Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Ari Avidar (212) 788-2963
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani joined former US Open golf champion Ken Venturi and "First Dog" Goalie at a Gracie Mansion reception this evening and proclaimed March 23-29, 1997 as Guiding Eyes for the Blind Week in New York City. Also participating in the reception were WABC-TV Sportscaster Scott Clark, J. Richard Ryan of Guiding Eyes For the Blind, Bill Fugazy, President of Fugazy International, and a group of Labrador puppies that will grow up to be guide dogs.
"For over four decades, Guiding Eyes for the Blind has been considered one of the best guide dog training schools in the country," Mayor Giuliani said. "From North Carolina to Maine, there are more than 500 volunteers who prepare these guide dogs for their future roles. Their mission is to bring dignity, security and mobility to those without sight and they fulfill that mission magnificently."
Guiding Eyes for the Blind, which was founded in 1954 and is located in Yorktown Heights, NY, provides a seeing eye guide dog and 26 days of training
to each of about 160 visually impaired persons every year. The guide dogs, the training and lifetime follow up support services are provided absolutely free of charge. The nonprofit organization also operates its own breeding center in Patterson, NY, where the guide dogs go through years of training and must pass strict medical examinations.
Goalie, the City's "First Dog" adopted by the Giuliani family in February 1994, was born in the Guiding Eyes for the Blind breeding center but cataracts prevented him from passing his medical exam to become a guide dog.
At the reception the Mayor also announced that the Ken Ventruri Guiding Eyes Classic will be held on Monday, June 16, 1997 at the Mt. Kisco and Whippoorwill Country Clubs in Westchester. The two day Classic represents the organization's major fundraising event and includes a tournament for the top visually impaired golfers from the United States, Canada and Great Britain.