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  3. Carol Settimo

Carol SettimoCarol Settimo's neighbor was losing his vision due to macular degeneration. Being not just a good neighbor, but a great neighbor and friend, Carol offered to take him to the Braille Institute. It was there that she learned of the many adaptive services available to the visually impaired, including Guide Dogs of America (GDA).

She became so interested in GDA that she visited the school to see, firsthand, the work it puts into the training of guide dogs and the instruction in their use GDA provides for those with vision impairment. Today, giving to GDA is one of her top priorities.

A donor since 1995, Carol took her support of the school to the next level by becoming a Partner in Trust and designating the school as a recipient of a portion of her estate.

"I give to GDA because I see that the funds go to where you think they are going. They go directly to the program," Carol says. "I am amazed at the growth through the years, and I know it is only made possible by donations."

It's not just seeing how the school uses the donations it receives to fulfill its mission. During her visits to the school, Carol also struck by the dedication of the GDA staff and volunteers to the development of the dogs from the time they are born until they graduate. "I love learning about how GDA cares for the dogs and then reading about how having a guide dog has made a difference in the life of its new partner," she says.

"I am really happy that I was asked to say something about why I donate to the school. GDA is a strong organization and 100 percent helpful to those they serve. With GDA, you know that there is somewhere that you can leave your money and know that it will do good," says Carol. "It's a cause that I am happy to support, and I hope that my story will inspire more people to choose to donate or name the school in their trust."

For more information about becoming a Partner in Trust, please contact Zachary A. Gittlen at 818-833-6426 (office) or 818-259-6590 (cell) or ZAGittlen@guidedogsofamerica.org.

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