[Nfbk] FW: National Federation of the Blind Eligible to Receive Grant of $250, 000

[Cathy]

-----Original Message-----
From: Freeh, Jessica [mailto:JFreeh at nfb.org]
Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2010 10:27 AM
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Patti Chang; Rena Smith; Richard Gaffney; Ron Brown; Ron Gardner; Sam
Gleese; Scott LaBarre; Selena Sundling-Crawford
Subject: National Federation of the Blind Eligible to Receive Grant of
$250,000


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 Eligible to Receive Grant of $250,000



Urges Everyone to Vote for the 2011 NFB Youth Slam in the Pepsi Refresh
Project



Baltimore, Maryland (September 1, 2010): The National Federation of the
Blind (NFB), the oldest and largest organization of blind people in the
United States, is in the running for a grant award of $250,000 from the
Pepsi Refresh project, which awards over one million dollars each month to
nonprofits and businesses based upon an online and text message voting
competition.  The grant would support the 2011 NFB Youth Slam, a five-day,
interactive science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) academy
designed to empower blind high school students to explore STEM subjects and
demonstrate that the blind can participate in the same fields as their
sighted peers. To vote for the NFB Youth Slam, voters may text the number
101913 to Pepsi (73774) and visit www.refresheverything.com/nfbyouthslam.
Voters are encouraged to vote daily throughout the month of September.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
"We are pleased to be in the running for a grant that will help fund the
2011 NFB Youth Slam.  The importance of programs like the Youth Slam that
engage and inspire blind youth cannot be overstated.  Unfortunately society
has very low expectations of blind students, particularly in areas like
scientific study that are falsely believed to require sight.  By voting for
the National Federation of the Blind in the Pepsi Refresh project, you will
help us change this false view of blindness.  By voting for us, you are
submitting a vote of confidence in the abilities of blind students across
America."



The 2011 Youth Slam, to be held in the summer of 2011, will bring together
one hundred fifty blind high school students from across the nation.  The
students will participate in five days of inspiring and engaging activities
conducted by the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute and
other partners, including blind STEM experts currently employed at
universities and government agencies such as NASA.  The purpose of this
gathering is to encourage the blind youth of America to explore science
subjects and careers while at the same time increasing their confidence in
their abilities as blind people. The program will demonstrate to these
students-as well as to educators and parents-that simple accommodations
allow the blind to fully participate in these subjects typically believed to
be dependent upon sight.



The 2011 NFB Youth Slam is eligible to receive votes in the Pepsi Refresh
project throughout the month of September.  Voters are urged to vote daily
in three ways:

  1.. Text Message: Simply put the number 101913 into the body of a text,
and send that text to 73774.  (Standard text-messaging rates apply.)
  2.. Go to www.refresheverything.com/nfbyouthslam, click the link to vote,
and then choose the log in using Facebook option.  Once you're successfully
logged in, click the vote button on our page again and the vote link will
disappear and you'll have logged your vote!
  3.. Go to www.refresheverything.com/nfbyouthslam, click the link to vote,
and then choose the sign in directly with Pepsi option.  Once again, click
the link to vote and the vote button will disappear and you'll have logged
your vote!
For more information about the National Federation of the Blind and the
Pepsi Refresh project, please visit www.nfb.org.



###



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.



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