Eli Manning Back For The 37th Annual Guiding Eyes Golf Kickoff

37th Annual Guiding Eyes Golf Classic With NY Giants Quarterback Eli Manning Tees Off June 9th

   NY Giants quarterback Eli Manning returns on Monday, June 9, to host Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s 37th annual Golf Classic alongside the country’s best blind golfers and magnificent Guiding Eyes dogs. The two-day outing, anticipated to raise more than $700,000, will be held at two of the region’s most esteemed courses – Mount Kisco Country Club in Mount Kisco, NY and Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, CT.

 NY Giants quarterback Eli Manning returns on Monday, June 9, to host Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s 37th annual Golf Classic alongside the country’s best blind golfers and magnificent Guiding Eyes dogs. The two-day outing, anticipated to raise more than $700,000, will be held at two of the region’s most esteemed courses – Mount Kisco Country Club in Mount Kisco, NY and Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, CT.

Founded by PGA legend Ken Venturi in 1977, the Guiding Eyes Golf Classic has raised over $8 million since its inception. As part of the Classic, Guiding Eyes will also present the Corcoran Cup, the “Masters” of blind golf, on Sunday, June 8. Fourteen of the country's top blind golfers will vie for the coveted trophy, each with the help of a coach who aids in club selection, alignment, setup and distances. On Monday, blind golfers will challenge their sighted counterparts to experience golf as a visually impaired person by inviting them to take a shot at hitting the ball blindfolded.

Manning was first introduced to Golf Classic through family friend and 24-time Corcoran Cup champion Patrick W. Browne, Jr., who taught Eli and his son, Patrick III, how to golf as boys. “This is my eighth year hosting Guiding Eyes’ Golf Classic and it’s very special to me,” says Manning. “Since I’ve been a part of this, I’ve learned so much about how these dogs affect lives. Every year, I listen to people tell their story about how they’re able to accomplish so much more, and to fulfill so many different talents in their lives because of having guide dogs. That’s been very rewarding for me.”

Current sponsors for the 37th annual Guiding Eyes Golf Classic include:

Diamond Sponsors: Entergy, Gatorade
Platinum Sponsors: Canine Company, John Donnelly and South Eastern Farms / Safe Harbor Risk Management
Gold Sponsors: A. DeVito & Son, Bill Bradley, Empire BlueCross BlueShield, Hill's / Colgate and Skanska
Media Sponsor: Westfair Communications
Silver Sponsors: Aero Hardware, AFCO AvPORTS Management LLC, CBS Sports Sales, Citibank, Cum Laude Group, Empire Merchants, Friends from Vero Beach, Harriet and Bob Druskin, Ken Nilsen, Marilyn & Stanley Cohen Foundation, Paul Holland, Pepper Hamilton LLP and Freeh Group International Solutions, Rolex, The Stewart Family Foundation, Turner Broadcasting and Wilson & Son Jewelers

During the Classic, Guiding Eyes will honor John DeVito as Sponsor of the Year and London Nielsen as Volunteer of the Year. DeVito, a Katonah resident and owner of A. DeVito & Son, is a long-time Guiding Eyes supporter and is leading the building of the organization’s future Canine Development Center. Nielsen, a manager at PepsiCo, volunteers as a home socializer for Guiding Eyes’ puppies, collaborates on marketing strategy and has taken the lead to support volunteer building project days.

“We are incredibly grateful to our generous supporters and dedicated volunteers for making the Golf Classic an overwhelming success year after year,” said Sue Dishart, vice president of marketing and development at Guiding Eyes. “There are many ways to get involved in this unique event and make a difference in someone’s life.”

Guiding Eyes’ online auction, which goes live on June 2, includes everything from signed sports memorabilia to exotic vacations and exclusive experiences. Items can be viewed at http://www.biddingforgood.com/guidingeyes.

In addition, Guiding Eyes will raffle a new 2014 Lexus IS 250 and Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust watch. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold at $100 each. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.guidingeyes.org/raffle or by calling 914.761.7111. The Lexus is sponsored in part by Lexus Mt. Kisco. Watch provided by Rolex.

Hole sponsorships and journal advertising are also still available. Spectators are welcome at the Corcoran Cup; registration is required for gallery seating. For more information on the Golf Classic, contact Tricia McTernan at 914.761.7111 or tricia(at)hrginc(dot)net.

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 http://www.guidingeyes.org. For the latest news, please visit Guiding Eyes on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/guidingeyes and on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/guidingeyes.

About Guiding Eyes for the Blind
Guiding Eyes for the Blind is an internationally accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit guide dog school founded in 1954. Since its inception, Guiding Eyes has grown to be one of the foremost guide dog schools in the world, known for its cutting-edge training programs, commitment to excellence, and dedication to its elite and superbly trained guide dogs. In 2008, the school launched Heeling Autism, a service dog program designed to provide safety and companionship for children on the autism spectrum. Guiding Eyes provides all of its services at no cost, and is dependent upon contributions to fulfill its mission. The organization’s Headquarters and Training Center is located in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. and its Canine Development Center is in Patterson, N.Y. For more info, visithttp://www.guidingeyes.org, like Guiding Eyes on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/guidingeyes) or follow @guidingeyes on Twitter.