Guide Dogs For The Blind Fundraiser In May

PORTLAND, OR — The Portland Art Museum will host a benefit for wine enthusiasts and dog lovers next month during the Pinot & Pups Auction in downtown Portland.

The benefit auction will raise funds for nonprofit Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), which has raised, trained, and connected guide dogs with new handlers since 1942, empowering "individuals who are blind or have low vision from throughout the United States and Canada," according to the GDB website.

Through its headquarters in San Rafael, California, and its campus in Boring, Oregon, GDB has reportedly graduated more than 14,000 teams since its inception more than 70 years ago. It currently boasts 2,200 active guide dog teams in the US and Canada.

The Pinot & Pups Auction in Portland, which begins at 6 p.m. May 12 at 1219 S.W. Park Ave., will give interested advocates an opportunity to learn more and help GDB continue its mission locally.

A gourmet dinner, raffle, and silent auction will be complemented by presentations from speakers who can attest to the value of GDB's services, "sharing heartwarming stories of how the gift of a guide dog can truly change the life a person who is blind or visually impaired," GDB officials said in a statement.

Tickets for the black tie-recommended event start at $150, with all proceeds going directly to GDB. And due to its fare — an assortment of wines and beers, specifically — the event is for ages 21 and older exclusively.

For more information, and to purchase your ticket, visit GuideDogs.com.

Image via Guide Dogs for the Blind