Graduation: Smiles All Around!

The June 5th graduation at our Oregon campus was the perfect place to be if you felt like smiling. Along with celebrating the new partnerships between six wonderful Guide Dogs teams, we had several very special groups join us for the festivities.

As part of the the 2010 Portland Rose Festival, the festival's reigning Princesses (and last year’s Queen!) joined us for the day. These 14 lovely and talented representatives from Portland-area high schools toured the campus, took in the graduation, and got plenty of puppy love. We were honored to have these ambassadors spend the afternoon with us, and we’re proud to be part of Portland’s premiere annual event.

We also had a visit from our neighbors, Suburban Auto Group, located in Sandy, Ore., just three miles down the road from campus. For several years now, owners Nancy and Jerry Jaksich have held an annual Cruise-In event and have donated the proceeds to Guide Dogs. They have raised thousands and thousands of dollars for us, and have truly made a positive difference. Their most recent Cruise-In was held in May, and even in the face of a shaky economy and on a windy, rainy, blustery day, they were still able to bring the community together and raise funds for our benefit. At graduation, Nancy and members of the staff presented us with a check for $15,000. Their generosity is a testament to how important Sandy Suburban Auto Group is to the community, and of what great friends Nancy and Jerry have been to Guide Dogs. Thank you!

And finally, Girl Scout Troop #40041 from West Linn, Ore., joined in the ceremony and presented GDB with a donation to fund a harness for a future Guide Dog. Thanks to these generous fourth graders, someone will be able to walk the streets safely and with confidence with their brand new guide.

We’ve got beautiful moments like these at EVERY graduation. If you're up for some smiles, please plan now to join us at our June 19th graduation ceremony at the Oregon campus where we’ll have a PUPPY DELIVERY that will melt your heart. Some very lucky families in the Portland metro area will be receiving their new Guide Dog puppies, and we’d love to have you join us to witness their first meeting. The ceremony begins at 1:30, and as always, it is free and open to the public. Call (503) 668-2100 for reservations and more information, or visit our website for a complete list of graduation dates on both campuses. See you there!