Leader Dogs for the Blind

We are in the final days of our Holiday Drive to Change Lives! You have until December 31 to make a gift that will double in impact. Thanks to Village Ford and a generous donor, every contribution made between now and December 31 will be matched up to $45,000. Your contribution today will go TWICE as far in helping us create more Leader Dog teams, providing essentials skills to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, and empowering them to reclaim their independence. Support our Holiday Drive to Change Lives and give the gift that keeps on giving – The Gift of a Leader Dog! Don’t wait — visit https://lnkd.in/geKmMEGx to make a gift today. Do you own stock, an IRA or Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)? You may be eligible to give a tax-smart gift to Leader Dog. Learn more by visiting https://lnkd.in/gN7v3pZA Photo description: A Leader Dog Client in winter clothing smiling while kneeling in the snow next to a black Labrador Leader Dog in harness, surrounded by snowy trees.

As the holidays quickly approach, we'd love to invite our LinkedIn community to join us for the Frozen Paw 5K presented by Chief Financial Credit Union this January! Participating in this race supports Leader Dogs for the Blind in our mission to empower people who are blind or visually impaired with the skills they need for a lifetime of independent travel. Register at this link before January 1st for the best rate: https://bit.ly/47Y2aaV Photo Description: Promotional materials for the Frozen Paw 5K including a light blue, long sleeve T-shirt, a bib number that is also a drink ticket and a snowflake-shaped medal with lanyard, all featuring logos and designs related to the event in Rochester, Michigan, sponsored by Chief Financial Credit Union.

Introducing Asher, an instrumental member of our dog care team here at Leader Dogs for the Blind. Asher has been part of the Leader Dog team for two years now. In his previous position at a canine daycare, he met a career changed Leader Dog and learned about our organization's mission. Serendipitously, a position was open in our Canine Development Center and Asher joined the team. "There's always ways to improve things, ways to change processes and freedom to input new processes that are best for our dogs," he says. We are thankful for team members like Asher. Photo Description: A man with green-tipped hair and a black sweatshirt is smiling and sitting next to a yellow Labrador retriever. The person and the dog are looking directly into the camera and are posed in front of a festive holiday background.

As technology continues to advance, those with low vision or blindness have a plethora of tools at their disposal to navigate the world around them. Adaptive tools, including non-optical devices, can assist someone in their independent living, travel and daily chores. Read about some helpful accessibility tools here: https://bit.ly/3O23bWd

This holiday season, you have a unique opportunity to double your impact and make a lasting difference. Thanks to Village Ford and a generous donor, every contribution made between now and December 31 will be matched up to $45,000. Your support today will have twice the impact in helping us create more Leader Dog teams, providing life-changing orientation and mobility services and equipping individuals who are blind or visually impaired with essential skills to regain their independence. Join our Holiday Drive to Change Lives and give the gift that keeps on giving. Don’t wait — visit https://lnkd.in/geKmMEGx to make a gift today. Do you own stock, an IRA or Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)? You may be eligible to give a tax-smart gift to Leader Dog. Learn more by visiting https://lnkd.in/gN7v3pZA Photo description: A woman hugging a golden retriever Leader Dog in front of a white background. The dog is in a guide dog harness.

Many older adults view vision loss as a natural part of aging. However, eye health and preventative care has no age limit, and it is crucial to continually practice routine eye exams and health checks. There are several resources for those with degenerating vision, vision loss, and blindness, including rehabilitation, orientation and mobility services, technology and adaptive tools, and other therapies. Read more about these options here: https://bit.ly/40xYL0O

Taking the Lead Podcast - 2024 Season Finale We're wrapping up an incredible year looking back at all the fascinating conversations and insights we've shared. Thank you to our growing professional community for making this year truly remarkable with your continued support and engagement. Ready to dive in? Listen to our season finale now: https://lnkd.in/gaaXUBwY Stay tuned - we're already working on fresh content for 2025, returning in late January with more of the discussions you've told us you value most. Photo description: Three people and a black Labrador retriever sitting in an office space with colorful furniture, wearing T-shirts with "Taking the Lead" written on them. A mural is visible in the background.

We have great news! We are thrilled to announce a special matching gift opportunity. Thanks to a generous donor, every dollar you give before December 31, up to $35,000, will be matched. Your gift today will go TWICE as far toward helping us train and provide more amazing Leader Dogs to those in need. Support our Holiday Drive to Change Lives and give the gift that keeps on giving – The Gift of a Leader Dog! Visit https://lnkd.in/geKmMEGx to make a gift today. Do you own stock, an IRA or Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)? You may be eligible to give a tax-smart gift to Leader Dog. Learn more by visiting https://lnkd.in/gN7v3pZA Image description: A Leader Dog Client is kneeling down hugging a black Labrador Leader Dog in harness. They are surrounded by grass and autumn leaves in the background.

Empowering Both Human and Canine Students: The Campus Puppy Raising Model A few months ago, collegiate Leader Dog puppy raisers attended an event for the Abram’s Foundation—they were such great representatives for their schools and Leader Dog. Students from Michigan State University and Oakland University were represented as well as several breeds of Future Leader Dogs. The event was the annual Grantee Celebration that the Abrams Foundation hosts every year to highlight their grantees and allow us to mix and mingle with each other. This event also gave a real-world scenario for the university students to train their puppies in safely and efficiently. The Abrams Foundation was created through the generosity of Talbert and Leota Abrams in the 1960s. Today, 100% of the Foundation Board members are multiple generations of the Abrams’ descendants who focus on creating partnerships with their respective grantees. Leader Dog is proud to have worked with the Abrams Foundation since 2016 and represented the Foundation’s support of Campus Puppy Raisers at the Annual Grantee Celebration. Interested in finding out more about how your foundation can work with Leader Dog? Contact Kathryn Tuck at ktuck@leaderdog.org or Rebecca Weil-Hoskins at Rebecca.Hoskins@leaderdog.org. To learn more about the Abrams Foundation, visit https://lnkd.in/gKkh6aq2 Photo Description: A group of students stand in a banquet room with several Future Leader Dog puppies between them. Some students are holding their puppies while some sit on the floor. All puppies are either yellow or black Labrador retrievers and wearing leashes and Future Leader Dog vests.

The latest Leader Dog Update newsletter is now available, and we are excited to share some incredible stories. This issue is filled with noteworthy news and inspirational journeys, tracing our 85-year long history and celebrating personal triumphs of Leader Dog Graduates such Joan's exceptional Paralympic achievement and Maegan's successful graduation from college with her Leader Dog, Bagel. The stories underline the transformative power of our services, and the invaluable contributions of our donors and volunteers. There are multiple formats accessible for your convenience in the links below. PDF version: https://lnkd.in/g_vHiAi6 Large print version: https://lnkd.in/gfByu7Ca Recorded audio version: https://lnkd.in/gYt2zCFp Photo description: Cover of Leader Dog for the Blind Update magazine, issue 2 of 2024, featuring a graduate in cap and gown interacting affectionately with a yellow Labrador in front of a campus building. The dog is wearing a light blue vest labeled Future Leader Dog. Text below the image reads: Leader Dogs in College, Guiding the Way Through Higher Education, Campus Puppy Raising is Expanding!