Venice Yacht Club Charitable Foundation

In mid-March, 30 of our VYC members had the privilege of a guided tour at the Southeastern Guide Dogs’ campus. It was an amazing learning experience! Their mission is to transform lives by creating and nurturing extraordinary partnerships between people and dogs. That, it surely does! Southeastern Guide Dogs began in 1982 with a single vision: to help those who cannot see. Now at the completion of a much-needed campus renewal, it’s fun to look back at its small beginnings. Lions Club member Robert D. Miller and his wife had an idea of bringing a guide dog school to Florida; because there was no guide dog school in the southeastern part of our country. They believed they could create guide dogs who were well-acclimated to the heat and humidity of our region. After beginning in Apollo Beach, Miller met Dr. Harris Silverman at a Lions Club meeting. The doctor began networking with local Manatee County leaders and donors and the small school relocated to Palmetto where it resides today.

In February, 1984, Southeastern Guide Dogs graduated its first class, successfully partnering six guide dog teams. In 2006, the school formally launched a veterans’ program serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces, beginning with guide dogs, and later expanding to include service dogs, emotional support dogs, facility therapy dogs, Gold Star Family dogs, and military family dogs.

This organization employs some of the most talented and innovative scientists and trainers in the working-dog industry and operates the most advanced training facilities of any service dog organization in the world. Their experts train guide dogs, service dogs, and skilled companion dogs for people with visual impairments, veterans with disabilities, and children with significant challenges such as vision loss or loss of a parent in the military.

All Southeastern Guide Dogs’ services—which include selective breeding, expert dog training and conditioning, comprehensive on-campus student instruction, and lifetime alumni support—are provided at no cost to the recipients. Currently, 150 employees are on staff, and 750 core volunteers donate time at least one day per week.

Since inception, 3,100+ guide dog and service dog teams have been created. Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and a mix of the two called Goldadors are trained over a two year period. One hundred new guide and service dog teams are created each year.

The charity relies 100 percent on private donations. It receives no government funding for the tens of thousands of dollars it costs to breed, raise, train, and match the dogs with the people who need them, and follow up with them for life. VYCCF Chair Michael Nemser presented this worthy charity with a $5,000 grant from the Foundation.

Southeastern Guide Dogs has the distinction of being dually accredited by the two premier, global accreditation bodies: the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International. Southeastern Guide Dogs’ vision is to be the best service dog school in the world. No doubt, they have succeeded! Learn more at www.GuideDogs.org.

With sincere appreciation,
Noni Lavelle

VYCCF Committee: Chair Michael Nemser, Vice Chair and Secretary Joan Bowen, Steve Bieglecki, Bill Bowen, Treasurer John O'Donnell, Kevin Collins, P/C Merle Graser, P/C Dick and Doris Guba, Cheryl Hall,
Past Chair Don and Babs Healy, Sylvia Hollister, Barbara Isaacson, Bill and Jennifer Kessler, Noni Lavelle, Warren Major, P/C Gus Olson, Beth Piel, Bob Scholten, Dave Slaman, Ann Van Cott, and Bill Walker

updated: April 2019 Currents