NEWS RELEASE Contact: Eliot D. Russman, CEOFor Immediate Release Cell: 917-855-1832Date: May 18, 2012 Sharon Burke, Director of Communications

Cell: 860-906-2086

Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation Continuesits Support of Blinded Military Heroes

Senator Richard Blumenthal visits Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation and welcomesblinded military hero, TSgt, Corey Kemp, USAF, EOD.

Bloomfield, Connecticut, May 18, 2012. Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation and Senator Richard

Blumenthal have long recognized the selfless sacrifices made by our nation’s military men and

women both active and wounded.

On Friday, May 18, 2012 wounded and blinded military hero, TSgt, Corey Kemp, USAF,

EOD visited Fidelco’s Bloomfield Campus to “test walk” several guide dogs. Senator Richard

Blumenthal joined Fidelco CEO, Eliot D. Russman, and welcomed TSgt Kemp to Connecticut to

thank him for his sacrifice and service to our country. Senator Blumenthal took a tour of the

Fidelco campus and visited with the staff and puppies.

CEO Russman says the need for Fidelco German Shepherd Guide Dogs grows each year due

to the number of wounded military men and women coming back from the battle fields. “We are

honored to serve our nation’s heroes as they have served us. Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation is

proud to welcome TSgt Cory Kemp to the Fidelco family and we stand ready to service him for

the rest of his life.”

Senator Blumenthal is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and veteran of the

United States Marine Corps Reserves and he currently champions legislation to help veterans.

"I am inspired to be with a great hero, TSgt. Kemp, who lost his sight on the battlefield and now

who will benefit from this well-deserved assistance from Fidelco. I am inviting TSgt Kemp to

Washington so my colleagues can see how significant Fidelco's program is and how it enables us

to keep faith with our military heroes and leave no veteran behind."

TSgt, Corey Kemp, USAF, EOD, lost his eyesight while disarming IEDs in Afghanistan 18

months ago. He sustained unspeakable injuries including his left jaw removed, jaw wired shut,

numerous facial fracture and complete loss of eye sight. Despite this, however, he remains

dedicated to his call to duty saying “…relatively speaking; only a very small percentage of

Americans serve in the military. I felt it was my job to be a part of that minority.”

For more than five decades, the Connecticut based Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation has been

promoting increased independence to men and women who are blind. Fidelco does this by

providing them with the highest quality German Shepherd guide dogs. The organization

operates solely on private donations from individuals and organizations. In addition to TSgt,

Corey Kemp, Fidelco serves many wounded veterans including most recently TSgt, Matthew

Slaydon, USAF, EOD, (ret.) and his Guide Dog, “Legend” as well as SrA Michael Malarsie who

was able to return to active duty aided by Fidelco Guide Dog "Xxon." The placement of Guide

Dogs “Legend”, “Xxon”, and TSgt Kemp’s Fidelco Guide Dog were all made possible by the

generous donations of the Newman’s Own Foundation.

About Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation.

Fidelco is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Bloomfield, CT, that breeds,

trains and places its own, unique “breed within a breed” German Shepherd Guide Dogs with

people who have visual disabilities. Each Fidelco Guide Dog costs $45,000 and takes two years

to raise and train, and they are given to clients at no cost. Fidelco relies solely on the financial

support and generosity of individuals, foundations, corporations and civic organizations to help

Share the Vision®. Fidelco has placed over 1,300 German Shepherd Guide Dogs in 41 states and

five Canadian provinces and it pioneered “In-community placement” in the United States — a

process that allows guide dog users to be trained in the communities where they live and work.

For more information, please visit www.fidelco.org or “like” us on facebook at

facebook.com/fidelcoguidedog.

Contact:

Eliot D. Russman, Sharon BurkeFidelco CEO Fidelco Director of CommunicationsCell: 917-855-1832 Cell: 860-906-2086

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TSgt, Corey Kemp and Senator Richard Blumenthal at Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation

Senator Richard Blumenthal and Fidelco CEO, Eliot D. Russman with Fidelco pups

From L – R: Fidelco CEO, Eliot D. Russman, Tara Kemp, TSgt Corey Kemp, Senator Richard Blumenthal