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<DIV dir=ltr class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
chapter-presidents-bounces@nfbnet.org
[mailto:chapter-presidents-bounces@nfbnet.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Freeh, Jessica
(by way of David Andrews <dandrews@visi.com>)<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday,
November 16, 2009 5:37 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
david.andrews@nfbnet.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Chapter-presidents] National
Federation of the Blind Partners with Santa to Promote Braille
Literacy<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><B>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<BR><BR><FONT size=5
face="Helvetica, Helvetica"> <BR><BR></FONT><FONT
face=Garamond>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><A
href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</A><BR><BR>
<DIV align=center><BR><BR></FONT><FONT face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><B>National
Federation of the Blind <BR>Partners with Santa to Promote Braille
Literacy<BR><BR></B></FONT></DIV><FONT size=5
face=Garamond> <BR><BR></FONT><FONT face=Garamond><B>Baltimore, Maryland
(November 16, 2009):</B> Once again, Santa has enlisted the help of the
elves at the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute to get
Braille letters out to hundreds of blind boys and girls this Christmas
season. <BR><BR> <BR><BR>Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National
Federation of the Blind, said: “Santa approached the National Federation of the
Blind a couple of years ago and asked us to be his helpers. I’m quite fond
of the fellow and was delighted that we could assist him in his work.
Braille literacy is the key to success and opportunity for the blind, but
unfortunately too few blind children are learning it today. This program
will not only be jolly good fun but will also serve an important educational
purpose, as blind children will be able to practice reading Braille as they
enjoy their letter from Saint Nicholas.”<BR><BR> <BR><BR>Between November
16 and December 20, parents can go online at <A href="http://www.nfb.org/"
eudora="autourl">www.nfb.org</A> and fill out a Santa Braille Letter request
form. The form can also be printed and faxed to (410) 659-6893.
Beginning December 1, the Braille letters from Santa will start going out to
boys and girls around the country. The Braille letter will also be
accompanied by a print copy (for mom and dad to read), and parents can choose
the contracted or uncontracted form of Braille for the letter. Requests
for letters must include the writer’s name, the child’s name, birthday, gender,
mailing address, and a telephone number or e-mail address in case Santa’s
helpers at the National Federation of the Blind have
questions.<BR><BR> <BR><BR>The Braille letters from Santa program is part
of the National Federation of the Blind’s national Braille literacy campaign,
the largest ever undertaken in United States history. Congress authorized
the minting in 2009 of 400,000 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollars to mark
the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille (1809–1852) and to
support the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind to promote literacy
among blind Americans. This unique and beautiful commemorative coin is the
first U.S. currency to feature tactile, readable Braille.
<BR><BR> <BR><BR>A portion of the proceeds from sales of the 2009 Louis
Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar will be used to support the NFB’s
“Braille Readers are Leaders” campaign, a national initiative created to double
the number of blind children learning Braille by 2015, improve certification
standards for teachers of Braille, and conduct innovative programs to support
Braille literacy.<BR><BR> <BR><BR></FONT><FONT
face="Helvetica, Helvetica">The deadline for letter requests is December 20, to
ensure that a return letter in Braille is received before Christmas. For
more information about this and other programs of the National Federation of the
Blind, please visit our Web site at <A
href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</A>. </FONT><FONT
face=Garamond>Those interested in ordering a 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial
Silver Dollar or the new Braille Education Set, which features the coin in a
collectible folder designed to highlight the life and legacy of Louis Braille,
should visit <A href="http://www.braille.org./">www.braille.org</A> or <A
href="http://www.usmint.gov/">www.usmint.gov</A> or call 1-800-USA-MINT
(872-6468). The Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar and the Braille
Education Set will only be available until December 11, 2009.
<BR><BR></FONT>
<DIV align=center><FONT size=5 face=Garamond><B><BR><BR></FONT><FONT
face=Garamond> <BR><BR>###<BR><BR></DIV> <BR><BR>About the National
Federation of the Blind<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/">www.nfb.org</A>.<BR><BR></FONT></BODY></HTML>