Junior Julia Gittlen has worked alongside her dad in raising money for the Guide Dogs of America for fourteen years in order to support a co-worker, Charles Foley, who was very passionate about helping people, including the blind, before he passed away. She has been doing this for many years because of how amazing it feels to see the affect it has on blind people.

“It’s just a part of me,” said Gittlen.

In 2015 alone, Gittlen raised over sixty thousand dollars by participating in a golf tournament at Juniper Hill Golf Course in honor of her dad’s coworker’s father who passed away.

According to Gittlen, the man who passed away, Charles Foley, was known as a great man who helped people, including the blind,  in whatever way he could. To honor him Gittlen and her father do everything they can to raise money, including many fundraising events along with money raised from the cost of golfing.

“There are  fundraisers all around the golf course,” Gittlen said. “I run one and we sell tickets for a general raffle.”

“My dad will have a ton of people come and golf,” Gittlen said. “All his coworkers are really funny and nice so it’s a fun day.”

Everyone contributes to the fund and the Guide Dogs of America send a dog out for all the people attending the event to see.

“The important thing is the Guide Dogs of America fly a dog and a trainer out from California to Northborough and they bring a dog that is ready to be placed with someone who is blind to demonstrate where all the money goes,” Gittlen said.

The goal of this fundraising is not only to raise money for Guide Dogs of America but, specifically, to match a blind person with their own dog.

“For a person to get a dog it’s really expensive, like forty thousand dollars,” Gittlen said. “But the dog comes fully trained and they match the dog to the person’s traits. It’s really cool to see that.”

Gittlen also raises money through a blind walk. The walk is at the golf tournament and gives participants an idea of what it’s like to be blind.

“You have a piece of paper over your face to blind you,” Gittlen said. “Then, the dog guides you.”

Gittlen plans on continuing this fundraiser for many years, and hopes to raise even more money to support Guide Dogs of America.