[Blindtlk] Mutual of America Foundation Recognizes National Federation of the Blind as Merit Finalist Award Winner

[Freeh, Jessica]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org



Mutual of America Foundation Recognizes
National Federation of the Blind as Merit Finalist Award Winner



2007 Youth Slam Program Honored



Baltimore, Maryland (March 16, 2008): The National Federation of the 
Blind (NFB), the nation's oldest and largest organization of blind 
people, will be recognized as a Merit Finalist Award Winner for 2008 
by Mutual of America Foundation at a Community Partnership Award 
Luncheon on Wednesday, March 18.  The luncheon will be held at the 
National Federation of the Blind headquarters in Baltimore.  The 
award was given in recognition of the NFB's Youth Slam program, a 
four-day science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) academy 
for blind youth held at Johns Hopkins University in the summer of 2007.



The luncheon will recognize the individuals and organizations that 
played a key role in the success of the Youth Slam program, including 
NASA, Maryland Space Grant Consortium, and Westminster Astronomical Society.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, 
said: "We are pleased to host this luncheon and join Mutual of 
America Foundation in honoring all of the organizations who helped to 
make the 2007 Youth Slam a success.  With the help of these fine 
organizations, two hundred blind youth gained access to fields that 
are traditionally (and falsely) considered closed to them and gained 
the confidence to pursue any field of their choosing."



For more information about the National Federation of the Blind, 
please visit <http://www.nfb.org>www.nfb.org.



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About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind 
is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind 
people in the United States.  The NFB improves blind people's lives 
through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs 
encouraging independence and self-confidence.  It is the leading 
force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's 
blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the 
Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in 
the United States for the blind led by the blind.