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<DIV dir=ltr class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Freeh, Jessica
[mailto:JFreeh@nfb.org]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, September 01, 2010 10:27
AM<BR><B>To:</B> Alpidio Rolon; Amy Buresh; Angela Wolf; Anil Lewis; Art
Schreiber; Beth Rival; Bill Packee; Bob Kresmer; Carl Jacobsen; Cassandra
McNabb; Cathy Jackson; Charlene Smyth; Christine G. Hall; Dan Hicks; Daniel
Burke; Don Galloway; Donna Wood; Elsie Dickerson; Frank Lee; Franklin Shiner;
Fred Schroeder; Gary Ray; Gary Wunder; J.W. Smith; James Antonacci; Jennelle
Bichler; Jennifer Dunnam; Joe Ruffalo; John Batron; John Fritz; Joyce Scanlan;
Ken Rollman; Kevan Worley; Kim Williams; Larry Posont; Lynn Majewski; Mary
Willows; Matt Lyles; Matt Lyles; Melissa Riccobono; Michael Barber; Michael
Freeman; Mika Pyyhkala; Nani Fife; Pam Allen; Parnell Diggs; Patti Chang; Rena
Smith; Richard Gaffney; Ron Brown; Ron Gardner; Sam Gleese; Scott LaBarre;
Selena Sundling-Crawford<BR><B>Subject:</B> National Federation of the Blind
Eligible to Receive Grant of $250,000<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=4>FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></DIV>
<DIV align=left>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=5
face=Helvetica> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Helvetica>CONTACT:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Helvetica>Chris
Danielsen<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Helvetica>Director of Public
Relations<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Helvetica>National Federation of the
Blind<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Helvetica>(410) 659-9314, extension
2330<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Helvetica>(410) 262-1281
(Cell)<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A
href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org"><FONT
face=Helvetica>cdanielsen@nfb.org</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><FONT face=Helvetica> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt"><FONT face=Helvetica><FONT size=4>National
Federation of the Blind Eligible to Receive Grant of
$250,000<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><o:p><FONT size=5 face=Helvetica> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Helvetica>Urges Everyone to Vote for the 2011 NFB Youth Slam in the Pepsi
Refresh Project<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=5
face=Helvetica> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Helvetica><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Baltimore,
Maryland (September 1, 2010): </SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The
National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the oldest and largest organization of
blind people in the United States, is in the running for </SPAN></FONT><SPAN
class=apple-style-span><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">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.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=apple-converted-space><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
class=apple-style-span><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A
href="http://www.refresheverything.com/nfbyouthslam"><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext; TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-underline: none">www.refresheverything.com/nfbyouthslam</SPAN></A></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
class=apple-converted-space><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Voters are encouraged to vote daily
throughout the month of September.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=apple-converted-space><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=apple-converted-space><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">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.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The importance of programs like the
Youth Slam that engage and inspire blind youth cannot be overstated.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Unfortunately society has very low
expectations of blind students, </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">particularly in areas like
scientific study that are falsely believed to require sight.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>By voting for the National Federation of
the Blind in the Pepsi Refresh project, you will help us change this false view
of blindness.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>By voting for us, you
are submitting a vote of confidence in the abilities of blind students across
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The 2011 Youth Slam, to be held in
the summer of 2011, will <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">bring together
one hundred fifty blind high school students from across the nation. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The students will participate in five
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">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.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The purpose of this gathering is to
encourage the blind youth of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place> to explore science subjects
and careers</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> 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. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The 2011 NFB Youth Slam is eligible
to receive votes in the Pepsi Refresh project throughout the month of
September.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Voters are urged to
</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Helvetica>vote daily in three
ways:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<OL type=1>
<LI
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Helvetica>Text
Message: Simply put the number 101913 into the body of a text, and send that
text to 73774. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(Standard
text-messaging rates apply.)<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN>
<LI
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Helvetica>Go to
</FONT><A title=blocked::http://www.refresheverything.com/nfbyouthslam
href="http://www.refresheverything.com/nfbyouthslam"><FONT
face=Helvetica>www.refresheverything.com/nfbyouthslam</FONT></A><FONT
face=Helvetica>, click the link to vote, and then choose the log in using
Facebook option. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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!
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN>
<LI
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Helvetica>Go to
</FONT><A title=blocked::http://www.refresheverything.com/nfbyouthslam
href="http://www.refresheverything.com/nfbyouthslam"><FONT
face=Helvetica>www.refresheverything.com/nfbyouthslam</FONT></A><FONT
face=Helvetica>, click the link to vote, and then choose the sign in directly
with Pepsi option. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Once again,
click the link to vote and the vote button will disappear and you’ll have
logged your vote!<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></LI></OL>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Helvetica>For more
information about the National Federation of the Blind and the Pepsi Refresh
project, please visit </FONT><A href="http://www.nfb.org/"><FONT
face=Helvetica>www.nfb.org</FONT></A><FONT
face=Helvetica>.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Helvetica> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Helvetica>###<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Helvetica> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoBodyText3
align=left><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">About the National Federation of
the Blind<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoBodyText3
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoBodyText3
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The NFB improves blind people’s
lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
encouraging independence and self-confidence.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is the leading force in the blindness
field today and the voice of the nation's blind.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In January 2004 the NFB opened the
National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and
training center in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United
States</st1:country-region></st1:place> for the blind led by the
blind.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT face=Helvetica> </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV>
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