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<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br><br>
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<b>CONTACT:<br><br>
</b>Chris Danielsen<br><br>
Director of Public Relations<br><br>
National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br><br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><br>
cdanielsen@nfb.org<br><br>
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</font><div align="center"><h1><b>National Federation of the Blind <br>
Announces 2010 Race for Independence<br><br>
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<h2><b>Fundraising Effort to Focus on Access to Technology for Blind
Americans</b></h2><font face="Garamond"> <br><br>
<b>Baltimore, Maryland (January 19, 2010):</b> The National Federation of
the Blind (NFB), the oldest and largest organization of blind people in
the United States, today announced the 2010 Race for Independence, a
fundraising effort focused on improving access to technology by blind
Americans and supporting other NFB initiatives. The Race for
Independence is designed to raise funds for the National Federation of
the Blind Imagination Fund, which supports the education, technology, and
research projects of the NFB Jernigan Institute, as well as programs
conducted by the fifty-two affiliates and over seven hundred local
chapters of the Federation. The Race for Independence will also
bring public attention to the need for full and equal access for blind
Americans to modern technology, in everything from home appliances to
automobiles. The initiative begins with a six-month campaign to
raise funds from NFB members and friends that will close on July 31,
2010.<br><br>
<br><br>
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
“The Imagination Fund represents the hopes and aspirations of blind
Americans. Through this effort we are able to create innovative
research, training, education, and technology programs that improve the
lives of the blind and move us closer to our ultimate goal of full
integration into society on a basis of equality. The crisis in
Braille literacy for blind children and advances in technology that, if
not properly designed, will threaten the independence of the blind mean
that time is of the essence. But I am confident that with the help
of our members and friends, we will ensure that blind children are
literate and can pursue the <br><br>
career of their choice; that blind people have access to cutting-edge
technology; and that opportunities for all blind Americans are limited
only by our capacity to dream.”<br><br>
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Parnell Diggs, Chairman of the NFB Imagination Fund, said: “The Race for
Independence is quite simply the expression of our desire to speed toward
our goal of achieving first-class citizenship status in society at an
ever-increasing pace. It is the anchor of the National Federation
of the Blind’s Imagination Fund, the annual campaign to raise proceeds
for NFB programs at the national, state, and local levels.”<br><br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times"> <br><br>
</font><font face="Garamond">To sign up to be an Imaginator and help
build the Imagination Fund, please visit
<a href="http://www.raceforindependence.org/">
www.raceforindependence.org</a> or call (410) 659-9314, extension
2371</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times">.<br><br>
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About the National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
</b>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.<br>
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