[MUSIC]

[NARRATOR] 
This is a story about BettyRose, a very special dog from Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Like all guide dog puppies, BettyRose was born in our Puppy Center.

[AUDIO DESCRIPTION] 
A young BettyRose frolics in the Puppy Center and plays with colorful and interactive toys.

[NARRATOR] 
BettyRose was welcomed into the open arms of her volunteer puppy raiser, Nora Salet, and would spend the next year of her life with Nora, learning all about the big, wide world.

[AUDIO DESCRIPTION] 
Nora and her family with BettyRose.

[NARRATOR] 
But BettyRose isn't just any puppy. Her namesake was a person near and dear to us at Guide Dogs for the Blind. To tell us more, here's our CEO. She sits next to Nora and BettyRose. 

[CHRIS] 
Hi, I'm Chris Benninger. I'm the CEO at Guide Dogs for the Blind. And we're so excited to pay tribute to one of our amazing longtime supporters, Betty White.

[AUDIO DESCRIPTION] 
Actress Betty White holds a yellow lab guide dog puppy.

[CHRIS] 
BettyRose is a Lab/Golden Retriever Cross.

[AUDIO DESCRIPTION] 
Chris snuggles with sleepy BettyRose.

[CHRIS] 
Her name is a tribute to the iconic character that Betty played on "Golden Girls," Rose Nyland.

[NARRATOR] 
We are excited to announce that BettyRose, two years later and all grown up, has completed her training and is now a guide dog.

[AUDIO DESCRIPTION] 
Photo of BettyRose in a guide dog harness.

[NARRATOR] 
Let's meet her new partner.

[ELLIE] 
I'm Ellie Burgess, and my guide dog's name is BettyRose.

[AUDIO DESCRIPTION] 
Ellie and BettyRose sit in the fireside lounge of GDB's California campus residence hall.

[ELLIE] 
I'm from Tucson, Arizona, and I'm retired, but I'm kept very busy. I'm very active in my church. I'm active in the Lions club. I'm active in AmVets. I have a dulcimer group that I host at our church. We go and do concerts places. I play autoharp. I'm quite busy doing those kinds of activities.

I think she's a good match for me because she likes to get out and go and do things like I do. I can tell by the way she works, she loves being out there. And yet I also like the fact that she loves to play.

[AUDIO DESCRIPTION] 
Puppy raiser Nora Salet and her family at Ellie and BettyRose's graduation.

[ELLIE] 
I love traveling with a guide dog. You've got a companion with you. 

[AUDIO DESCRIPTION]
Back to Ellie in the fireside lounge.

[ELLIE] 
You're a team, and you're working to get to a destination. So I'm really looking forward to having that relationship with BettyRose, and I really think we're off to a good start.

[NARRATOR] 
Asked about her guide dog's namesake, Ellie had this to say:

[ELLIE] 
I feel privileged! I feel honored! That I was the one that got a dog named after Betty White. I used to watch the "Golden Girls” and so Rose was one of my favorite ones on there. So I just really feel very honored to have her as my guide dog.

[NARRATOR] 
Ellie has a special message for GDB's donors.

[ELLIE] 
This is the best school I've ever been to, and I really have to say thank you for all that you do. It means a lot to those of us that receive the benefits of your donations.

[NARRATOR] 
Congratulations, Ellie and BettyRose. Here's to many happy trails. 

[AUDIO DESCRIPTION] 
Close-up of BettyRose.

[NARRATOR] 
To learn more about Guide Dogs for the Blind, please visit guidedogs.com or scan the QR code.