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VISIT GUIDE DOGS OF AMERICA
http://www.guidedogsofamerica.org/
GUIDE DOGS OF AMERICA
MISSION STATEMENT
Guide Dogs of America is dedicated
to its mission to provide 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.
HISTORY
Guide Dogs of America was founded
over 50 years ago by Joseph Jones, Sr. with the help of the International
Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (I.A.M.A.W.)
Joseph Jones, Sr. (shown in the picture above with
his guide dog "Lucy", Visiting Jeanine and Murial Stamm in March
1957) was a retired member of the I.A.M.A.W.
When Mr. Jones became blind, he considered all his options and decided his
mobility needs would best be met by using a guide dog. Joseph Jones, Sr.
applied to all the existing schools, but he was declined because of his
"advanced age". He was only 57 years old.
Joseph Jones, Sr. was a determined man and "No" was not a word
in his vocabulary. He turned to the I.A.M. for help, soliciting assistance
from the I.A.M.'s Executive Council. The I.A.M. Executive Council
conducted extensive research, determined there was a growing need for
guide dog services, and therefore endorsed the founding of International
Guiding Eyes (I.G.E.) in 1948. The I.A.M.A.W. continues to be a generous
supporter and staunch advocate of the school's mission today.
I.G.E. was one of the first guide dog schools to be founded by a
blind individual. It was also one of the first schools to adopt a policy
of no upper age discrimination.
In 1992, International Guiding Eyes changed their "doing business
as" name to Guide Dogs of America in an effort to communicate more
clearly the services provided by the organization. Now the organization
operates under the name Guide Dogs of America as an International Guiding
Eyes Program. Today Guide Dogs of America seeks new and better ways of
helping the blind community.
GUIDE DOGS OF
AMERICA IS A NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES GUIDE DOGS AND
INSTRUCTION FOR THEIR USE TO VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND BLIND MEN AND WOMEN OF
THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
Help make a
difference, click the hover button below.
You can help Guide Dogs of America by doing your
on-line shopping at
http://www.guidedogsofamerica.greatergood.com
Up to 15% of everything you purchase will benefit Guide Dogs of America
at no extra cost to you -- or Guide Dogs of America! Guide Dogs of
America's shopping village includes brand name items from more than 100
leading online retailers like Amazon.com, eToys, Dell.com, L.L. Bean,
1-800-FLOWERS.com (sm) and many more. You don't pay more to buy things
online, and your security and privacy are rigorously safeguarded.
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04/23/04