[Nfbk] FW: National Federation of the Blind Announces 2010-2011 Race for Independence

[Cathy]

-----Original Message-----
From: Freeh, Jessica [mailto:JFreeh at nfb.org]
Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2010 4:55 PM
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Subject: National Federation of the Blind Announces 2010-2011 Race for
Independence


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 2010-2011 Race for Independence
Fundraising Effort to Focus on Education, Technology for Blind Americans


Baltimore, Maryland (September 1, 2010): The National Federation of the
Blind (NFB), the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind people
in the United States, today announced the 2010-2011 Race for Independence, a
fundraising effort focused on improving education and technology for blind
Americans and supporting other NFB initiatives.  The Race for Independence
is the annual campaign 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 Imagination Fund supports innovative programs that
encourage blind youth to participate in scientific careers and help seniors
to adjust to vision loss.  NFB members can sign up to be Imaginators at
www.raceforindependence.org.  Imaginators are individuals who have pledged
to raise at least $250 for the Imagination Fund campaign.  The Race for
Independence will be spotlighted in public NFB events, particularly the
public debut of a vehicle equipped with a nonvisual interface allowing a
blind person to drive it independently.  A Ford Escape, equipped with
nonvisual interface technology, will be driven by a blind individual  who
will navigate part of the famed Daytona International Speedway course on
January 29, 2011, as part of the pre-race activities at the 2011 Rolex 24 At
Daytona.  Four of the top Imaginators from the 2010 Race for Independence
campaign and six Imaginators from the current campaign will have special
opportunities to participate in the Daytona event.  To be eligible to become
one of the six Imaginators from this campaign selected to participate in
this event, Imaginators must raise at least $250 by December 1, 2010.




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 the proliferation of 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."



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."



To sign up to be an Imaginator and help build the Imagination Fund, please
visit 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.



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