Kennel Groundbreaking Ceremony

On March 28, 2018, The Seeing Eye hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of a kennel upgrade to its Washington Valley kennels. Held in Morris Township, N.J., the event was attended by Seeing Eye staff and trustees, trustees of the Golden Dome Foundation, and New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith. The Golden Dome Foundation, a Middletown, N.J. 501(c)3 non-profit organization has pledged $2 million towards the $7.6 million project.

For more information, please see the project web page and press release. The following photos from the groundbreaking ceremony are available in high resolution upon request: Please contact Seeing Eye Public Relations Specialist Michelle Barlak at mbarlak@seeingeye.org or (973) 775-8350 with your outlet name and the image number you are requesting (#'s are located above each image).

Image 1

A yellow Lab, German shepherd and golden retriever sit beside a golden-colored shovel at the groundbreaking.

Seeing Eye dogs in training attended the groundbreaking for the planned upgrade to their living quarters which should be completed in early 2019.

Image 2

NJ Congressman Chris Smith (4th district) says a few words to the crowd.

NJ Congressman Chris Smith (4th district) and Seeing Eye President and CEO Jim Kutsch with his Seeing Eye dog Vegas.

Image 3

Vegas the German shepherd and a yellow Lab in training sit at the dig site with a golden-colored shovel between them.

Two Seeing Eye dogs, a German shepherd and a Labrador retriever rest at the groundbreaking site.

Image 4

Jim Kutsch stands with donors at the groundbreaking site.

Seeing Eye President and CEO Jim Kutsch with donors: Golden Dome Foundation President Mary Ellen Harris (Holmdel, N.J.), Tricia Dorey, and Kosloski Foundation Executive Director Fotini Alteni (Summit, N.J.)

Image 5

Lou Chakrin and Jim Kutsch speak to the crowd.

Seeing Eye Trustee Lewis M. Chakrin, Ph.D. and Seeing Eye President & CEO Jim Kutsch.

Image 6

A black Lab wears his Seeing Eye harness and a white hard hat, and sits next to a golden-colored shovel in the ground.

A Seeing Eye dog (black Labrador retriever) who participated in the ceremony, as evidenced by the mud on his face!

Image 7

Seeing Eye trustees and Golden Dome Foundation trustees smile and hold shovels full of dirt.

L to R: Seeing Eye President and CEO Jim Kutsch with his Seeing Eye dog Vegas, Golden Dome Foundation President Mary Ellen Harris, N.J. Congressman Chris Smith, and Seeing Eye Trustees Catherine A. Kiernan, Esq., Margaret E. L. Howard, Ph.D., and Lewis M. Chakrin, Ph.D.

Image 8

A group photo with the design architects and construction company at the groundbreaking site.

Representatives from Sardoni Construction Co. and Rauhaus Freedenfeld & Associates stand with Seeing Eye President and CEO Jim Kutsch and Golden Dome Foundation President Mary Ellen Harris.

Image 9

A close up of the shovel from the groundbreaking. It's gold-colored and reads,

A close up of the ceremonial shovel for the groundbreaking for the Seeing Eye kennel upgrade named for Dr. Robert H. Harris by The Golden Dome Foundation.

Image 10

Deb and Dr. Holle smile while holding shovels and wearing hard hats at the site of the groundbreaking.

Seeing Eye Director of Donor and Public Relations Deb Morrone-Colella of Montclair, N.J. and Seeing Eye Director of Canine Medicine and Surgery Dolores Holle, VMD of Bloomfield, N.J.

Image 11

A group of 15 people stand before a patch of earth with golden-colored shovels.

Seeing Eye staff with dogs in training, and trustees of both The Seeing Eye (Morris Twp, N.J.) and The Golden Dome Foundation (Middletown, N.J.) are pictured. Included are Seeing Eye President and CEO Jim Kutsch, supporter Judy Lolli (Holmdel, N.J.), Golden Dome Foundation President Mary Ellen Harris (Middletown, N.J.) and the following Golden Dome Trustees: Chuck Grinnell (Ocean County), Mike Schwager (Monmouth County), Paul Petigrow (West Orange, N.J.)

Image 12

A crowd of Seeing Eye staff stand for a photo at the groundbreaking site which is a patch of earth at the edge of the property next to the Vincent H. Stabile Canine Health Center.

Seeing Eye President and CEO Jim Kustch and Golden Dome Foundation President Mary Ellen Harris stand with Seeing Eye staff members and Seeing Eye dogs in training.

Image 13

The Seeing Eye and The Golden Dome Foundation held the groundbreaking ceremony on March 28, to celebrate the new kennel project at The Seeing Eye's Morris Township campus.