Contact: Sunny Mindel/Brenda Pérez (212) 788-2958
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani tonight proclaimed Tuesday, April 20, 1999 as Guiding Eyes for the Blind Day at a reception at Gracie Mansion honoring the organization's commitment to assisting visually impaired New Yorkers. Since it was founded in 1954, Guiding Eyes for the Blind has provided guide dogs at no cost to thousands of blind people throughout the nation and the world. The services they provide include raising and training of guide dogs, training for recipients of guide dogs, and a lifetime of follow-up support.
Joining the Mayor were: Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Randy Levine; President of Guiding Eyes for the Blind William Badger; Vice President of Guiding Eyes for the Blind Rick Abbott; President of CBS News Andrew Heyward; CBS Host Bryant Gumble; Federal Judge, Southern District of New York, Richard Casey; American Airlines Regional Vice President Tom Gleason; Ken Venturi Guiding Eyes Golf Classic organizer Ellen Holman; professional golfer and long-standing supporter of Guiding Eyes for the Blind Ken Venturi.
"Guiding Eyes for the Blind is an outstanding organization that exists in large measure because of the kindness, dedication and compassion of its volunteers," Mayor Giuliani said. "I want to thank every one of you who has worked so hard to make Guiding Eyes into the success it has become today. Since the school was established 40 years ago, more than 5,000 dogs have graduated, bringing freedom, independence and happiness to many blind people throughout the world."
Tonight's proclamation ceremony kicked off the fundraising season for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, which will culminate this June 14 with the Ken Venturi Guiding Eyes Classic Golf Tournament. Professional golfer Ken Venturi, who during more than two decades has successfully raised millions of dollars for this cause at the golf tournament, will be joined at the event by community leaders and the top blind golfers in the nation.
Guiding Eyes for the Blind operates solely from individual, corporate and foundation support. This year, the organization presented a special award to CBS for its long-standing support.