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<div><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"></FONT>It's that time of year again! Very exciting indeed! Those of us who have had the pleasure of attending</div>
<div>the March for Independence will never forget... in fact, the song is now playing in my head...</div>
<div> </div>
<div>We are marching!</div>
<div>A march for independence.....</div>
<div> </div>
<div>I have already set up a team for FOPBC. Our team page can be found at <A href="http://www.raceforindependence.org/goto/fopbc">www.raceforindependence.org/goto/fopbc</A></div>
<div>Please join us in raising much needed funds that support our children and parents through</div>
<div>Imagination Fund Grants. These funds allow our children to attend Youth Slam, Junior Science Academy and</div>
<div>much more! </div>
<div> </div>
<div>It's quite easy to participate. Just sign up, send out some e-mails to family and friends, then sit back and watch</div>
<div>the funds roll in! The donation page and e-mail templates are already formated for your convenience. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>They do ask that you try to raise $250, however, that number is not a requirement. If you do not reach it, they </div>
<div>will not be asking you to send the remaining balance. Participation is risk free! </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Come! Be a part of it!! Help change what it means to be blind!<br>
<br>
</div>
<div style="CLEAR: both">Lenora J. Marten, President<br>
FOPBC / NFBF-Parents Division</div>
<div style="CLEAR: both">NFB-Jacksonville Chapter Secretary <br>
NOPBC/PLP <br>
FOPBC@aol.com <br>
904-777-5976 / 904-229-9554</div>
<div style="CLEAR: both"><A href="http://www.nfbflorida.org/parents">www.nfbflorida.org/parents</A></div>
<div style="CLEAR: both"><A href="http://www.raceforindependence.org/goto/fopbc">www.raceforindependence.org/goto/fopbc</A></div>
<div style="CLEAR: both"><A href="http://www.raceforindependence.org/goto/lenoramarten">www.raceforindependence.org/goto/lenoramarten</A></div>
<div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>
<br>
<br>
<div style="FONT-FAMILY: helvetica,arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Freeh,Jessica <JFreeh@nfb.org><br>
To: david.andrews@nfbnet.org<br>
Sent: Tue, Jan 19, 2010 9:00 pm<br>
Subject: [Fopbc] National Federation of the Blind Announces 2010 Race for Independence<br>
<br>
<div id=AOLMsgPart_3_34e86f1b-5e4e-4de1-bdb9-081ba01ccc3b><FONT face=Garamond><br>
<B>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
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</B> <br>
<br>
<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>
<A href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</A><br>
<br>
</FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman, Times"> <br>
<br>
<br>
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<div align=center>
<H1><B>National Federation of the Blind <br>
Announces 2010 Race for Independence<br>
<br>
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</B></H1></div>
<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>
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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>
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<br>
<br>
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>
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</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/" target=_blank>www.raceforindependence.org</A> or call (410) 659-9314, extension 2371</FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman, Times">.<br>
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<div align=center><FONT face=Garamond><B>###<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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