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<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
<br>
CONTACTS:<br>
</b>Chris
Danielsen
Lisa Westermann<br>
Director of Public
Relations
VP, Corporate Communications<br>
National Federation of the
Blind
Wells Fargo & Company<br>
(410) 659-9314, extension
2330
(415) 222-6236<br>
(410) 262-1281
(Cell)
<a href="mailto:lisa.b.westermann@wellsfargo.com">
lisa.b.westermann@wellsfargo.com</a><br>
<a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a>
@LWestermannWF<br>
<u> <br>
</u> <br><br>
<div align="center"><h1><b>National Federation of the Blind, Wells Fargo
Launch the 2017 Bell Academy Program</b></h1><i> <br>
325 students participated across 30 states and 45 academies in 2016<br>
</i></div>
<b> <br>
Baltimore, Maryland (January 4, 2017) ─ </b>Today, on the birthday of
Louis Braille, the inventor of the reading and writing system for the
blind that bears his name, the<a href="http://www.nfb.org"> National
Federation of the Blind (NFB)</a> and
<a href="http://www.wellsfargo.com/">Wells Fargo</a> launched the 2017
Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning
<a href="https://nfb.org/bell-academy">(BELL) Academy</a> program. The
program takes place throughout the country each summer and provides blind
children initial or advanced Braille instruction so that they may learn
how to use this powerful reading medium in fun, interactive ways. In
addition to sponsoring the BELL Academy, Wells Fargo will provide
strategic input into the program and offer team member volunteers at
select academies. <br>
<br>
Mark A. Riccobono, president of the National Federation of the Blind,
said "The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is
not the characteristic that defines children or their future. Our BELL
Academy helps these children learn the basics of Braille, as well as meet
other blind children and adult mentors. They engage in activities
designed to increase their independence, allowing them to make friends,
gain support, and start on the road to a future in which they will live
the lives they want. In an environment where only ten percent of blind
children receive Braille instruction, we deeply appreciate Wells Fargo’s
support of this critical nationwide effort to increase literacy and raise
expectations for blind children."<br>
<br>
This is the second year Wells Fargo is sponsoring the Bell Academy. In
2016, 325 students participated in the BELL Academy across 30 states and
45 academies. To spotlight this 2016 work, Wells Fargo released a video
showcasing the Rhode Island BELL Academy program:
<a href="https://stories.wf.com/kids-realize-sight-not-essential-success/?cid=adv_-_-_-_1701_104043">
https://stories.wf.com/kids-realize-sight-not-essential-success/?cid=adv_-_-_-_1701_104043</a>
<br>
<br>
Kathy Martinez, head of People with Disabilities Segment Strategy at
Wells Fargo, said "Wells Fargo is committed to the full inclusion of
blind people and other people with disabilities. The National Federation
of the Blind represents an integral part of our corporate mission. We are
pleased and proud to support, and promote the innovative NFB BELL
Academy, which teaches critical life skills to be successful
adults."<br>
<div align="center"><b> <br>
</b></div>
To learn more about NFB and the BELL Academy, please visit
<a href="https://nfb.org/bell-academy">https://nfb.org/bell-academy</a>
.<br>
<br>
<div align="center"><b> <br>
###<br>
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<br>
About the National Federation of the Blind <br>
</b>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.<br>
<br>
<br>
<b>About Wells Fargo<br>
</b>Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified,
community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets.
Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides
banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial
finance through more than 8,600 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet
(wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 42 countries and
territories to support customers who conduct business in the global
economy. With approximately 269,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one
in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was
ranked No. 27 on Fortune’s 2016 rankings of America’s largest
corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial
needs and help them succeed financially. In 2015, Wells Fargo donated
$281.3 million to 16,300 nonprofits, ranking No. 3 on the Chronicle of
Philanthropy’s rankings of the top corporate cash philanthropists. Wells
Fargo team members volunteered 1.86 million hours in 2015, serving more
than 40,000 nonprofits. Wells Fargo’s corporate social responsibility
efforts are focused on three priorities: economic empowerment in
underserved communities, environmental sustainability, and advancing
diversity and social inclusion. News, insights and perspectives from
Wells Fargo are also available at
<a href="http://www.wellsfargo.com/stories">Wells Fargo Stories</a>.<br>
<br>
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