Can You Spot the Donation Dog? “Where’s Waldo” Facebook Photo Contest Kicks-Off New Donation Dog Initiative To kick-off of their new Donation Dog initiative, Guiding Eyes for the Blind is hosting a “Where’s Waldo” Facebook photo contest for residents of Westchester, Putnam, and Fairfield Counties.

The nonprofit guide dog school has placed fourteen Donation Dogs in locations throughout the region and invites those interested to sniff out and snap a photo with the life-sized guide dog piggybanks. Guiding Eyes’ “Spot the Donation Dog” contest will run through June 30, 2010.

In addition to a gift basket valued at $250, the winner will also receive a private tour of Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s Headquarters and Training Center in Yorktown Heights to meet the future guide dogs who reside there. Second and third place winners will also receive Guiding Eyes merchandise. To enter, participants must have a Facebook account and become a Fan of Guiding Eyes for the Blind at www.facebook.com/guidingeyes.  Participants may submit one photo per location by posting it on Guiding Eye’s Facebook Wall. Entries should include “Donation Dog Photo Contest” along with the location of the photo. The winner will be notified on the Guiding Eyes for the Blind Fan page by July 30, 2010.

Guiding Eyes’ Donation Dog initiative raises funds for the school’s Kennel Enrichment Program. Designed to prepare current dogs in training for their future lives as guides, the program supports each dog’s inherent curious, intelligent, and loving nature with a combination of exercises and mental stimulation. Funds raised through Donation Dogs will enable Guiding Eyes to purchase specially chosen toys and dog beds. “As Guiding Eyes receives no government support, our work is only possible through individuals, corporations, and foundations who believe in our life-changing mission,” said Lisa Deutsch, Vice President for Marketing and Development, Guiding Eyes for the Blind. “Our Donation Dogs are great tools to spread awareness and also show that generosity matters – in all shapes and sizes.” Deutsch continued, “We are also thankful to the restaurants, shops, schools, and other venues who have so graciously agreed to participate in our new initiative.  By displaying a Donation Dog, they are demonstrating their commitment to supporting the community.”

Donation Dog locations include:

Murphy’s (355 Kear Street, Yorktown Heights)

Little Sorrento (3565 Crompond Road, Cortlandt Manor)

Walter Panas High School (300 Croton Avenue, Cortlandt Manor)

Kellogg and Lawrence Hardware (26 Parkway, Katonah)

White Plains City Center* (Mamaroneck Avenue & Martine Avenue, White Plains) *Donation dogs located on the ground floor and movie theater level

Coffee Labs Roasters (7 Main Street, Tarrytown)

Whimsies Incognito (35 South Broadway, Tarrytown)

King’s Elementary School (1450 Newfield Avenue, Stamford, CT)

Guiding Eyes for the Blind is located at 611 Granite Springs Road in Yorktown Heights, NY. They can be reached at 914.245.4024 or by visiting www.guidingeyes.org.

Guiding Eyes for the Blind Guiding Eyes for the Blind (www.guidingeyes.org), an internationally accredited nonprofit guide dog school, was founded in 1954 to enrich the lives of blind and visually impaired men and women by providing them with the freedom to travel safely, thereby assuring greater independence, dignity and expanded horizons of opportunity. Since that time, Guiding Eyes has become one of the foremost guide dog schools in the world, graduating more than 7,000 guide dog teams.

It provides superbly bred Guiding Eyes dogs, professional training and follow-up support services to students at no cost to them and depends on contributions to fulfill its mission. The comprehensive cost of breeding, raising, preparing, training, and supporting a Guiding Eyes team is $45,000. Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s Headquarters and Training Center is located in Yorktown Heights, NY and the Canine Development Center is in Patterson, NY.