A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT DALE E. HARTFORD BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Dear Friends of GDA,

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Guide Dogs of America PRESIDENT S MESSAGE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT DALE E. HARTFORD Dear Friends of GDA, We are pleased to report our achievements in 2015 2016.

2 Guide Dogs of America PRESIDENT S MESSAGE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT DALE E. HARTFORD Dear Friends of GDA, We are pleased to report our achievements in Like all successful organizations, Guide Dogs of America depends on the talents and generosity of many dedicated individuals. We rely on our board of directors, staff, state-licensed trainers, puppy raisers, volunteers, and donors. We are grateful for your support and honored that with your help, we change the lives of so many visually impaired men and women by providing them with professionally trained guide dogs, free of charge. Successfully matching each student with the right guide dog for his or her circumstances is our top priority. Our program s individualized training ensures that our students return home with a renewed sense of freedom to pursue their goals with increased mobility and independence. Our commitment to our graduates continues long after they leave our campus. We advise each guide dog team and provide follow-up care, as needed, for the life of the team. We are proud of our accomplishments over the past 12 months and we thank each of you for your role in providing the gift of independence to the visually impaired men and women we serve. Sincerely, Dale E. Hartford President/Director PRESIDENT Dale E. Hartford FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Richard Floyd VICE PRESIDENTS Robert Escarcega Hugh Hazlewood SECRETARY/TREASURER Gary Holt TRUSTEES Bill Engler Lee Pearson Gary Allen Diane Babineaux James Beno Gerald Bernson Lorri Bernson Mark Blondin R. Thomas Buffenbarger Dora Cervantes BOARD OF DIRECTORS VOTING MEMBERS James Conigliaro Robert Martinez, Jr. Mark Conner Charles Maudlin Fred DiBenedetto Daniel R. Morgan Randy Erwin Paul Morton J. Weldon Granger Thomas Olzak Philip Gruber Sito Pantoja Richard Guzman Robert Petroff Jon Holden Stan Pickthall Robert Scardelletti Mark Schneider Joan Shaw Lynn Tucker, Jr. Rickey Wallace Donald E. Wharton Phillip Zannella, Jr. LEGAL COUNSEL David Rosenfeld Amador Max" Chavez George Kourpias Robert Roach, Jr. 1

Guide Dogs of America OUR MISSION, FUNDING OUR MISSION OUR MISSION Guide Dogs of America

impaired men and women from the United States and Canada so that they may continue to pursue

FUNDING OUR MISSION From Pennies for Puppies to Partners in Trust, GDA depends upon the

The 31 th Annual Michael & Joyce Day Memorial Guide Dogs of America Golf Tournament, held by

Alameda, California for golf, dinner, cocktails, and prizes.

The 35 th annual Las Vegas Charity Weekend drew 1,100 attendees who enjoyed golfing, GDA s

3 Guide Dogs of America OUR MISSION, FUNDING OUR MISSION OUR MISSION Guide Dogs of America provides guide dogs and instruction in their use, free of charge, to blind and visually impaired men and women from the United States and Canada so that they may continue to pursue their goals with increased mobility and independence. FUNDING OUR MISSION From Pennies for Puppies to Partners in Trust, GDA depends upon the generosity of individuals and organizations to provide the gift of greater independence to visually impaired men and women. Thanks to thousands of devoted volunteers and supporters, during the past 12 months GDA events were held all over the country. Highlights from this year s fundraisers include: GDA s annual Online Silent Auction offered nearly 310 items across 16 categories. The auction was browsed by 1,832 visitors (representing 47 states, the District of Columbia, and 9 countries). Their participation made the online silent auction a great success, with $43,181 raised. The 31 th Annual Michael & Joyce Day Memorial Guide Dogs of America Golf Tournament, held by Machinists Union District Lodge #190, brought together 146 participants and 25 volunteers in Alameda, California for golf, dinner, cocktails, and prizes. In all, a great day that raised $124,035 for GDA s programs. The 35 th annual Las Vegas Charity Weekend drew 1,100 attendees who enjoyed golfing, GDA s Hawgs for Dogs motorcycle ride, and sporting clays. The finale to the weekend was the William W. Winpisinger Charity Banquet, during which staff, puppy raisers, GDA graduates, honorees, volunteers, vendors, and corporate executives enjoyed a lovely evening and celebrated another great year of fundraising efforts. We are deeply grateful for every gift, no matter the amount, as it helps us provide our blind students with transportation to GDA, room and board, a guide dog, and 28 days of training all free of charge. 2

Guide Dogs of America FINANCIALS FINANCIALS FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2016 Total Public Support and Revenue for 2016: $10,152,031 Public support: Contributions $9,175,361 Fundraisers and Other

(Losses) ($820,602) Interest and Dividends $588,215 Realized Gains (Losses) on Investments $215,926 Oil Rights Income (net of depletion) $31,535 Less Investment Expenses ($93,936) $10,000,000

4 Guide Dogs of America FINANCIALS FINANCIALS FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2016 Total Public Support and Revenue for 2016: $10,152,031 Public support: Contributions $9,175,361 Fundraisers and Other Revenue $1,055,532 Fund Dinners $690,198 Tournaments $267,396 Raffles and Silent Auctions $85,285 Merchandise and Cards $6,220 Disposal of Assets $6,433 Investment Income ($78,862) Unrealized Gains (Losses) ($820,602) Interest and Dividends $588,215 Realized Gains (Losses) on Investments $215,926 Oil Rights Income (net of depletion) $31,535 Less Investment Expenses ($93,936) $10,000,000 $8,000,000 $6,000,000 $4,000,000 $2,000,000 $0 ($2,000,000) Public support: Contributions $9,175,361 Revenues, 2016 Fundraisers and Other Revenue $1,055,532 Investment Income ($78,862) Program services include: Kennel Guide Dog Training Student Relations Breeding Puppy Program This information is drawn from the year ended June 30, 2016 financial statements audited by Norman Goodman Tax Attorney, C.P.A. For complete copies of our financial statements and IRS Form 990, please visit 3

Guide Dogs of America DONOR SPOTLIGHT: PARTNERS IN TRUST SOCIETY DONOR SPOTLIGHT: PARTNERS IN TRUST SOCIETY William And Betty Schertle Introduce New Generation To GDA When Betty Schertle passed away

Guide Dogs of America was among five charities the couple named to be recipients of a portion of their estate.

5 Guide Dogs of America DONOR SPOTLIGHT: PARTNERS IN TRUST SOCIETY DONOR SPOTLIGHT: PARTNERS IN TRUST SOCIETY William And Betty Schertle Introduce New Generation To GDA When Betty Schertle passed away last year, the trust that she and her husband William (Bill) had drawn up years earlier was read. Guide Dogs of America was among five charities the couple named to be recipients of a portion of their estate. Rather than simply sending a check to the charities, the Schertles niece, Carrie Contreras, chose to hand deliver the disbursement with a biography and photo of the couple, who were married for 65 years. Uncle Bill and Aunt Betty came from the greatest generation of hardworking Americans who thought of others, respected everyone, were happy to see a beautiful day, and are admired greatly by their proud family, Contreras said. It was important to me that their memory and generosity were honored, which is why I wanted to meet with Guide Dogs of America. Her aunt and uncle were private people so she didn t know why they chose the charities they did, but her visits revealed a common thread. No one is paying a dime to receive the services provided by these organizations, Contreras said. That these services are provided free of charge is something that cannot be overstated. It became very clear that my aunt and uncle had considered each charity very carefully before naming it in their trust. As for Guide Dogs of America, the couple had always had a dog. Her uncle had been diagnosed with macular degeneration in his later years. Contreras feels that, had his vision loss happened at an earlier part of his life, he would have gotten a guide dog. We can always learn from our elders, Contreras said. Carrying out my aunt and uncle s wishes, I learned about GDA, which is actually very close to where we live. My husband and I have always had a Golden Retriever, one of the breeds GDA trains for its blind students. It was meant that I learn about the school and how it provides guide dogs free of charge to their blind students. GDA is now on our list of charities that we give to. GDA Graduation Inspires Legacy of Giving For Edith and Robert Hunio, all it took was attending just one graduation for them to know they wanted to support Guide Dogs of America and name the school in their trust. The Hunios were introduced to GDA by their friends in 1992 and have been Partners in Trust ever since. The ceremony brought tears to our eyes, said Edith Hunio, whose husband Robert passed away in After witnessing what the dogs did for these individuals, Robert looked at me and I looked at him, and we thought that we have to leave something to the school. Within just about a week, we changed our trust to include GDA. It is more personal than giving money to just any charity. In this case you know how the money will be used and who you are helping, said Hunio, a lifelong dog lover. We thought it was a marvelous organization that could do this for people and how wonderful it was for these dogs to feel useful, loved and cared for. I am sure the dogs know they are doing good for people. Hunio encourages anyone considering naming GDA in their trust to attend one of the graduations, which are held four times a year. 4

Guide Dogs of America DONOR SPOTLIGHT CON T, GDA BY THE NUMBERS If you go to a

If you want to do good in the world, I don t think there is any greater good that

To know that you played a part in helping to make someone s life better it s a good

It is a wonderful organization and I admire and applaud everyone involved in

GDA BY THE NUMBERS Maintaining the health of our newborn puppies, breeding dogs,

puppies-in-training in foster homes 43,720 pounds of food per year 4,460 loads of

6 Guide Dogs of America DONOR SPOTLIGHT CON T, GDA BY THE NUMBERS If you go to a graduation, you can t help but be so emotionally moved and inspired, she said. If you want to do good in the world, I don t think there is any greater good that you can do than to give someone who has lost their vision a gift of a guide dog. To know that you played a part in helping to make someone s life better it s a good thing to do. It is a wonderful organization and I admire and applaud everyone involved in working with and training these dogs, Hunio added. GDA BY THE NUMBERS Maintaining the health of our newborn puppies, breeding dogs, puppies-in-training, and dogs in for formal training is our number one priority. This takes a lot of hands and paws. Here s a look at GDA by the numbers: 30 litters of pups born each year 200 puppies-in-training in foster homes 43,720 pounds of food per year 4,460 loads of laundry washed per year 2,080 miles a trainer walks per year 4 pairs of shoes each trainer goes through per year 1,925 vaccinations per year spays/neuters per year full and part-time employees 120 on-campus volunteers and tour guides 300 volunteer puppy raisers 5

Guide Dogs of America NURSERY NEWS NURSERY NEWS Guide Dogs of America has always strived to give its puppies a paw up right from the start.

The puppies are born in our nursery where they are cared for by our staff and a group of selected volunteers.

Puppies that get early and adequate interaction and exposure to different experiences tend to be more confident and comfortable in new settings and surroundings and more connected with their handlers.

From birth to four weeks the puppies in the nursery are exposed to humans who handle and cradle them and provide age-appropriate stimulation.

Our dedicated volunteers and staff implement the exercises and monitor and document each puppy s progress to ensure he or she is ready for each new experience.

The puppies also start venturing out into the new outdoor puppy development yards.

7 Guide Dogs of America NURSERY NEWS NURSERY NEWS Guide Dogs of America has always strived to give its puppies a paw up right from the start. GDA has its own breeding program to provide the best quality dogs possible for our blind and visually impaired guide dog recipients. The puppies are born in our nursery where they are cared for by our staff and a group of selected volunteers. These volunteers give the puppies individual attention and handling soon after they are born. This socialization is an important part of their development. Puppies that get early and adequate interaction and exposure to different experiences tend to be more confident and comfortable in new settings and surroundings and more connected with their handlers. GDA had the opportunity to host Suzanne Clothier, a renowned expert in puppy development and dog training. Clothier spent two days at GDA working with staff to design a new puppy development program. From birth to four weeks the puppies in the nursery are exposed to humans who handle and cradle them and provide age-appropriate stimulation. At four weeks of age, the next phase of the program begins. A personalized program is created for each puppy. Our dedicated volunteers and staff implement the exercises and monitor and document each puppy s progress to ensure he or she is ready for each new experience. These experiences include: spending alone time in the indoor development room; starting to wear collars and bibs; and being introduced to leash walking and sitting for their food. The puppies also start venturing out into the new outdoor puppy development yards. The development yards may look like puppy playtime, but the play equipment is carefully chosen to stimulate the development of their minds and their bodies. Important developmental milestones are being met in the yard, said Yvonne Martin, GDA s Director of Programs. This enriched environment supports neuro-muscular development and results in coordinated, connected, and competent puppies. At about seven weeks of age, the puppies will go home with their GDA volunteer puppy raisers. Our puppies are more confident and are adjusting better when transitioning to the puppy raiser homes, said Meri Forman, GDA s Breeding Department Manager. Staff is delighted with the results of the puppy development program. Our puppies are leaving here not just well bred, said Martin, but more developmentally ready and confident to take on their next step in the program. 6

Guide Dogs of America PUPPY RAISERS, POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS PUPPY RAISERS Our 300 volunteer puppy raisers are the backbone of our organization.

We deeply appreciate the time, devotion, and generosity of our new and returning puppy raisers.

-Vivian Younger, 63, experienced guide dog user An experienced guide dog user, Vivian Younger commutes from Southern to Northern California every month for her job as a rehabilitation specialist for

GDA hit it on all marks when they matched me with Alani.

She is Younger s seventh guide dog, but her first from Guide Dogs of America. She will not be her last from the school.

8 Guide Dogs of America PUPPY RAISERS, POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS PUPPY RAISERS Our 300 volunteer puppy raisers are the backbone of our organization. They open their homes and their hearts to our puppies to raise, socialize, train, and love them until they are returned to GDA for their formal guide dog training at approximately 18 months of age. We deeply appreciate the time, devotion, and generosity of our new and returning puppy raisers. POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS Any prospective donor who steps on the grounds of GDA will see the work that has gone into training their guide dogs, from puppy to graduation day. -Vivian Younger, 63, experienced guide dog user An experienced guide dog user, Vivian Younger commutes from Southern to Northern California every month for her job as a rehabilitation specialist for the blind, and knew exactly what she wanted from her new guide dog. I asked for a tail wagging, hardworking, responsive dog in or out of harness, said Younger. GDA hit it on all marks when they matched me with Alani. Any prospective donor who steps on the grounds of GDA will see the work that has gone into the training of their guide dogs, from puppy to graduation day. Younger graduated with Alani last October. She is Younger s seventh guide dog, but her first from Guide Dogs of America. She will not be her last from the school. In addition to GDA s proximity, Younger said it was the school s approach to training and how it molded to each individual s needs. After six back surgeries, yet still very active, some of the routes needed to be modified for her which was not a problem at all. The trainers were great about accommodating my needs, said Younger. They would make sure that when we returned from an activity that I would be able to get off the bus first to give me extra time to rest before we were on the go again. They were encouraging and supportive, but they also challenged me and the other students in the class as they taught us to be independent, comfortable and confident guide dog handlers. She also preferred the methods used by GDA to train its dogs. GDA s training style is much different than other schools. The focus is on creating a bond between the student and the guide dog from the time we meet, Younger said. We bond through our training and through our obedience work, but it s also the praise, love and care that we give our dogs when they are not working that strengthens that bond. The trainers emphasized that allowing our dogs to have some downtime with us, just relaxing, is just as important as keeping up with the skills we learned in class. 7

9 And the bonding isn t limited to student and guide dog. Guide Dogs of America POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS CON T The other thing that really, really stands out with GDA is that whatever instructor works with the student during training is the instructor that follows up with you or that you contact after you have graduated, Younger said. There is a balance between the bond with the teacher, the student and the guide dog. That is something I really appreciate. It is just a marked difference in approach that I can talk to the same trainer that I worked with in class. It makes it so much easier and takes less explanation when I have a question to be able talk to the trainer who knows me and my dog so well. Younger was chosen to represent the class and speak at their graduation. About her speech, she said, I got up there and told the audience everything that was great about GDA. If you didn t know it you d think I was giving a fundraising speech. I loved everything about my GDA experience. Everything. The trainers, the dorm room, the campus, the staff. Everything. But I especially love my guide dog Alani she is perfect. At 83 years young, Jack Byers thought he might not be able to find a guide dog school that would take him. Then he learned about Guide Dogs of America and their no upper age limit policy for students as long as they are in good health and can properly exercise and care for their guide dog. Byers met all of the requirements and this past April he graduated with his first guide dog, Padmay. Byers lost his vision 15 years ago, but it wasn t until two years ago that his daughters told him they thought it was time for him to consider getting a guide dog. His vision was deteriorating and Byers knew it was time for a change if he was going to continue to live on his own. I thought I might be too old to get a guide dog. -Jack Byers, 83, first time guide dog user I heard about GDA from several people at the Blind Center who had received their guide dogs from the school. They had only positive things to say about the school, the program, the instructors and the well-trained dogs they matched to their blind partner, Byers said. I am so thankful that GDA does not have an age limit for their students. It took a little while before they found a dog that would be a good match for me and Padmay was worth the wait. She is perfect. Padmay has changed Byers day to day life in many ways and has given him greater freedom and mobility. I can t imagine going anywhere without her, Byers said. We have our routine when we re here at home. She loves going on our daily walks and she really likes it when we take the bus. She also was great on the airplane and everywhere we went when we traveled to Michigan last summer to attend my 63 rd reunion. There were 50 couples in attendance, including Padmay and me. She stays close to Byers side when they are out working, but she also stays close to him in the house and has proven herself to be a helpful and attentive companion. She has undoubtedly changed my life immensely. Without her, my daughters wouldn t want me to live on my own. They see how much Padmay helps me and it gives them comfort knowing she is always there with me, Byers said. Padmay follows me around the house and when it s time to rest she lays right next me. If I sneeze or cough, she gets right up to see what s wrong with me. I tell her I m okay and kiss her on her head, then she gets extra pets for doing such a good job. I have nothing but praise for GDA, Byers said. I can t say enough good things about the school or Padmay. I was so glad to be chosen to be in the class and I am happy and thrilled that they chose Padmay for me. 8

10 Guide Dogs of America POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS CON T GDA has a reputation as being the best school at matching dogs with their owners. -Adam Perez, 36, first time guide dog user Adam Perez has demonstrated that he s up for a challenge more than once in his life. He was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 21 years old and spent eight months in the hospital. He has been in remission for 15 years. At the age of 26 he started losing his vision. Blindness presented a new challenge but there s no holding back the energetic, enthusiastic Perez, who is now 36 years old; not even the challenge of learning math by Braille, a prerequisite for the upper level courses he will need to take to earn a degree in psychology. This past January he graduated with his first guide dog, Murphy. GDA has a reputation as being the best school at matching dogs with their owners, which is the main reason I chose them, Perez said. Then I learned that the school was founded by the machinists union when one of its members was denied a guide dog because he was considered too old. It was very special to me that we had an 80-yearold man in our class. I saw the school s commitment first hand. It made me especially proud because my father was a machinist and I was raised around machines my whole life. And by all reports from Perez, GDA s reputation for matchmaking is well earned. The first time I took his harness it was like holding onto a lawn mower with a stuck throttle, said Perez, who worked on hot rods and motorcycles in his free time before losing his vision. At first I was thinking slow down. Then I realized that this was how I used to move. He s my little hot rodder. He gets me where I need to go and has cut my travel time tremendously. He couldn t be a better match for me. The ease with which Murphy guides him often makes Perez think about what navigating the same situation would be like if he still used a cane. He recalled a particular event. A class I needed to take was already full so I wanted to talk to the professor and see if he would let me in. Class had already started, but there were a few empty seats, Perez said. With my cane I would have been banging into chairs and people s legs. This time I was able to tell Murphy to find a chair and he took me right to an empty seat. No commotion. No embarrassing or awkward moments. Even before the classroom instance, Murphy already had demonstrated that he knew how to find an open seat. The week after the new guide dog team graduated Murphy facilitated a reunion between Perez and one of his GDA classmates. We arrived early at the Braille Center so we went to the cafeteria, Perez said. I opened the door and Murphy really wanted me to go in a specific direction. When we got to the table, I heard a familiar voice ask Hello, who s there?. Murphy had spotted one of our GDA classmates with his new guide, Monty Murphy s brother. It was a happy reunion for the four classmates, according to Perez. While Murphy and Monty happily slept next to each other at the feet of their partners, the two men talked about life with their new guide dogs, the difference they had already made and how well matched each was with his dog. 9

Guide Dogs of America GDA SUPPORTERS, VISIT US GDA SUPPORTERS The cost to

blind partner to work together as a team is more than $42,000.

depend upon individuals, foundations, organizations, and businesses to

Thank you to all those who provide philanthropic support for Guide Dogs of

11 Guide Dogs of America GDA SUPPORTERS, VISIT US GDA SUPPORTERS The cost to provide one professionally trained guide dog and train the guide dog and blind partner to work together as a team is more than $42,000. Since GDA receives no funding from local, state or federal governments, we depend upon individuals, foundations, organizations, and businesses to help us fund our mission. Thank you to all those who provide philanthropic support for Guide Dogs of America through fundraisers, donations, matching gifts, sponsorships, and future giving through a will or trust. Your gifts change lives by helping others live more independently with the loving partnership of a guide dog. VISIT US Guide Dogs of America Glenoaks Blvd. Sylmar, CA (818) CONNECT WITH GDA Instagram and 10

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