Morry Angell)
GDB Vice President of Marketing Karen Woon, Project Runway Season 11 winner Michelle Lesniak, and Guide Dogs for the Blind’s Chairman of the Board Tom Kowalski, with his guide dog Dynamo, at the event.
A new GDB graduate and his guide dog being honored during the graduation ceremony.
GDB’s annual fundraiser, Caps and Tails, featured a graduation ceremony of GDB teams.
Guests bidding during the fundraising portion of Caps and Tails.
The first portion of Caps and Tails featured a graduation of guide dog teams. GDB “teams” refer to the pairing of GDB clients who are blind or visually impaired along with their new guide dog. After being accepted to receive a GDB guide dog, each client comes to GDB’s campus for two weeks. During this time they learn to work with their new guide dog, and adjust to the guide dog lifestyle. This training ends with a GDB graduation ceremony. After years of work, dedication and training spent on each dog by numerous GDB employees, community members and volunteers, it’s a very emotional ceremony. Members of the GDB training staff, puppy raisers and the clients themselves, shared stories about their experience with Guide Dogs for the Blind. Guests were able to learn more about the background of graduates and their experiences with the organization.
After the graduation ceremony Chris Benninger, President and CEO of Guide Dogs for the Blind, shared more about the life-changing mission and services that GDB offers. Guide Dogs for the Blind’s Chairman of the Board, Tom Kowalski, also shared his powerful story as a GDB graduate, and the impact that having a GDB guide dog has had on his life. Guests and event sponsors helped raise over $225,000 for the organization, with each donation directly supporting GDB’s important work.
Caps and Tails concluded with a puppy delivery, featuring Project Runway Season 11 winner, Michelle Lesniak, presenting a litter of GDB puppies to their volunteer puppy raisers. Volunteer puppy raisers are responsible for socializing and taking care of GDB puppies for about the first year of their lives. Caps and Tails concluded with each puppy heading off with their new puppy raiser to begin their journey of becoming a GDB guide dog.
From Guide Dogs for the Blind:
As a nonprofit that receives no government funding, Guide Dogs for the Blind’s mission is made possible entirely by the support of donors. Caps and Tails is one of the many ways to support Guide Dogs for the Blind. To learn more about ways to support Guide Dogs for the Blind, please visit guidedogs.com. GDB graduation ceremonies also take place every two weeks at the nonprofit’s Boring, Oregon campus, and are open to the public. You can learn more about those ceremonies by visiting guidedogs.com/meet-gdb/campus-tours-graduations.
Boring, OR. Families with blind or visually impaired children came out to the Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) Campus to learn about the K9 Buddy program on April 27th. At an afternoon picnic, Kids like Charlie and his parents learned about the program, and were able to interact with GDB employees and families that have a K9 Buddy dog to see if the program is a fit for them.
Owen and Theodore
Jazzy and Henrietta
The K9 Buddy program matches carefully selected dogs with youth in Washington, Oregon, and California who are blind or have low vision, but are not yet ready to care for a guide dog. These “K9 Buddies” offer comfort and companionship while teaching the child responsibility, and give the child an opportunity to begin exploring the guide dog lifestyle at a young age.
Four current K9 Buddy child and dog pairs were in attendance, along with their families. Chris Benninger, President and CEO of Guide Dogs for the Blind, also flew up from the organization’s campus in San Rafael, California to attend the picnic. Other GDB instructors and employees, as well as several working guide dogs and guide dogs in training, also made appearances. After an educational session about the K9 Buddy program, lunch was served. The families attending then had time to socialize, make crafts, and say hi to the dogs.
Here’s a video about the program:
From Guide Dogs for the Blind:
Since 1942, Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) has been creating partnerships between people, dogs, and communities. With exceptional client services and a robust network of instructors, puppy raisers, donors, and volunteers, we prepare highly qualified guide dogs to serve and empower individuals who are blind or have low vision from throughout the United States and Canada.
All of the services for our clients are provided free of charge, including personalized training and extensive post-graduation support, plus financial assistance for veterinary care, if needed. Our work is made possible by the generous support of our donors and volunteers; we receive no government funding.
At GDB, we believe that a dog can make a remarkable difference in any child’s life by fostering a sense of caring, companionship, and a sense of responsibility through the human/animal bond. Our K9 Buddy Program matches specially selected dogs to become wonderful pets and buddies to children and young adults who are blind or visually impaired and their families. A dog can contribute to heightening of sensory development, motivating a child to learn and enhancing self esteem. The K9 Buddy program connects the child/family with our community of puppy raisers and other supporters, including agencies and organizations for the blind. K9 Buddies are offered free-of-charge.
Portland, OR. Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) hosted a benefit called Tassels & Tails which doubled as a graduation ceremony for the individuals using the highly trained dogs. GDB graduations typically take place at the nonprofit’s campus in Boring, but Tassels & Tails aimed to expose a broader audience to GDB’s life-changing mission by bringing the festivities to 240 people in Downtown Portland at the Hilton. At the benefit, puppy raisers also had the opportunity to join clients on stage and celebrate their new partnerships.
GDB supporter Howard Hedinger visits with Camille Jassney and her guide dog Egan.
Seven Pacific Northwest natives graduated in the ceremony and had the opportunity to walk across the stage with their new guide dogs and share their gratitude for the GDB staff, raisers and the broader community. Prior to the ceremony, on February 10th, graduates had the opportunity to spend time with the individuals who raised their guide dogs. In addition, the event offered a paid luncheon and fundraising opportunities to support the veterinary/critical care of GDB guide dogs.
Rita Schaefer of the Sigrid Arnhold Foundation spends time with GDB National Major Gift Officer Janet Benjamin and a guide dog puppy.
CEO Chris Benninger shares a moment with guide dog puppy in training Harriet.
GDB instructor Mallary Paoli stands with GDB client Russell Aley and his new guide dog Hera. To their right is the Apland family, Hera’s puppy raisers.
GDB Client George Basioli and his guide dog Dustin stand between longtime supporters Sharon and Marc Alport.
Friend and supporter Nora Harrison poses with two adorable guide dog puppies in training.
From Guide Dogs for the Blind:
Since 1942, Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) has been creating partnerships between people, dogs, and communities. With exceptional client services and a robust network of instructors, puppy raisers, donors, and volunteers, we prepare highly qualified guide dogs to serve and empower individuals who are blind or have low vision from throughout the United States and Canada.
All of the services for our clients are provided free of charge, including personalized training and extensive post-graduation support, plus financial assistance for veterinary care, if needed. Our work is made possible by the generous support of our donors and volunteers; we receive no government funding.
Portland, OR.Guide Dogs for the Blind celebrated its Oregon Fall Luncheon on November 4th at The Nines Hotel in downtown Portland. Attendees enjoyed a wine reception where they mingled with GDB puppies and guide dogs, followed by a lunch that featured a moving and educational program. Mark Wright and Claire Widmark-Wright met their new guide dog puppy Kona. As is customary at GDB events, a presentation of young puppies to their new volunteer puppy raisers closed out the event to the delight of the guests.
Honoree Howard Hedinger with keynote speaker Kathryn Marksen-Simonson and her guide dog, Nabisco.
Guide Dogs for the Blind President and CEO Christine Benninger with GDB Board Member Von Summers.
There was a demo of GDB’s positive reinforcement methods for guide dog training, and alumna Kathryn Marxen Simonson, with her guide dog, Nabisco, provided the keynote address. In addition, GDB honored long-time supporter, Howard Hedinger, for his many years of dedication to our mission.
From Guide Dogs for the Blind:
Since 1942, Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) has been creating partnerships between people, dogs, and communities. With exceptional client services and a robust network of instructors, puppy raisers, donors, and volunteers, we prepare highly qualified guide dogs to serve and empower individuals who are blind or have low vision from throughout the United States and Canada.
All of the services for our clients are provided free of charge, including personalized training and extensive post-graduation support, plus financial assistance for veterinary care, if needed. Our work is made possible by the generous support of our donors and volunteers; we receive no government funding.
Portland, September 10th, 2015. If you couldn’t join the thousands who flocked to Pioneer Courthouse Square for The Standard’s Annual Volunteer Expo, you’re in luck. We’ve got all the information and website links to explore over 125 local nonprofits that could use your time.
A full list of links of nonprofits is at the bottom of our story.
R. Richard Crockett, (left) is the Program Operations Director & Volunteer Coordinator at Chess for Success.
Classroom Law Project is a non-profit organization of individuals, educators, lawyers, and civic leaders building strong communities by teaching students to become active citizens.
The Standard’s Volunteer Expo has repeat participants year after year, here’s a look at some nonprofits which continue to recruit volunteers:
Jenny Bedell-Stiles and Andy Meeks from Friends of Trees
talks with Casey Rhodes and Clark Hays.
Jenny Chu from Literary Arts
New Avenues For Youth volunteers are a hit every year because they dish out the free Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream!
Rachel Randles from Oregon Historical Society
The Volunteers of America recruited some new volunteers!
Special Olympics Oregon has room for coaches and event volunteers.
Newspace Center for Photography promoted its multidimensional photography resource center and community hub for students, working artists, professional photographers, educators, and photo-enthusiasts of all types.
Latino Network’s Edgar Ortega
Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro Area had a colorful display.
The Work for Art’s Community Fund and Arts Education Fund support more than 80 arts and culture organizations every year—encompassing dance, visual arts, music, literary arts, media arts, theater, cultural arts, and arts education.
IMPACT NW drew prospective volunteers who learned that each year over 60,000 low-income children, youth, families, seniors, and adults with disabilities participate in Impact NW’s comprehensive anti-poverty programs.
The YMCA was handing out information about programs.
People who stopped by The Q Center booth were met with a friendly smile.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Oregon Chapter staffers promoted their many volunteer options.
Reps from the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon explained their work on behalf of local cats and kittens.
American Red Cross volunteer recruiters had the trademark red vests!
The mission of the Make-A-Wish Oreogn Foundation® is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.
Northwest Pilot Project began in 1969 as an all volunteer agency to provide basic supports for seniors at risk of losing their ability to live independently.
Miracle Theatre Group is The Northwest’s premiere Latino arts and culture organization.
Camp Fire offers opportunities for volunteers who like to work with kids.
Bridge Meadows is a multi-generation housing community serving Oregon’s vulnerable populations; foster youth, adoptive parents and elders (55+).
Here’s a list of links to charities at the The Standard’s Volunteer Expo. Please consider donating your time, and tell them PortlandSocietyPage.com sent you!
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