For Immediate Release
April 26, 2017
Media Contact Annie Chiappetta, President, Guide Dog Users of the Empire State president@gdues.org
914-295-0450
Becky Davidson, Guiding Eyes for the Blind 914-243-2210
Westchester County Executive Astorino Proclaims a Special Day for Guide Dogs
White Plains, NY – April 26, 2017 – Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino met with guide dog users and advocates in recognition of International Guide Dog Day. Guiding Eyes for the Blind and Westchester Council of the Blind received proclamations from Mr. Astorino in honor of International Guide Dog Day.
. The president of Guide Dog Users of the Empire State and the Director of the Office for People with Disabilities for Westchester County were also present, joined by a County employee who is a guide dog user and two other guide dog teams, also Westchester residents.
International Guide Dog day was instituted in 1989 to commemorate the formation of the International Guide Dog Federation and is recognized worldwide on the last Wednesday of April.
Additionally, throughout the day on April 26, the video screen at the Westchester County Center will be flashing an announcement and New York State offices in other counties will be turning the building lights blue and white to support guide dogs.
“We want to thank Westchester County for helping us recognize just how special our dogs are,” says Annie Chiappetta, President of Guide Dog Users of the Empire State.
Ms. Chiappetta goes on to say that anyone can help celebrate by supporting activities and charity drives in your area that donate to local guide dog schools, like Guiding Eyes for the Blind, or organizations that support breeding, training and matching guide dogs with visually impaired individuals.
Becky Davidson, Manager of Consumer Outreach and Graduate Support for Guiding Eyes for the Blind concurs, “Our lives would not be the same without them,”
For more information on Guiding Eyes for the Blind, go to www.guidingeyes.org
For more information about Guide Dog Users of the Empire State, go to www.gdues.org/
For more information about the International Guide Dog Federation, go to https://www.igdf.org.uk/
For more information on the Westchester council of the Blind, go to: www.wcbny.org/