Guiding Eyes' Wine, Music & Puppies Raises Money to Empower People to Live Independent Lives

Guiding Eyes for the Blind, known around the globe as one of the foremost guide dog schools, recently welcomed wine enthusiasts from across the region to their 4th annual wine tasting benefit, Wine, Music & Puppies. 150 attendees gathered for the sold out event, raising $25,000 for the nonprofit’s programs and services.

Led by renowned sommelier Amy Dixon and musician Blessing Offor, both Guiding Eyes graduates, Wine, Music & Puppies paired live musical performance with a guided wine tasting. The program, inspired by Offor’s upcoming album, Roots, covered the noble grapes – all French varietals and the antecedents of today’s wines.

Prior to the tasting, attendees received a tour of Guiding Eyes’ facility at 611 Granite Springs Road and enjoyed a sparkling wine reception sponsored by Zachys Wine & Liquor in Scarsdale. Tasting wines were provided by Suburban Wines in Yorktown.

A Certified Wine Specialist from the Society of Wine Educators, Dixon is studying to be a Master of Wine, of which there are only 212 in the world – a mere dozen of them women. She has travelled the vineyards of Portugal, Italy, France and Germany, now working alongside Guiding Eyes Elvis, her first guide dog from the nonprofit. “Guiding Eyes is the single most important thing in my life,” shares Dixon, “It’s my lifeline.”

A singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Blessing Offor was born in Nigeria and came to the United States as a child to receive treatment for his glaucoma. He is a former contestant on Bravo's Platinum Hit, has performed three times at the Kennedy Center and opened for such legends as The Temptations and Tower of Power. Offor will release his new album, Roots, in 2014.  A Roots single, “Loving Each Other,” is now available for download on iTunes. With Laramie, his second dog from Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Offor has a loving, devoted partner and guide.

For someone without sight, a Guiding Eyes dog is a priceless, life-changing gift providing independence, companionship, and mobility. Guiding Eyes for the Blind provides guide dogs, professional training, and follow-up support services to blind and visually impaired individuals around the world at no cost to them, depending solely on contributions to fulfill its mission. Additionally, Guiding Eyes’ Heeling Autism Program places specially trained service dogs with children on the autism spectrum.

Guiding Eyes for the Blind is located at 611 Granite Springs Road in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. They can be reached at 914.245.4024 or by visiting www.guidingeyes.org.

About Guiding Eyes for the Blind