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<h1><b>FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE</b></h1><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=4> <br><br>
</font><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>
<br>
<div align="center"><h1><b>National Federation of the Blind Announces Dr.
Jacob Bolotin Awards<br><br>
<br><br>
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<h2><b>National Federation of the Blind to Award $50,000 in
2010</b></h2><font size=4> <br><br>
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><b>Baltimore,
Maryland (October 7, 2009</b>): The National Federation of the Blind
today announced that applications are now being accepted for the 2010 Dr.
Jacob Bolotin Award Program. Each year the National Federation of
the Blind presents cash awards to individuals and organizations that have
made outstanding contributions toward achieving the full integration of
the blind into society on a basis of equality. <br><br>
<br><br>
Dr. Jacob Bolotin was a blind physician who lived and practiced in
Chicago in the early twentieth century. He was widely known and
respected in Chicago and throughout the Midwest during his career, which
spanned the period from 1912 until his untimely death at the age of
thirty-six in 1924. He was particularly recognized for his
expertise on diseases of the heart and lungs. Bolotin used his many
public speaking engagements to advocate for the employment of the blind
and their full integration into society. <br><br>
<br><br>
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
“Dr. Jacob Bolotin was a pioneer who overcame low expectations and
discrimination to become a renowned member of the medical profession
without the benefit of the support services and civil rights protections
available to blind people today. He was also a fierce advocate for
greater opportunity for the blind in his time, and doubtless would have
been a leader in the organized blind movement had he lived to see it come
into being. The Jacob Bolotin Award Program celebrates his
pioneering spirit by recognizing and supporting outstanding programs,
technologies, and individual efforts that promote independence and
opportunity for blind Americans.”<br><br>
<br><br>
Recipients of the 2010 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards will be determined by the
Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee of the National Federation of the
Blind. Online applications are due by April 15, 2010.
Individuals or organizations are encouraged to apply on behalf of
themselves or others. The award recipients will be announced at the
2010 National Federation of the Blind Convention in Dallas. A total
of $50,000 will be distributed to the award recipients.<br><br>
<br><br>
The Jacob Bolotin Award Program is funded through the generosity of Dr.
Bolotin’s nephew and niece, Alfred and Rosalind Pearlman. In
addition to establishing the Alfred and Rosalind Pearlman Trust to endow
the awards, the late Mrs. Pearlman also wrote <i>The Blind Doctor: The
Jacob Bolotin Story. </i>The book has been published by Blue
Point Books and can be ordered directly from the publisher at
<a href="http://www.bluepointbooks.com/" eudora="autourl">
www.bluepointbooks.com</a>. Proceeds from book sales will also benefit
the award program<i>. </i>For more information or to fill out the
online application, please visit
</font><a href="http://www.nfb.org/"><font size=4 color="#0000FF">
www.nfb.org</a></font><font size=4>.<br><br>
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<br><br>
</font><b>About the National Federation of the Blind<br><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. Please visit our
Web site:
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/"><font size=4 color="#0000FF">www.nfb.org</a>
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