Lorrie Sullenberger

Guide Dogs

Lorrie and Sully have been supporting Guide Dogs for the Blind for almost twenty years. Avid dog lovers, they first became involved with the organization as a way to give back to the community. Rather than keep their breeder dogs in kennels, Guide Dogs works to place them in loving homes, and Lorrie and Sully eagerly opened their doors to Twinkle, an adorable and energetic yellow lab, in 2000. Once the Sullenbergers' two daughters were old enough, the family also undertook the task of raising two Guide Dog puppies, Misty and Fran, in order to more directly involve the girls in the organization. When their beloved Twinkle passed away in August of 2009 (after four litters of Guide Dog puppies), the Sullenbergers again opened their home to a breeder dog, welcoming golden retriever Fame (yes, she came with a name!) in September of 2009.

Lorrie maintains that, as with all of the volunteering they do, they have gotten far more out of the experience than they have given. Guide Dogs for the Blind has reminded the entire family of the importance of giving back and contributing to their community, and has made such a positive impression on the girls that their eldest daughter is pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. Additionally, spending time with people who are visually impaired has made the girls more compassionate of all people with disabilities. And in an unexpected benefit, having a breeder dog has also helped teach useful lessons about sex ed!

Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF)

The Sullenbergers are firm believers that the human/animal bond has beneficial benefits for everyone involved, and so have always been strong supporters of their local animal shelters. In 2007, their family started fostering young kittens that were too young to be placed with a permanent family. The Sullenbergers work with the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) to care for kittens who are too small to be placed immediately with a family, caring and feeding for them (often by bottle) until they weigh two pounds and can be spayed or neutered before being placed in a long-term home.

Their track record isn't perfect, however. Like many other foster families, they became what ARF calls "foster failures." One special kitten stole their hearts and never quite made it back to ARF. Kitty, as she’s lovingly called, remains the family's pet to this day.

In the spirit of full disclosure, Lorrie is the dog lover in the family while Sully is the cat person, but ARF's mission fits perfectly with a philosophy Lorrie has always believed to be true: People Rescuing Animals...Animals Rescuing People®.