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</head><body><p style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: times\ new\ roman, times, serif; font-size: 11pt;">From the desk of NFBNJ President Joe Ruffalo.</span></p><p style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: times\ new\ roman, times, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Sent by Ellen Sullivan, Secretary<br></span></p><p style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: times\ new\ roman, times, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Greetings to the members of the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey<br>As many of you know we will be sponsoring our 5th Braille Education for Learning and Literacy <br>(BELL) Academy in Perth Amboy in July 2017.<br>The Academy held weekdays, July 16 through July 27, 2018 between the hours of 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. <br>The program will be held at the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development (PRAHD), Inc. <br>located at:<br>101 First Street<br>Perth Amboy, New Jersey 08861<br>The BELL Academy will provide instruction in Braille and daily living skills<br>to children ages 4 through 12 who have lacked the opportunity and sufficient exposure to these <br>important areas. In addition, the children will form new friendships with other vision <br>impaired/blind children and adults, and<br>interact with sighted children who will attend the PRAHD's own summer program. Highlights from last <br>year's BELL Academy included working with model trains, building a toolbox, enjoying hands on <br>activities at Turtle Back Zoo, building motorized cars and helicopters with Lego's, played <br>goalball, and participating in science experiments pertaining to chemistry and magnetism.<br>The children will have access to blind adults that will serve as mentors and facilitators of our <br>program.<br>Our goal is to enable the children to live the lives they want through upbeat and positive <br>attitudes, skills, and experiences provided by the BELL Academy.<br>We are seeking funding from outside sources and would like to know if any of you are members of <br>local chapters of:<br>Lions Clubs, Kiwanis Rotary, Clubs Elk Clubs<br>Or Other Civic Associations<br>that we might be able to reach out to for financial support of any amount. If so, would you kindly <br>provide the name of a contact person, the association name, email address, street address. I would <br>also like to use your name re “we are contacting you on behalf of…. who is an active member…”?<br>We care. We share. We grow. We make a difference Joe Ruffalo, President<br>National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey<br>973 743 0075</span></p><p class="ox-055002aa73-default-style" style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: helvetica,arial,sans-serif; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: times\ new\ roman, times, serif; font-size: 11pt;">nfbnj1@verizon.net</span><br><span style="font-family: times\ new\ roman, times, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Your old car keys can be keys to literacy for the blind. Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by </span><br><span style="font-family: times\ new\ roman, times, serif; font-size: 11pt;">clicking www.carshelpingtheblind.org</span><br><span style="font-family: times\ new\ roman, times, serif; font-size: 11pt;">or call 855 659 9314</span><br><span style="font-family: times\ new\ roman, times, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Note: please cc: Ellen Sullivan ems553@comcast.net and Mary Jo Partyka choirnfb@gmail.com</span><br><span style="font-family: times\ new\ roman, times, serif; font-size: 11pt;">on your response. Thank you for your continuing support!</span><br></p><p style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br></span></p><p style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; color: #333333;"><br></p></body></html>