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10 Year Anniversary |
Freedom
Guide Dogs
1210 Hardscrabble Road Cassville New York 13318 (315) 822-5132 E -mail Freedomdog@a-znet.com web
address:
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Volume 1 Issue 16 Fall 2002
Large Campus, Fast Pace
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It’s a
clear sunny morning on the Cornell University campus, and Catherine Mendez
has an early class. While she rushes around her dormitory room, putting
things she will need for the day into her backpack, her Freedom Guide Dog,
Yogi, watches every move she makes.
“He wants to be sure I don’t leave him behind,” Catherine
laughs. “ As soon as he thinks I’m going somewhere, he won’t let
me out of his sight.” When she finally picks up his harness, Yogi
is ready to go, wagging his tail enthusiastically while Catherine fastens
the leather straps into place.
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| On the way to class, the three-year-old yellow lab sets
a brisk pace. Catherine likes to walk fast, and Yogi is only too
happy to oblige. “He’s really good about stopping for steps and curbs,”
Catherine says. “He’s especially careful when we’re traveling in
unfamiliar places, which is a good thing because we do a lot of traveling.
So far, we’ve flown to Philadelphia, Baltimore and Louisville, Kentucky.”
Legally blind since birth, Catherine has always enjoyed
being busy and active. During high school she spent her junior year
in England, where she developed an interest in international studies.
Soon after receiving Yogi in June, 2001, she began her freshman year at
Cornell, where she is part of the “College Scholar” Program, in East Asian
Studies, majoring in linguistics and government, with a concentration in
Japanese. Last summer she worked as a translator at a refugee resettlement
center.
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While Catherine is in classes or studying in her room, Yogi gets a chance to take a nap or lie quietly under her desk. But he and Catherine are both happiest when they’re up and moving, meeting new people and seeing new places. We’ll have to wait and see how far their next journey takes them. Catherine is considering the possibility of studying abroad next year, either in Australia or Japan. Wherever she goes, one thing is certain, Yogi will be right there beside her. |
Kennel Fund Growing
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Work is continuing on the fund-raising for our new kennel/property acquisition. As you can see from the “Dog Bone”, funding is coming in for the new kennel/property capital campaign. We would like to thank all the supporters for this well needed project. We did receive the $75,000 from the Community Foundation of Oneida and Herkimer County, as we were able to match their gift with funds from other sources. The Max & Victoria Dryfeuss Foundation, The Ben Snow Memorial Foundation, and the J. M. McDonald’s Foundation all contributed $5,000. Senator Ray Meier was able to secure a $50,000 grant from the State of New York. Along with private donations the $200,000 has been reached. |
Cocktails at 5:00
| On September 29th in Barneveld, Nelson Adams, his son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Cam had a lovely cocktail party, as an information day and fund raiser for Freedom Guide Dogs and the new kennel. The day was a beautiful fall day and the atmosphere was festive. The guide dog demonstration was informative but the puppies stole the show!! Along with talking to old friends we also met many new people, some who are now volunteers helping in different areas of Freedom’s activities and $3,000 was raised for the kennel. A large round of applause for everyone involved. We thank you. |  |
The Blind Serving The Blind in Rochester
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Kim, with Unity, is on the professional staff of The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) in Rochester NY. Kim is their Computer Teacher and received his Freedom Guide Dogs in 2002. Look for an article on Kim in the spring Freedom Forum. |
A Special Thanks to...
Freedom Guide Dogs depends on many
volunteers to keep all areas of the program running. Though we can
not mention everyone we would like to say a special thank you to Henry
Sumfleth for all the work he has done in grant writing, research and filings!!
We would not be where we are today without him. Also, Cathy Vavrina,
of Franklin Hill’s Kennels, who has donated two breed females this year.
Better yet she had them both bred for two lovely litters of Labs.
Cam Adams also has Camelot Labs and has donated services for a lovely litter.
Last but not least is Eugene Manfrini, and his friends/clients for their
continued thoughts, work and donations to Freedom.
Give A Gift Of Independence
Your contribution to Freedom Guide Dogs means someone's freedom. All funds are applied to provide highly trained guide dogs to men and women who are blind. There is no charge to the client for the trained guide, or the equipment that is placed with the guide. Freedom Guide Dogs is a 501(c)(3), non for profit charity that does not receive any funding from the government, or insurance. Your contribution will go a long ways in helping us continue to serve the blind through our “Hometown Training”.
A copy of
our latest annual report may be obtained, upon request, from Freedom Guide
Dogs, or The Office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway,
New York, New York 10271.