[Greater-baltimore] FW: National Federation of the Blind Announces March Drive for Imaginators

Tue Mar 9 00:23:35 UTC 2010

Hello everyone,

Let's get excited about the Race for Independence!  If you have not all
ready done so, please sign up to raise money for the Imagination Fund during
this campaign.  Our goal is to build a car the blind can drive by 2011;
let's raise the funds to help make this a reality.  Also, as always a
portion of the money raised will go directly to our affiliate, and a
percentage will be available for grants.  We have received and used
Imagination Fund grants for Braille Rocks, BELL, and the creation of our
website.  Fundraising on a national level is important work; let's commit
now and raise at least $250 before July 31st.  Also, it would be great to
win the $250 mentioned below, so please tell your friends, fellow chapter
members, etc.  Let's sign up for this important "Race!"  Please let me know
if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Melissa

From: Freeh, Jessica [mailto:JFreeh at nfb.org] 
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 1:57 PM
To: Alpidio Rolon; Amy Buresh; Angela Wolf; Anil Lewis; Art Schreiber; Beth
Rival; Bill Packee; Bob Kresmer; Carl Jacobsen; Cathy Jackson; Charlene
Smyth; Christine G. Hall; Dan Hicks; Daniel Burke; Don Galloway; Donna Wood;
Elsie Lamp; Frank Lee; Franklin Shiner; Fred Schroeder; Gary Ray; Gary
Wunder; J.W. Smith; James Antonacci; James Broadnax; Jennelle Bichler;
Jennifer Dunnam; Joe Ruffalo; John Batron; John Fritz; Joyce Scanlan; Ken
Rollman; Kevan Worley; Larry Posont; Lynn Majewski; Marie Johnson; Mary
Willows; Matt Lyles; Matt Lyles; Melissa Riccobono; Michael Barber; Michael
Freeman; Mika Pyyhkala; Nani Fife; Pam Allen; Parnell Diggs; Patti Chang;
Rena Smith; Richard Gaffney; Ron Brown; Ron Gardner; Sam Gleese; Scott
LaBarre; Selena Sundling-Crawford
Subject: National Federation of the Blind Announces March Drive for
Imaginators

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

cdanielsen at nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind 
Announces March Drive for Imaginators

Join the Race for Independence and Win Funds for Your Affiliate

Baltimore, Maryland (March 8, 2010): With five months remaining in the first
phase of the National Federation of the Blind's Race for Independence,
Imagination Fund Chairman Parnell Diggs today urged affiliates to sign up as
many of their members as possible by March 31.  For every ten members of
each of the Federation's fifty-two affiliates that sign up to be Imaginators
and participate in the Race for Independence by the end of March, the
affiliate will be entered in a drawing to receive $250.  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.  

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 

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.  I am certain that friendly competition among our
affiliates will dramatically increase the number of Imaginators
participating in this important effort."

Parnell Diggs, chairman of the NFB Imagination Fund, said; "It is crucial
that we register as many Imaginators as possible by the end of March to put
us in the best possible position to maximize the success of the 2010
campaign.  We will then have three full months before our convention in
Dallas to put the pedal to the metal and solicit donations. Let's race!"

To sign up to be an Imaginator and help build the Imagination Fund, please
visit www.raceforindependence.org <http://www.raceforindependence.org/>  or
call (410) 659-9314, extension 2371.

###

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.