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<blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
</span></font></b><br>
<br>
<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>CONTACT:<br>
</span></b><br>
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>
cdanielsen@nfb.org<o:p></o:p></p>
<h1 align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=6
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:24.0pt'>National Federation of
the Blind Announces Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h1>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <br>
<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Baltimore, Maryland (January 24, 2012</span></b>):
The National Federation of the Blind today announced that applications are now
being accepted for the <a href="http://www.nfb.org/nfb/bolotin_award.asp"><font
color=purple><span style='color:purple'>2012 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Program. </span></font></a>Each
year the National Federation of the Blind presents cash awards to individuals
and organizations that have made outstanding contributions toward achieving the
full integration of the blind into society on a basis of equality. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Dr. Jacob Bolotin was a blind physician who lived and practiced in Chicago in
the early twentieth century. He was widely known and respected in Chicago
and throughout the Midwest during his career, which spanned the period from
1912 until his untimely death at the age of thirty-six in 1924. He was
particularly recognized for his expertise on diseases of the heart and
lungs. Bolotin used his many public speaking engagements to advocate for
the employment of the blind and their full integration into society. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
Dr. Jacob Bolotin was a pioneer who overcame low expectations and
discrimination to become a renowned member of the medical profession without
the benefit of the support services and civil rights protections available to
blind people today. He was also a fierce advocate for greater opportunity
for the blind in his time, and doubtless would have been a leader in the
organized blind movement had he lived to see it come into being. The Jacob
Bolotin Award Program celebrates his pioneering spirit by recognizing and
supporting outstanding programs, technologies, and individual efforts that
promote independence and opportunity for blind Americans. Our previous
winners have been a distinguished lot and we look forward to honoring more
trailblazers this year.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Recipients of the 2012 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards will be determined by the Dr.
Jacob Bolotin Award Committee of the National Federation of the Blind.
Online applications are due by March 31, 2012. Individuals or
organizations are encouraged to apply on behalf of themselves or others.
The award recipients will be announced at the 2012 National Federation of the
Blind Convention in Dallas. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
The <a href="http://www.nfb.org/nfb/bolotin_award.asp"><font color=purple><span
style='color:purple'>Jacob Bolotin Award Program</span></font></a> is funded
through the generosity of Dr. Bolotins nephew and niece, Alfred and
Rosalind Pearlman. In addition to establishing the Alfred and
Rosalind Pearlman Trust to endow the awards, the late Mrs. Pearlman also wrote <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>The Blind Doctor: The Jacob Bolotin
Story. </span></i>The book has been published by Blue Point Books
and can be ordered directly from the publisher at <a
href="http://www.bluepointbooks.com.%20/" eudora=autourl>www.bluepointbooks.com.
</a>Proceeds from book sales will also benefit the award program<i><span
style='font-style:italic'>. </span></i>For more information or to fill
out the online application, please visit <a href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</a>.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>###<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>About the National Federation of the Blind<br>
</span></b><br>
<br>
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 peoples 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>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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