<html><head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Helvetica Neue";}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head><body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">FOR RELEASE: April 23, 2020</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Contact:</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Chris Danielsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Director of Public Relations<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">National
</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">F<span style="color:black">ederation of the Blind to Make Transportation Available to Blind Americans for Essential Services through Lyft during COVID-19</span></span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Blind Americans Will Receive Lyft Ride Credits to Buy Essentials and More<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Baltimore, Maryland (April 23, 2020):
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The National Federation of the Blind, as part of its ongoing efforts to protect and connect blind Americans during the coronavirus pandemic,
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">has partnered with Lyft to provide access to transportation for blind people by distributing
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">L<span style="color:black">yft discount codes through its affiliates. The partnership is a
</span></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.lyft.com/blog/posts/supporting-our-community">LyftUp</a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> initiative, Lyft’s comprehensive effort to expand transportation
access to those who need it most. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Lyft has activated more than 500 partners through LyftUp.
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">This includes </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.lyft.com/blog/posts/supporting-our-community"><span style="color:#1155CC">efforts</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">
in collaboration with public health entities, local governments, nonprofits, and community organizations to create new opportunities for drivers, provide rides to those in need, and help distribute essential goods during the COVID-19 situation. </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:14.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:14.0pt;margin-left:0in">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">A<span style="color:black">ccess to affordable, reliable transportation is always critical for blind people, but particularly at this time, since public
transportation and paratransit services are being scaled back to stop the spread of the coronavirus,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National
</span>F<span style="color:black">ederation of the </span>B<span style="color:black">lind. “</span>P<span style="color:black">artner</span>ing<span style="color:black"> with Lyft is one way in which the National
</span>F<span style="color:black">ederation of the </span>B<span style="color:black">lind is protecting and connecting blind people by facilitating essential travel to purchase food, medicine, and other crucial goods and services that we and our families need.
We commend Lyft and its driver community for collaborating with us to make this possible.”
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:14.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:14.0pt;margin-left:0in">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“We want to increase access to transportation for those who need it, particularly to meet their essential needs during this time. By activating LyftUp, we’re able to partner with the National Federation
of the </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">B<span style="color:black">lind to fill mobility needs so that blind people can connect with essential services,” said
</span>Lisa Boyd, Director of Social Impact, Lyft<span style="color:black">. “We’re also grateful to all those who drive with Lyft for helping provide rides for those in need. Lyft will be supporting drivers by creating new opportunities to help them earn additional
income through the Lyft app and continuously working to protect their safety.”</span></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:14.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:14.0pt;margin-left:0in">
<a name="_gjdgxs"></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">To make sure riders and drivers know the best ways to protect themselves and those around them, Lyft is providing continuous
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.lyft.com/safety/coronavirus/#driver"><span style="color:#1155CC">updates</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">. To learn more about how else Lyft is
supporting its community during this time, visit its </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.lyft.com/blog/posts/supporting-our-community"><span style="color:#1155CC">blog.</span></a><a href="https://www.lyft.com/blog/posts/supporting-our-community"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none"><br>
</span></a><a href="https://www.lyft.com/blog/posts/supporting-our-community"><b><span style="color:black"><br>
</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">About Lyft</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
Lyft was founded in 2012 by Logan Green and John Zimmer to improve people’s lives with the world’s best transportation and is available to 95 percent of the United States population as well as select cities in Canada. Lyft is committed to effecting positive
change for our cities and making cities more livable for everyone through initiatives that bridge transportation gaps, and by promoting transportation equity through shared rides, bikeshare systems, electric scooters, and public transit partnerships.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">About the National Federation of the Blind
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates,
chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe
in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">###</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br>
This release is also available at: </span><a href="https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-make-transportation-available-blind-americans">https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-make-transportation-available-blind-americans</a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Christopher S. Danielsen, J.D.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Director of Public Relations<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(410) 659-9314, Ext. 2330 | cdanielsen@nfb.org<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Twitter: @rlawyer <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://nfb.org/"><span style="color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="262" height="95" id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind">
<span style="color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="30" height="30" id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/facebook.png" alt="Facebook"></span></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice"><span style="color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="30" height="30" id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/twitter.png" alt="Twitter"></span></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind"><span style="color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="30" height="30" id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt="Youtube"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body></html>