The Seeing Eye Recognizes Volunteer Puppy Raisers with Service Awards and Scholarships

34 Puppy Raisers Honored at Seeing Eye Family Day

A group of recent high school graduates stand smiling in a group photo on The Seeing Eye campus, after receiving their scholarship awards.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – On August 13, 2022, The Seeing Eye honored four puppy raisers with induction to the “The Seeing Eye 21 Club”, a special honor for volunteers who have raised at least 21 Seeing Eye® puppies. The non-profit also awarded 30 exceptional college-bound puppy raisers with college scholarships totaling $64,000.

“Seeing Eye staff and volunteers were excited to gather for the first in-person Seeing Eye Family Day to be held on campus since the COVID-19 pandemic first began,” said Seeing Eye director of canine development Peggy Gibbon. “We could not breed and train world-renowned Seeing Eye dogs for people who are blind and visually impaired without the dedicated volunteers who raise our puppies.”

21 Club Honorees (4):

The Bittinger Family, Waynesboro, Pa. (Franklin County)

Jeanne Kollmer, Somerset, N.J. (Somerset County)

Joan Maloney, Bridgeton, N.J. (Cumberland County, NJ)

Kirsten Schaney & Jill Chambers, Bristol, Pa. (Bucks County)

Scholarship recipients (30): To qualify, students have raised at least two Seeing Eye puppies, demonstrated a high level of academic achievement and are active in their communities.

Lydia Alheidt, Sussex, N.J. (Sussex County), Marywood University

Matthew Alter, Sicklerville, N.J. (Gloucester County), Rowan University

Gehrig Blanchard, Upper Saddle River, N.J. (Bergen County), Lycoming College

Alex Bohensky, Madison, N.J. (Morris County), Rowan University

Christian Bonczek, Manalapan, N.J. (Monmouth County), Brookdale Community College

Emma G. Burke, Summit, N.J. (Essex County), Louisiana State University

Jackson Chiappa, Downington, Pa., (Chester County), Colgate University

Caleb Christensen, Lansdale, Pa. (Montgomery County), Shippensburg University

Sofia Cobá-Horvath, Mount Holly, N.J. (Burlington County), University of Delaware

Ethan Michael Daly, Paramus, N.J. (Bergen County), Boston College

Philip Fancher, Andover, N.J. (Sussex County), SUNY College at Cortland

Alyssa Gillner, Reading, Pa. (Berks County), Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Noah Grunder Elmer, N.J. (Cumberland County), Cedarville University

Eve Hearn, Chalfont, Pa. (Bucks County), Bucks County Community College

Alexander Horbacz, West Orange, N.J. (Essex County), Bentley University

Katie Jeanes, Lititz, Pa. (Lancaster County), York College of Pennsylvania

Maria Klein, Chambersburg, Pa. (Franklin County), Wilson College

Zoe Klein, Chambersburg, Pa. (Franklin County), Shippensburg University

Willow Macagnano, Madison, N.J. (Morris County), Monmouth University

Abigail Newgent, Westminster, Md. (Carroll County), Carroll Community College

Elijah Randolph, Telford, Pa. (Montgomery County), Penn State Lehigh Valley

Giovanni Ricupero, Randolph, N.J. (Morris County), Case Western Reserve University

Francesca Russo, Westfield, N.J. (Essex County), University of Tampa

Madeleine Saraisky, Montclair, N.J. (Essex County), Dartmouth College

John Shubeck, Chatham, N.J. (Morris County), Seton Hall University

Emily Snyder, Halifax, Pa. (Cumberland County), Penn State Schuylkill Haven

Ethan Snyder, Halifax, Pa. (Cumberland County), Penn State University

Ella Stiso Manasquan, N.J. (Ocean County), University of Alabama

Rebekah Thompson, Summit, N.J. (Morris County), University of Scranton

Gillian Waksmunski, Monroe Township, N.J. (Middlesex County), Boston University

“We’re actively recruiting puppy raisers for our upcoming litters that are planned for the coming months. If you’ve ever had an interest in raising a Seeing Eye puppy, now is a great time to reach out to us and learn what it’s all about,” said Gibbon. “We need homes and families of all shapes and sizes for our puppies because fully trained Seeing Eye dogs are placed in similarly diverse families and living situations with people who are blind and visually impaired.”

A puppy raiser family is responsible for providing a loving and nurturing home environment for approximately one year. During that time, the raiser is responsible for teaching basic obedience, house manners, bringing the puppy to Seeing Eye puppy club meetings and socialization trips in their area. The Seeing Eye puppy could be a German shepherd, Labrador retriever, golden retriever, or a Labrador/golden retriever cross.

Puppy raisers must live within New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland or Delaware. All veterinary expenses are covered by The Seeing Eye and a stipend is provided to help cover the cost of dog food. If a Seeing Eye puppy does not graduate from the program, the family who raised the puppy is offered the first option to adopt the puppy they raised. For more information visit seeingeye.org/raise.

Established in 1929, The Seeing Eye provides specially bred and trained dogs to guide people who are blind. Seeing Eye dog users experience greatly enhanced mobility and independence, allowing them to retain their active lifestyles despite blindness. The Seeing Eye is a 501(c)3 non-profit supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, bequests, and other planned gifts.

The Seeing Eye is a trademarked name and can only be used to describe the dogs bred and trained at the school’s facilities in Morristown, N.J. If you would like more information on The Seeing Eye, please visit the website at www.SeeingEye.org, call (973) 539-4425, or email info@seeingeye.org.

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