1. Tell us about your organization.

Freedom Guide Dogs is a nonprofit organization based in Cassville, New York, dedicated to providing expertly trained guide dogs to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Since 1992, our mission has been to provide greater independence, confidence, mobility, and freedom through the partnership of a guide dog.Our services include the breeding and development of future guide dogs, volunteer puppy raising, professional guide dog training, individualized matching and placement, and ongoing follow-up support for our guide dog teams. We serve individuals throughout the Eastern United States, as well as blind and visually impaired veterans nationwide. All of our guide dogs, training, placement, and support services are provided completely free of charge to our clients.

2. What is your area of impact (location/reach)?

Freedom Guide Dogs serves individuals who are legally blind throughout the East Coast. For blind veterans, our reach extends nationwide, allowing us to provide services anywhere within the United States. Our network of dedicated puppy raisers and volunteers also spans the East Coast, helping us raise, socialize, and prepare future guide dogs for their life-changing work.

3. Why is the work you are doing important to the community?

Freedom Guide Dogs provides professionally trained guide dogs at no cost to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. These partnerships give recipients greater independence, confidence, safety, and freedom in their everyday lives, including the ability to work, travel, and participate more fully in their communities.Our work also brings people together through volunteerism, puppy raising, education, and community partnerships. By removing the financial barrier to receiving a guide dog, we help ensure that cost never prevents someone from gaining the independence and companionship a guide dog can provide.

4. How has the AmeriCU Charitable Foundation helped your mission?

The AmeriCU Charitable Foundation’s support helps Freedom Guide Dogs continue raising, training, and placing guide dogs with individuals who are blind or visually impaired at no cost to the recipient.Their generosity directly supports our mission and helps provide greater independence, confidence, and freedom to the people we serve. Partnerships like this are essential to making our life-changing work possible.

5. What is your hope for the future?

Our hope for the future is to grow sustainably so we can serve more individuals each year while continuing to provide every guide dog at no cost to the recipient.By expanding our network of volunteers, community partners, and supporters, we can prepare more exceptional guide dogs and provide greater independence, confidence, and freedom to more people who are blind or visually impaired.

6. Where can people go to learn more about your organization?

To learn more about Freedom Guide Dogs, visit www.freedomguidedogs.org or follow us on social media by searching for Freedom Guide Dogs.

7. Anything else you would like to add?

We are always looking for volunteers to join the Freedom Guide Dogs family. There are many ways to get involved, from raising a future guide dog puppy and assisting at events to supporting our programs and sharing our mission within the community.Every volunteer plays an important role in helping us provide life-changing guide dogs to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.The AmeriCU Charitable Foundation is proud to support organizations like Freedom Guide Dogs that are making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families. By providing expertly trained guide dogs at no cost to recipients, Freedom Guide Dogs helps create greater independence, confidence, and freedom for people who are blind or visually impaired. Through the dedication of volunteers, supporters, and community partners, the organization continues to expand its impact and transform lives one guide dog partnership at a time. To learn more, visit www.freedomguidedogs.org.