The Seeing Eye
Annual Report 2015
Cover
The cover is a series of three photos of a woman standing next to a Seeing Eye dog, a black Labrador/golden retriever cross in harness. The Seeing Eye dog is sitting on a platform so they are roughly equal height. In the first photo they are both looking at the camera, the woman smiling. In the second photo, the cross abruptly turns and licks the woman’s face. In the third photo the woman is laughing in surprise and the cross is innocently looking back at the camera.
Contents
Letter from the President & CEO
Letter from the Officers
Executive Office and Leadership Team
Committed Members
Financial Statements
On the Cover:
Ashley Shaw, a student at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, is a perfect match with her first Seeing Eye dog, a black Labrador/golden retriever cross named Emmit. Posing for a photo, Emmit abruptly turned and licked her face – then looked back at the camera with an innocent expression.
“I am told Emmit makes those innocent faces a lot!” she laughed.
“Since I got him, I have felt as well as been told by others that my confidence levels have been raised tremendously. I feel more comfortable walking by myself where before I would feel anxious in crowds. I am so grateful for him and The Seeing Eye. I brag about the school to everyone I speak to about it!”
Your generous support in 2015 helped make this partnership and 249 others possible. These men and women – ranging in age from teenagers to senior citizens – are now pursuing their careers, their studies, and their lives with a renewed sense of independence and dignity.
We hope you enjoy reading about some of the success stories you helped create thanks to your generous support of our mission.
Letter from the President and CEO of The Seeing Eye
Photo: This story has a photo of Seeing Eye President & CEO Dr. James A. Kutsch Jr. and his Seeing Eye dog, a German shepherd named Vegas.
For The Seeing Eye, 13 was a lucky number in Fiscal Year 2015.
There is a growing demand for Seeing Eye dogs, as reflected by a 14 percent increase in applications from the previous year. In order to meet this demand, we added an experimental 13th class to our usual monthly class schedule, squeezing it in between the end of the March class and the beginning of the April class. This special two-week class was only for experienced graduates returning for replacement dogs after their previous guides could no longer work. It was taught by David Johnson, Director of Instruction and Training, with two class supervisors and one instructor. The students graduated in 14 days rather than the usual 18. The experiment proved to be so successful that we will be doing it again in Fiscal Year 2016 as we continue to innovate and find new ways to serve our students.
Winter 2014-2015 was an especially tough one in New Jersey with brutal cold and lots of snow. There were days that were so cold that we could not walk our usual routes on the streets of Morristown. But once again, we innovated, working indoors on campus and inside department stores, supermarkets, and malls. Despite the adverse conditions, all winter classes graduated on schedule.
Other highlights of FY 2015 include:
- We graduated 250 Seeing Eye teams.
- We received 451 applications and accepted 244 candidates into our program. (Some candidates accepted in 2015 will attend in 2016.)
- We continued our follow-up support for our 1,745 actively working Seeing Eye teams, with Seeing Eye instructors conducting follow-up visits to Seeing Eye graduates in 41 states, Puerto Rico, and four Canadian provinces.
- At our Chester breeding facility, 505 puppies were whelped from 70 litters, with an average litter size of 7.2 puppies. The success rate for dogs that returned to campus from their puppy raising families and went on to graduate from the program or entered the breeding program was approximately 75 percent, allowing us to train only the very best dogs, and to find the very best match for each of our students. We had 491 families in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and New York participating in our volunteer puppy raising program.
- Family Day was held on The Seeing Eye campus on August 22 with more than 1,300 puppy raisers in attendance. The Seeing Eye awarded scholarships to 55 puppy raisers who plan to attend college. There were instructor demonstrations, talks with Seeing Eye graduates, a career change K-9 demonstration by members of the Metropolitan Transit Authority Police, and presentations by Seeing Eye staff on the history of The Seeing Eye and a talk about a day in the life of a veterinary technician.
- The Seeing Eye Orientation and Mobility Program held 14 seminars on the campuses of participating colleges and universities, giving approximately 150 orientation and mobility students an understanding of how guide dogs could benefit their future clients.
- We gave our website a new look and new functionality. The new site includes stories, pictures, and videos about our graduates, our instructors, and our dogs and puppies. The goal of the website redesign was to make the site more welcoming and easier to use for everyone, whether they are using a computer, a smartphone, or a screen reader.
- Our campus visit program continues to be very popular. The public is welcomed to make reservations and visit on Thursdays and one Saturday per month. The visit includes videos, talks by a graduate and an instructor, and a history of The Seeing Eye. In 2015, more than 2,000 people attended 45 visits (an average of 44 individuals per visit).
- The Seeing Eye kept in touch with other blindness, guide dog, and animal-related organizations. In October, members of The Seeing Eye staff attended the annual Council of U.S. Dog Guide Schools conference in Chicago, Illinois. In July, members of the staff attended the National Federation of the Blind conference in Orlando, Florida, and the American Council of the Blind conference in Dallas, Texas.
- We continue to be a major player in social media as our followers on increased nearly 25%, from approximately 90,000 last year to more than 125,000. This year we had several creative campaigns to keep in touch with our followers, including an online brochure, “10 Steps to Training The Seeing Eye Dog Way”, and in October, we published stories each day about our graduates and their dogs.
- The Shepherd Society was created to recognize donors who have a long history of giving to The Seeing Eye. The members of this society, who are listed in this annual report, have given a minimum of 25 gifts regularly over the past 25 years. The first 218 inductees were welcomed this year with a German shepherd head pin.
- The Seeing Eye Advocacy Council began a social awareness campaign to ensure guide dog teams can walk freely within their communities without fear of interference and attack by unruly or aggressive dogs. The goal of the campaign is to remind pet owners that their dogs, no matter how friendly, can pose a distraction to a working guide dog team.
Thank you for making 2015 a successful one. Your generous support of our mission has enhanced the independence, mobility, and confidence of hundreds of people who are blind or visually impaired through the use of our amazing dogs.
Sincerely,
James A. Kutsch, Jr.
President & CEO
The Seeing Eye, Inc.
Letter from the Officers of The Seeing Eye
Photos: This letter is accompanied by photos of the Officers of The Seeing Eye: Peter N. Crnkovich, Thomas J. Duffy, Margaret E. Howard, and James A. Kutsch Jr.
Dear Friends:
How do we decide which dog is matched with which student?
It’s not as simple as the next student getting the next dog, or matching them based on their names. (Yes, it really was a coincidence that a former police officer was matched with a Seeing Eye dog named Copper, that a lifelong New York Yankees fan went home with a dog named Clipper, and that the best partner for a student named Jane proved to be a dog named Tarzan!)
In fact, making the match is as much an art as it is a science. We walk with each applicant, with an instructor holding the other end of a harness handle, to assess his or her preferences when it comes to pace, pull, and pep. (Some students prefer a slow and steady Seeing Eye dog, while others want a speed demon!) We also consider another “P”: Personality. It’s true! Over the four months of training, our instructors quickly get to know each dog’s unique characteristics. Some dogs love the hustle and bustle of city life, while others are more at home in the peace and quiet of the country. A dog that can quickly settle down for a long nap could be the right fit for a college student or an executive with lots of meetings, but a mom with a trio of toddlers would prefer a dog who can keep up with her busy schedule. All these factors are considered before that poignant moment when dog and student are introduced for the first time.
A match really is magic.
Last year, we made 250 matches – thanks to your support. As the Officers of the Board of Trustees, we’re grateful for the generous donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations that make this magic possible.
Thank you!
Peter N. Crnkovich
Chairman
Thomas J. Duffy
Vice Chairman
Margaret E. Howard, D.Lit.
Vice Chairwoman
James A. Kutsch, Jr.
President & CEO
Executive Office and Leadership Team
Glenn Cianci
Director, Facilities Management
Peggy Gibbon
Director, Canine Development
Dolores Holle, V.M.D.
Director, Canine Medicine & Surgery
Randall Ivens
Director, Human Resources
David Johnson
Director, Instruction & Training
James A. Kutsch, Jr., Ph.D.*
President & CEO
Jennifer Lieberman
Executive Assistant to the President
Deborah Morrone-Colella
Director, Donor & Public Relations
Robert Pudlak
Director, Administration & Finance / CFO
Board of Trustees
Peter N. Crnkovich
Chairman
Senior Advisor
Morgan Stanley
Thomas J. Duffy
Vice Chair
Global Chief Operating Officer - Audit
KPMG LLP
Margaret E. Howard, D.Lit.
Vice Chair
V.P. of Administration & University Relations (retired)
Drew University
Robert A. Hamwee
Treasurer
Managing Director
New Mountain Capital LLC
Julie H. Carroll*
Secretary
Senior Attorney Adviser (retired)
National Council on Disability
James A. Kutsch, Jr., Ph.D.*
President & CEO
The Seeing Eye, Inc.
Karon C. Bales, T.E.P., C.S.
Partner
Bales Beall LLP
Ari Benacerraf
Senior Managing Director
Diamond Castle Holdings
Cynthia Bryant, LL.M.*
Legal Adviser
Consumer Policy Division
Federal Communications Commission
Dr. Lewis M. Chakrin
Dean, The Anisfield School of Business
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Christopher J. Coughlin
Executive Vice President and CFO (retired)
Tyco International Ltd.
Anthony J. DeCarlo, VMD
Co-Founder & CEO
RBVH Veterinary Healthcare Network
Stuart H. Fine, D.H.A.
Associate Professor & Director
Fox School of Business
Temple University
John D. Hollenbach*
President/CEO (retired)
First Savings Bank of Perkasie
The Hon. Thomas H. Kean
Former Governor, The State of New Jersey
Former President, Drew University
Chairman, THK Consulting, LLC
OhSang Kwon
Private Investor
Kevin A. Lynch
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Industries for the Blind
D. Murray MacKenzie
President and CEO (retired)
North York General Hospital
Michael G. May*
President and CEO
Sendero Group LLC
Michael B. McKitish
Assistant Head for Finance and Operations
Peddie School
Vicki N. Meyers-Wallen, V.M.D., Ph.D., Dipl. ACT
Associate Professor, Genetics & Reproduction
J.A. Baker Institute for Animal Health
Cornell University
Steve Pangere*
President & CEO
The Pangere Corporation
Mark G. Steinberg
Managing Director (retired)
BlackRock
Honorary Trustees
Hugh A. D’Andrade, Esq.
Vice Chairman & Chief Administrative Officer (retired)
Schering-Plough Corporation
Walker D. Kirby
*Graduate of The Seeing Eye
Photo
This page has a large photo of a yellow Labrador/golden retriever cross puppy. She has short, light yellow hair on her face and body, but her ears are a darker golden. She is looking alertly at the photographer. The photo caption reads:Photo courtesy of Somerset County K-9 Leaders 4H Seeing Eye Puppy Club.
Down the left side of the page in a column is a photo of a Seeing Eye graduate and his Seeing Eye dog, a German shepherd. The dog is facing the camera but the graduate has his body turned toward the dog, pressing his head against the dog’s head as he hugs him. The graduate has a big smile on his face. The caption reads:
Tony Taliani returned to The Seeing Eye in July 2015 to be matched with his second Seeing Eye dog, a German shepherd named Ichabod.
“A week before we moved to Columbus last June, my first Seeing Eye dog passed away suddenly,” Tony said. “I was nervous because we were moving to a big city, and I knew I would need to rely on public transportation and being independent since my wife started a demanding new job as a resident physician at Ohio State.Luckily, I was able to get into a class at The Seeing Eye within a few weeks of moving to our new city.When I first met Ichabod, I cried like a baby because I felt the sadness of losing my first dog and the joy of meeting a new partner all at once.Ichabod quickly greeted me by licking the tears off of my face.”
Tony is a high school English teacher in Columbus, Ohio, and he said Ichabod is a perfect fit for his classroom. “He sleeps in a soft crate during my instructional day, and he gets to have a break in the middle of the day when I have lunch,” he said. “He doesn’t make a sound, and the kids forget about him most of the time.”
THE SEEING EYE SOCIETY
($25,000+)
Through their generous donations, the members of The Seeing Eye Society are ensuring that The Seeing Eye will continue its mission of bringing increased independence and dignity to people who are blind or visually impaired through the use of Seeing Eye dogs.
This membership listing and the listings on the following pages are for gifts received between Oct. 1, 2014, and Sept. 30, 2015.
Mrs. Patricia E. Altorfer
Mr. Douglas M. Ancona
A.W. Baldwin Charitable Foundation
Bannerot-Lappe Foundation
Sandra Atlas Bass & Edythe & Sol G. Atlas Fund, Inc.
Anton & Augusta Birkel Foundation
Eleanor Collins Boas Foundation
Michele & Agnese Cestone Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher J. Coughlin
Peter & Kay Crnkovich
The DeZura Family Foundation
Ms. Jennifer Eckert
Mr. & Mrs. Terry J. Eld
Robert G. & Jane V. Engel Foundation, Inc.
Larry Paul Fleschner Charitable Foundation
Mr. James R. Gillespie
John & Sheridan Greeniaus
Michael J. Kosloski Foundation
New Jersey DECA
Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Niemann
Alfiero & Lucia Palestroni Foundation, Inc.
Richard A. Perritt Charitable Foundation
L.E. Phillips Family Foundation, Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. Michael W. Ranger
Mr. & Mrs. Asher Richman
Ms. Abigail E. Rittmeyer
Mr. & Mrs. Louis Stiglitz
The Agnes Varis Charitable Trust
The Warner Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Josh Weston
Wildwood Foundation
Ms. Diane M. Wilgan
Ms. Kathleen B. Wisniewski*
Wohlers Family Foundation
One member wishes to remain anonymous
*deceased
DOROTHY HARRISON EUSTIS SOCIETY
($10,000 - $24,999)
Dorothy Harrison Eustis had a determined, forthright spirit and a love for working dogs and her fellow man. This Society honors her courage and perseverance as founder of The Seeing Eye.
This phage has a photo of a man in a dark suit with a blue shirt and a dark purple tie, and a woman in a black and white dress. The caption reads:Seeing Eye Trustee Ari Benacerraf and his wife, Margarita, hosted a Friends of The Seeing Eye event at their New York City home in May 2015. Seeing Eye graduate Lloyd Burlingame attended the event to talk with guests about the independence and confidence he enjoys with his Seeing Eye dog, a black Labrador/golden retriever cross named Al. Trustee Karon C. Bales and Vice Chairman of the Board Thomas J. Duffy also hosted events last year.
David R. & Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation
Ms. Barbara Baumgaertner
Bayer
Mr. & Mrs. Mitchell Becker
Mr. & Mrs. Ari Benacerraf
Rita V. Bergerson
Jamacha Bloom Family Foundation
Helen Brach Foundation
The Brink’s Company
Mrs. Donafaye H. Burke
Lew & Linda Chakrin
The Douglas R. & S. Leigh P. Conant Cookie Jar Foundation
Mrs. Helen G. Crowley
CTW Foundation
Hugh & Mary D’Andrade
Dr. & Mrs. Lloyd A. Davis
Mr. Austin P. Doree
Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.
Thomas & Deborah Duffy
Mrs. Jean O. Edwards
Shelley & Steven G. Einhorn, The Einhorn Family Foundation
EONE Timepieces Inc.
Mr. James Freeman & Mrs. Laura Lofaro-Freeman
The Goodnow Fund
Gran Fondo NJ LLC
Healthy Vision Association
Mr. Robert W. Hoke & Ms. Colleen D. Brennan
The Interpublic Group of Companies
Jephson Educational Trust #2
Ms. Cynthia Kuczkir
Mrs. Mary R. Kuczkir
Dr. James A. Kutsch, Jr. & Mrs. Ginger B. Kutsch
Mr. & Mrs. Jacob C. Matthenius
McCutchen Foundation
Lois Mills
The Naddissy Foundation
Marjorie A. Neuhoff Private Foundation, Inc.
Newman's Own Foundation
John & Margaret Post Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. John F. Rasweiler
Mr. & Mrs. Rob Ririe
Ritchie-Kirk Foundation, Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. Robert R. Roberts
Mr. Kenneth Rosenthal
Katherine J. Shelton
Wendy Sherid/Dollar for Dogs Golf Outing
William E. Simon Foundation, Inc.
Six Flags Great Adventure
The Donald B. & Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation
Mr. Mrs. Mark G. Steinberg
Mr. & Mrs. James E. Stephens
Martha Washington Straus - Harry H. Straus Foundation, Inc.