[NFB-NM] (NFB) Inaugural $25,000 Holman Prize

Wed Feb 8 04:22:31 UTC 2017

From: NFBNet-Members-List [mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Max Levenson via NFBNet-Members-List
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2017 2:04 PM
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Inaugural $25,000 Holman Prize

Greetings from LightHouse for the Blind in San Francisco! I hope this finds
you well in Minnesota!
I'm writing to let you know about an awesome new opportunity here at
LightHouse called The Holman Prize, which will support the ambitions of
blind and low vision people worldwide with prizes up to $25,000.

LightHouse's inaugural 2017 prizes will provide financial backing for as
many as three individuals to explore the world and push their limits through
travel, connections, creation and communication. Projects can be small or
large-scale; we are open to ideas of any size. The ideal candidate is
someone who is willing to probe their environment and savor the richness of
a world that is so often thought of as inaccessible to the blind.

The contest begins with a challenge: blind applicants must submit a
first-round pitch, in the form of a 90-second YouTube video. More
information, including FAQs and the application itself, can be found on the
Holman Prize  <https://www.holmanprize.org/> website .

In closing, here's a quote from Bryan Bashin, CEO at LightHouse, that I
think sums up the prize perfectly:

"The Holman Prize is not meant to save the world or congratulate someone for
leaving the house. This prize will spark unanticipated accomplishments in
the blindness community. You will see blind people doing things that
surprise and perhaps even confuse you. These new LightHouse prizes will
change perceptions about what blind people are capable of doing."

Thanks again, and please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you
may have!

Best,

Max Savage Levenson 

Make a difference in the lives of blind people everywhere.
<http://lighthouse-sf.org/donate/form> Donate now to support the learning,
community and confidence-building of the LightHouse.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO - (Feb. 7, 2017) - What would you do with $25,000? This year
the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
<http://lighthouse-sf.org/>  is asking blind people worldwide that very
question. It's not just an exercise, but a new set of awards designed to
fund the international projects of legally blind individuals: this is The
Holman Prize for Blind Ambition.

"The Holman Prize is not meant to save the world or congratulate someone for
leaving the house," says LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin, "This prize will spark
unanticipated accomplishments. You will see blind people doing things that
surprise and perhaps even confuse you."

The Holman Prize website <http://holmanprize.org/> , now accepting
applications from blind individuals around the world, already reflects a
diversity of faces and ideas: blind podcasters from Brooklyn
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNuuuzLedH4&index=4&list=PLBgTkRMP5uaz784Gj
DzUKRvog4TSpAwPA> , blind skateboarders from the Midwest
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyQXU-WI-Ro&index=6&list=PLBgTkRMP5uaz784Gj
DzUKRvog4TSpAwPA> , and blind technologists, educators and scholars
passionate about taking on their own projects anywhere from Canada to
Kyrgyzstan. In March, the LightHouse's hand-picked Holman Committee will
select a group of semifinalists to go through a formal application process,
ultimately resulting in a few large awards to be given this summer.
Applicants must be 18 or older and able to produce proof of legal blindness
upon request.

For the LightHouse, putting "blind ambition" on display across social media
is as much a goal as the projects themselves. Contestants are encouraged to
promote their videos widely to their friends, family and followers, with the
promise that the most popular pitch on social media will be guaranteed
consideration in the Holman Prize's final round.

Facebook Live Q&A:

The Holman Prize is unprecedented in scope and size, and as such, the
LightHouse would like to give prospective applicants a chance to ask
questions and feel confident in their emerging proposals. On February 15 at
4 PM Pacific Time, Holman Committee members will host a live Q&A session on
the LightHouse <https://www.facebook.com/lighthousesf/> 's Facebook. 

Prospective applicants can send questions ahead of time to
holman at lighthouse-sf.org, or via Facebook during the Q&A itself. To tune in
to the Q&A, just head over to our Facebook page, LightHouse for the Blind -
San Francisco Bay Area <mailto:https://www.facebook.com/lighthousesf/> , at
4 PM PST on February 15.

About LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Founded in 1902, San Francisco's LightHouse for the Blind and Visually
Impaired promotes the independence, equality and self-reliance of people who
are blind or have low vision. The LightHouse offers blindness skills
training and relevant services such as access to employment, education,
government, information, recreation, transportation and the environment. We
also pursue the development of new technology, encourage innovation, and
amplify the voices of blind individuals around the world.

Links:

YouTube Playlist: Holman Prize Candidates
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaBef3zywxI&list=PLBgTkRMP5uaz784GjDzUKRvog
4TSpAwPA&index=1> 

Holman Prize FAQ for Prospective Applicants  <http://holmanprize.org/faq> 

CEO Bryan Bashin Talks about
<https://soundcloud.com/user-205085650/bryan-bashin-talks-holmanprize-for-bl
ind-ambition-with-ami-live-from-studio-5> 'The Holman Prize' Live on
Canadian Radio

Who was James Holman? Learn about the prize
<https://www.holmanprize.org/jamesholman/> 's namesake

How blind people use YouTube: Screen Reader Support
<https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/189278?hl=en> 

Other Dates:

January 18, 2017: Applications open at HolmanPrize.org
<http://holmanprize.org/> 

February 15, 2017: Q&A with Holman Prize committee on Facebook Live
<https://www.facebook.com/lighthousesf/> 

February 28, 2017: Applications close at 12 PM Pacific Time

March: Semifinalists announced

May: Finalists announced

July: Prizewinners announced

Press Contact:

Will Butler, Director of Communications

LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired

wbutler at lighthouse-sf.org 

415-694-7309

###

Will Butler 
Director of Communications 
(415) 694-7309
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
1155 Market Street, 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103

Make a difference in the lives of blind people everywhere.
<http://lighthouse-sf.org/donate/form> Donate now to support the learning,
community and confidence-building of the LightHouse.

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