Palm Springs Mayor, the Honorable Grace Garner, will present a commendation to Guide Dogs of the Desert and declare it Guide Dog Day in Palm Springs on Wednesday,
April 26, 2023. The brief ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will take place in front of the Love Letters art piece, at the corner of Tahquitz and Palm Canyon, in the Plaza between Starbucks and the Rowan Hotel, in Palm Springs. It is being done in recognition of International Guide Dog Day, which has been celebrated around the world on the last Wednesday in April since 1992. This event is free and open to the public, and media coverage is invited.
Mayor Garner will present the commendation to Guide Dogs of the Desert Board Chairman Richard Clapp. Alumni and friends of the organization will be in attendance to celebrate the occasion. There are currently 20,291 guide dogs working worldwide. This means that 20,291 people who are visually impaired or blind are living a more independent life thanks to the support of a guide dog. In the United States today, approximately 12 million people over the age of 40 have vision impairment
ABOUT GUIDE DOGS OF THE DESERT
Founded in 1972 in Palm Springs, Guide Dogs of the Desert is a non-profit organization that provides mobility, companionship and independence to individuals who are visually impaired or blind with custom- trained Guide Dogs. The Guide Dogs are provided at no cost to the clients. Guide Dogs of the Desert is fully accredited by the International Guide Dog Federation.
