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Loni Klimbach
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Loni became very involved in training Cabot. She volunteered to help raise him during school, took part in training classes and attended the dog's two Guiding Eyes graduations in Yorktown Heights. Cabot first graduated with a woman who had to give him up because of health problems, so he graduated a second time with an 18-year- old woman, Katie, who was very excited to receive Cabot. Loni enjoyed meeting Katie at the graduation and was inspired by the knowledge that Cabot was going to add so much joy and independence to Katie's life.
At age 16, when Loni was a sophomore in high school, she helped raise a second puppy, Logan. Logan was a wonderful dog who was eventually released from the program to an adoptive family, and Loni is now helping to raise a third puppy, Pablo.
In addition to her volunteer work as a puppy raiser, Loni has helped raise money for several Guiding Eyes for the Blind Walk-A-Thons, and she participated in the organization's first 5K run. She has staffed Guiding Eyes informational booths at the Bausch and Lomb Health Fair and at her school's Open House. In 2005, Loni was presented with the Greece Central Good Deed Award in recognition of her volunteer work for Guiding Eyes.
"Loni has given as much to the Guiding Eyes Puppy Program as she has received from it. There are so many positive things to say about Loni, that you can't choose just one," said Donna Rice, a Region Coordinator for the Monroe Puppy Raising Region.
"The work I do with the Puppy Raising program has enriched my life in ways that I did not expect," said Loni. "As a student with a learning disability, I have had to work very hard to reach my goals. Guiding Eyes has helped me to overcome my shyness in speaking with others because I believe in all that GEB stands for and does to help others."
Loni was also recently inducted into the National Honor Society.
Click here for Loni's winning essay.
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[GEB national site]
[GEB directory of regions] [GEB puppy raiser application] Changes last made on:
Sunday, July 15, 2007 |
