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Tee Off For Dogs was founded by Frank Frand, who is visually impaired with a guide dog living and working in Orange County, California. Frank was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a disease that affects the size of the retina and has no cure, and may lead to complete blindness. Being legally blind, he applied to Guide Dogs for the Blind and was accepted into the program. April 22, 2001, Frank became the proud partner of his first guide dog, Jacklyn ( a golden labrador retriever mix). His confidence went through the roof with Jacklyn at his right side, she gave him his freedom in a sighted world and lead to improve considerably his quality of life.
As a sighted person, Frank was active in many sports, include tennis, rugby and running with the bulls. With Jacklyn he was able to participate in sporting activities again. Golf become a new curiosity for Frank. Soon after golf became a sport that they could enjoy together. Frank tried swinging while Jacklyn enjoyed walking around, discovering the golf course. Having participated in a charity golf tournament, the idea of creating one to raise money for GBD made perfect sense.
In April 2005, Frank with his first guide dog Jacklyn hosted the first Tee Off For Dogs golf tournament at Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course in Irvine, California. The tournament was a stunning and shocking success supported by ninety golfers, several puppy raisers groups and good friends volunteering their time and services. The tournament not only for golfers to enjoy a day on the links; however, it is a priceless teachable day for guide dog puppies in training, working dogs and to the sighted community a time to learn how to interact with a visually impaired person with their guide dog. We started this tournament with the hopes of increasing awareness of the Guide Dog programs and were pleasantly surprised to have raised over $13,000 with all proceeds going to GDB. Just over four years after graduating GDB, Frank with Jacklyn proudly presented the proceeds from the event to the Guide Dogs CEO, Mr. Bob Phillips, at the San Rafael campus during a class graduation.
Following the unexpected- surprising- success of the first event, a second annual Tee-Off for Dogs was held at Aliso Viejo Golf Club, May 7, 2006, with lots of dogs, golfers and 19th hole participants. 117 golfers, 40 puppies and working dogs participated and 30 volunteers. The tournament raised over $15,000!
The 3rd Annual TOFD was was held at Tijeras Creek Golf Club in Rancho Santa Margarita. The event grew !! We had 150 golfers with 35 guide dogs in attendance and countless volunteers. Tee-Off for Dogs proudly presented a check to Guide Dogs for the Blind for $25,000.
Golfers and guide dogs showed up at Coyote Hills Golf Course in Fullerton, CA for the 4th and 5th annual TOFD. We continue to grow and hope to make the event a great time for the puppies and golfers, too!
We are pleased to announce in July 2008 Tee Off For Dogs, Inc became a nonprofit public charitable organization under the provisions of Section 501 (c)(3) of the IRS code. The organization’s goal is to support the visually impaired community, which includes supporting Guide Dog programs, research foundations and other programs for the visually impaired.