SUMMER NEWSLETTER2018

Dear Friends,

During the physical renewal here on our campus, we’ve never lost sight of the true transformations that matter most. I’m referring to those we create with each new class of students and veterans, and those we produce each time a wriggly puppy grows into a stunning working dog.

When a tiny black Lab named Jimmie first went home with his puppy raiser, he was still learning to be a good dog and do hard things like keep four paws on the floor when excited. By the time he went home with Karl Overcash, who lost his vision in a boating accident, Jimmie had transformed into an incredible guide with over 40 commands tucked inside his adorable head.

Before meeting Jimmie, Karl had spent a year in isolation at home, unable to travel independently. By the time the team graduated, Karl had big plans to travel more and get out on the water again.

And that’s why we’re here. Thank you for transforming lives. Thank you for changing the world, one dog at a time. I’m grateful to work together with you as part of the Southeastern Guide Dogs family.

Warm regards,

Titus HermanCEO, Southeastern Guide Dogs

THE MANY SHADES OF PLUM

P rincess Plum, Plummie, Plumpkin, Plum-Plum, Plumeria, Plum Jelly…my daughters and I love

making up nicknames for my guide dog, Plum.

I’m Rachel Weeks. I’m facing progressive vision and hearing loss from Usher Syndrome. I work for the Division of Blind Services; I’m a single parent to two beautiful daughters; and I race competitively in paratriathlons, Ironmans, and marathons. And everywhere I go, Plum leads the way.

When I became legally blind, I experienced a huge adjustment. I lost my driver’s license. I went through depression, the awkwardness of trying to use a cane, and low self-worth. But as I pursued my education and career, I looked for every resource that I could find—and that eventually led me to Plum.

Not only does Plum have many nicknames, but like the color, she has many shades. Of course, she’s my guide dog. As we walk, she enables me to look up and enjoy my remaining vision, and she keeps me from tripping. But she is so much more.

She’s my cheerleader, cheering me on through every lap I swim from her spot at the end of the pool. At races, my teammate lets me know when we run past Plum, who is cheering me on from the sidelines with a volunteer.

Plum is a professional travel guide—she knows exactly where the bathrooms are in the airports we frequent. She’s my emotional supporter, especially during travel and also for my girls. And she’s my sports psychologist; she helps me relax before every competition.

BY RACHEL WEEKS SOUTHEASTERN GUIDE DOGS ALUMNA

At work and home, Plum is the mediator. She’s the one easing any tension in the room. She’s my icebreaker. It’s hard to strike up conversations when you can’t make eye contact, but people approach me with, “What a beautiful dog!” And she’s a social butterfly at dog parks, always making the first introductions.

She’s a happiness meter—she makes me smile. And while Plum might not be human, she’s definitely a sister to my two girls. She’s part of our family. And finally, Plum is my friend. She’s here with me 24/7. I trust her with my life and she keeps all of my secrets.

My life today is incredible, and Plum enriches it in every way. Plum helps me truly believe that the condition of my eyes does not determine the quality of my life. As I compete in races, raise my family, and pursue my career, my passion is to lead from the front and push from the back. I am stepping out as a deafblind individual and doing what I would do regardless of my condition. I was recently asked, “What is your personal motto?” and without missing a beat I responded, “Because I can.” That’s the simple truth. Because I believe, I can. And because of Plum, I can. She means more to me than I ever imagined.

A MESSAGE FROM THE

CEO

D rs. Robert “Rob” Smith and Roxanne “Rocky” Roberts once worked tirelessly at

the Department of Trauma at Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago. Rocky served as chair of the Trauma Surgery Department, a remarkable feat for a female in America’s first trauma unit dedicated to an underserved, inner-city population. It was then that the plight of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder caught Rob’s attention, and the couple founded a small nonprofit placing service dogs with veterans.

When Rocky developed osteoarthritis and could no longer operate, the pair discovered Sarasota’s therapeutic climate, so they retired and relocated. That’s when their friend Luis Carlos Montalván, an Iraq war veteran and bestselling author who toured the country with his service dog, Tuesday, told them about Southeastern Guide Dogs and its proximity to their new home.

“The veteran connection was our primary interest,” Rob explained. With their background in nonprofit leadership, the couple soon recognized the world-class level of our operations and the need for ongoing support. They became more involved and joined our Cornerstone Society with a multi-year commitment. Rob and Rocky continue to actively recruit other supporters and network to raise funds and awareness. “We’ve had many dogs in our lives,” Rocky says, and they look forward to welcoming more dogs into their home by volunteering for Canine Camp, a program offering weekend getaways for our dogs-in-training. “And we love retirement,” Rocky adds. “We feel like we’re living in paradise.”

R O B S M I T H A N D R O C K Y R O B E R T S :

PARADISE FOUND M E M B E R S H I P

Our Cornerstone Society is an important program for loyal members of our family who believe in our mission. With your multi-year commitment, you will receive the following benefits:

• Exclusive invitation to our annual Cornerstone Society event

• A permanent name tag identifying you as a member

• Special listing on our donor honor roll and recognition wall

M E M B E R S H I P L E V E L S

PARTNER: $1,200 – $4,999 per year BENEFACTOR: $5,000 – $9,999 per year VISIONARY: $10,000 – $49,999 per yearGUARDIAN: $50,000 – $99,999 per year FOUNDER: $100,000+ per year

IF YOU’D LIKE TO HELP BUILD GREATER SUSTAINABILIT Y AND BECOME PART OF THE CORNERSTONE SOCIET Y FAMILY, V ISIT WWW.GUIDEDOGS.ORG/CS TO FIND OUT MORE.

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMANDear Friends,

We encourage our graduates to dream big and aim high. And on their behalf, our own dream is to become the best service dog school in the world. That’s why endorsements from these premier organizations speak volumes.

• International Guide Dog Federation – Accredited – Adhering to and exceeding world benchmarks of the highest quality standards.

• Assistance Dogs International – Accredited – Adhering to and exceeding standards of excellence in all areas of assistance dog acquisition, training, and partnership.

• Charity Navigator – Four Stars – Achieving the highest possible rating based on financial health, accountability, and transparency.

• Guide Star – Platinum Seal of Transparency – Achieving the highest level of transparency based on data and disclosure.

• America’s Best Charities – Best in America Seal of Excellence – Awarded to charitable organizations that meet the highest standards of public accountability, program efficiency, and cost effectiveness.

• GreatNonprofits – Top-Rated – Recognized by the only people’s choice award where volunteers, donors, and people served by nonprofits share stories of inspiration to earn this coveted award.

• Better Business Bureau – Accredited Charity – Meeting the highest standards in governance, finances, fundraising, information, and effectiveness measurement.

That’s a lot of recognition! But the simple fact is that we care deeply about our dogs and the people who need them, and excellence is our way of showing it. Thank you for all you do in contributing to our A+ report card.

Warm regards,

John WhitcombChairman of the Board

Thomas Murray learned that the best way to suppress PTSD was to work

harder and never give yourself time to think. He buried memories of 19 months in Vietnam as a Combat Artillery Officer, where his Air Cavalry Command and Control Huey was shot down in Laos. The Cobra gunships in his unit protected the downed crew until a Medevac helicopter got them out. Thomas was shot down three times before his time in Vietnam was done, twice in a fixed wing plane and once in that Huey helicopter.

After earning an MBA followed by a PhD in Social Science Education, Thomas enjoyed a long career as a high school teacher and university professor. He engaged struggling students in a dropout prevention program by teaching a semester-long course titled, “The History of the Vietnam War” and introducing them to wounded veterans, ultimately presenting his dissertation on the experience. Work, work, and more work kept him occupied, until the clock slowed him down, his body let him down, and his doctor said, “I want to be as blunt as I can be. If you don’t do something different, you’re going to die.”

INSEPARABLE: THOMAS MURRAY AND HADLEY

On Veterans Day, Thomas experienced an emotional breakdown in front of the entire student body and staff at the high school where he teaches world history, economics, and American government. That’s the day he applied for a service dog, and now a calm and obedient black Labrador named Hadley helps this veteran find peace. Thomas and Hadley spend their days together, inseparable. “I feel like there’s more of a calmness to me,” he says. “Some of my students have told me that the classroom feels a lot more relaxed, too. It’s interesting that the presence of a dog changes the feeling of the room.” After years of only sleeping about three hours a night, Hadley’s presence has brought relief there, too, and Thomas noticed that he’s getting more sleep these days. “I really think that as time goes on I’ll see significant change in my ability to cope and relax,” he says. “Relaxation isn’t something I understand.”

That’s okay. Hadley does, and she’s a wonderful teacher, too.

Retirement just feels better surrounded by dogs, and Donna Tosoni senses it. Her

two cuddly Yorkie-poos, Cal and Teddie, share puppy love at home, while dozens of well-trained Labs, goldens, and goldadors surround her with affection during her volunteer shifts at our canine training kennel.

Donna shows up without fail to the kennel and she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty. Dogs love her and the staff does too, whether she’s scooping “debris” from the play yard, massaging dog shampoo into the coat of a wet Lab, or keeping the kennels tidy. “Donna is always upbeat and willing to jump in on a moment’s notice,” says Rebekah Reagan, Manager, Canine Care. “She is just one of our amazing volunteers we have the privilege of working with in the kennels.”

DONNA TOSONI: ANSWERING THE CALL

Donna lives near our campus, and before she retired, our big billboard seemed to call her name each time she drove past. Answering the call of the oversized puppy on the sign, she began making a regular financial gift, a habit she’s generously continued each month since 2014.

“I worked long hours and I had a long commute,” she says. “I didn’t have time to volunteer so I figured I’d give something each month to support the cause.” After retirement, she started volunteering on campus and still continued her monthly gifts. “I love animals,” she explains, “and I think the mission is important. You train these wonderful dogs and then they help veterans and those that can’t see. And from a volunteer perspective, the people are caring and the organization is great!”

IT ALL ADDS UP

JOIN DONNA AND OTHERS IN OUR C ARING CIRCLE OF FRIENDS. ENROLL IN OUR MONTHLY GIVING PROGRAM AT WWW.GUIDEDOGS.ORG/MONTHLY.

A picture is worth 1,000 words and a number is worth…a lot! Here are a few interesting numbers that tell stories of their own, stories backed by real people, real dogs, and real impact.

With all of those numbers, there’s one more that makes a difference: the number one. And it’s YOU! When you support Southeastern Guide Dogs, you help us change the world, one dog at a time.

130+ The number of staff members we employ.

2 0 The number of days that people with vision loss live on campus, learning to navigate with their guide dogs. Service dog classes for veterans are 11 days.

$ 0The amount of government funding we receive. We are a non profit organization and receive no federal, state, or local funding; instead, we rely 1 0 0 percent on private contributions.

$ 0The amount we charge. We provide all of our dogs and services at no cost to recipients.

550+ The number of active guide dog and service dog alumni teams we currently support on an ongoing basis.

3,100+ The number of guide dog and service dog teams we’ve created since our 1 9 8 2 inception.

1,000+ Number of dogs currently under our auspices.

100+ New guide and service dog teams created each year.

7 5 0 + The number of core volunteers including puppy raisers, breeder hosts, ambassadors, campus volunteers, our Board of Directors, and event volunteers, saving our organization more than $ 1 2 m i l l i o n annually.

$TENS OF THOUSANDS The cost to breed, raise, train, and match our guide and service dogs with the people who need them, and to provide ongoing support to our alumni.

]

term recovery. On Hercules’ first visit, the dog put his paws up on the wheelchair and the young man smiled. On the dog’s third visit, the pilot mumbled the first words he’d spoken in months: good boy. During physical therapy, Hercules waits patiently as the courageous veteran steps toward him, slowly learning to walk again.

Another recent “Hercules moment” was when a 70-year-old patient arrived who had recently put down his old dog. Confused, distraught, and combative, the veteran’s demeanor changed completely when Hercules moved in for a therapeutic hug.

These stories repeat hundreds of times per week, and at each day’s end, Hercules heads home happy with Robert and his wife, Brenda, an Air Force veteran who also works at Haley. Thanks, Hercules, for saving the day at the VA!

The VA truly saved my life,” says disabled Marine veteran Robert Lynch, remembering

his own dark places, chronic pain, and long recovery in the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital. Robert now focuses on supporting veterans, families, and survivors every day as a Veterans Experience Officer at Haley. “I found my passion,” he says, “to help those who serve.”

And that’s where facility therapy dog Hercules comes in.

Robert considered getting an emotional support dog on his own path toward healing. But he wanted to do more, and now Hercules serves the entire VA hospital. “I talk to wounded warriors every single day,” he says. “I can kill two birds with one stone—I can help others and myself along my journey.”

The team visits inpatient and outpatient departments, saying “hi” and engaging 75 to 100 patients a day. “He loves to go to work,” Robert says. “He helps people cope with the stress and loneliness they might feel while staying in the hospital. The best part is the look on people’s faces when they see us coming.”

One of the first patients Hercules visited was a special operations pilot who suffered a traumatic brain injury in Afghanistan, and while wheelchair bound and nonverbal, arrived at the VA for long-

JOY Naval Medical Center

San Diego, CA

PATTI, JUNE, LOKEY, OLIVIA, & CHAMPIE Multiple healthcare facilities Camp Lejeune, NC

CHARLIE Naval Health Clinic Quantico, VA

PAIGE 144th Fighter Wing

Psychological Health ProgramAir National Guard Base

Fresno, CA

NATIONWIDE I M P A C T

FACILIT Y THERAPY DOG

HERCULES SAVES THE DAY

BOLT176th Wing Psychological Health Program, Alaska Air National Guard, Joint Base, Elmendorf, AK

HERCULESJames A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and Clinics Tampa, FL

BRUCEVA Medical CenterWest Palm Beach, FL

THOMASMacDill Air Force BaseTampa, FL

Thomas

BOBBIE, SUSIE, & GOLDIE Walter Reed National Military Medical CenterBethesda, MD

JOE & BRAD Multiple healthcare facilities, Joint Base Andrews, MD

Brad

Champie

Southeastern Guide Dogs offers dogs like Hercules at no charge to military facilities nationwide. “Our facility therapy dogs touch thousands,” shares Kim Hyde, Manager, Service Dog Program. “I constantly hear how having the dog changes the energy, changes the environment, and helps military personnel be more effective.”

Dianne Richardson agrees. She serves as Director of Psychological Health for the 176th Wing Alaskan Air National Guard and teams up with therapy dog Bolt. “I interact with 1,400 people—military families and kids too—and Bolt interacts with a minimum of 50 people per day,” she says. “At the highest level of command, they’re talking about how he reduces stress, boosts morale, and makes people happy.”

Hercules, Bolt, and our other facility therapy dogs save the day, every day, for many deserving veterans and families. Well done, pups!

Bolt Paige

Charlie

“

FL

MD

AK

CA

VANC

Mary Scharf doesn’t do things halfway and she doesn’t do “bored.”

In her corporate career, she worked her way up to become an executive officer of a major insurance corporation. In her second career teaching elementary and middle school English and American History, she finished her last year as Teacher of the Year. And in her retirement, she has one goal: to not get bored.

That goal led Mary to becoming not only a dedicated volunteer, but a longtime supporter of her favorite charity: Southeastern Guide Dogs.

Since 2009, Mary has arrived weekly on our campus, typically at our Puppy Academy where the Mary Scharf Neonatal Care and Whelping Center bears her name. She’s worn many hats, but today she serves as a Puppy Educator supporting the early education of our future superheroes, or you may find her behind the

MARY SCHARF

IF YOU’D LIKE TO JOIN MARY AND OTHER COMPASSIONATE MEMBERS OF OUR HERITAGE SOCIET Y, V IS IT WWW.GUIDEDOGS.ORG/HS TODAY. THANKS FOR LEAVING A LEGACY!

Puppy Academy reception desk greeting visitors. She also volunteers as a breeder host, first to Cricket and then to Marjorie, and she has sponsored eight puppies, naming most of them after her various cats.

“It’s not work,” Mary insists. “I love volunteering! Maybe it’s just selfish because I get to be with the dogs.”

“Selfish” isn’t quite the word we’d use to describe this generous friend. She’s a member of our Cornerstone Society and also of our Heritage Society at the Founder level, leaving a legacy gift through her estate planning. “As a single person with no children of my own, I had to decide how I was going to share with the causes that are most meaningful to me,” Mary says, regarding her choice to invest in the future of our school.

One thing is certain about Mary’s future: she won’t be bored. Our puppies will see to that!

GENEROUSLY NOT BORED