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<div>Greetings to all!</div>
<div> </div>
<div>I’ve provided information highlighting Agnes Allen, co-founder in 1991 of the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey’s Garden State Chapter.</div>
<div>Agnes served as a loyal Federationist in New Jersey and Connecticut.</div>
<div>Agnes’s passion for literacy is second to none.</div>
<div>Agnes continued to teach Braille well in her 90’s.</div>
<div>Agnes is an author,” Life Without Sight; My Journey Into The World Of Sighted And The Blind.
</div>
<div>Agnes has changed many lives with providing the gift of Braille literacy.</div>
<div>For the past several years, the NFBNJ has presented the Agnes Allen Distinguish Service Award during the banquet. This award is presented to a non member, to an agency or organization that promotes the philosophy of the Federation to raise expectations
to live the life we want!</div>
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<div>After reading the information below, at the conclusion, I have provided contact information for those that want to send Agnes belated birthday wishes. Her reading media is Braille. If you need a member of the Braille committee to assist,please contact
Mary Jo Partyka, Chair of the Braille Committee at 609 888 5459 or email, <a href="mailto:choirnfb@gmail.com">
choirnfb@gmail.com</a></div>
<div>In addition, ask someone from your chapter and or division to assist.</div>
<div>She may not answer the phone however, a voice message works well.</div>
<div>Agnes is a true friend that has provided thousands of volunteer hours to provide her talent, time and encouragement to assist others to achieve their goals.
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<div>Happy 95th Birthday, Agnes!</div>
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<div>Warmly,</div>
<div>Joe Ruffalo, President</div>
<div>NFBNJ</div>
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<div>**</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Cambria"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"> </font></span><font style="FONT-SIZE:
14pt">Agnes Allen was born on the 18<sup>th</sup> of January 1924, the sixth and
last child born to Mary and Louis Stone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>
When she was just five years old, she had a terrible fall off a porch swing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>The doctors told Agnes’ mother she had six months to live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>She obviously survived but the accident left her totally blind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Agnes thrived at the Pittsburgh School for the Blind where she learned to love education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>The school taught Agnes many things but most of all it enabled her to be independent, confident, capable and optimistic. After graduating from Pittsburgh School for the Blind, Agnes became the first blind graduate of Mount Mercy College.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>She graduated Suma Cum Laude. The formation provided by the Mercy Sisters is rarely found in education today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>They taught their students that a life of service is a life well lived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Agnes took this instruction to heart and strived to obtain this virtuous life.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">
</font></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Cambria"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"></font></font></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Cambria"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The only member of her family to graduate high school and college, Agnes had the opportunity to attend graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Upon finishing her Master’s degree in English, Agnes embarked on a career of teaching. She instructed blind and deaf blind students, young children and adults to accept their impairment and tackle any obstacle that stood in the way of achieving independence.
<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She taught Braille, English, math, music, and many other necessary life skills. Her dedication to the advancement of blind persons is evident in the fact that she was still tutoring
blind students after her 90<sup>th</sup> birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Agnes has been a long-standing member and served as an officer of both the New Jersey and Connecticut chapters of the National Federation for the Blind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Agnes has a grave concern for blind individuals that cannot read braille and raised awareness through her many Braille Literacy campaigns and events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Her book, “A Life Without Sight” was written to encourage all blind persons and their families to make the most out of the life they were given.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Agnes’ message to all is “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>She also held positions as a Social Worker for the Division of Family Services, a proofreader, and a salesman.</font></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Cambria"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"></font></font></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Cambria"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Agnes Allen is the mother of three daughters and the grandmother of nine grandchildren.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Her example of generosity, love of neighbor and her joyful positive attitude has been a great blessing to her family. She is dearly loved.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">
</font></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Cambria"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"></font></font></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Cambria"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"> <font size="3" face="Calibri">Contact info:</font></font></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Cambria"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Agnes Allen
</font></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Cambria"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">49 Old North Stamford Road
</font></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Cambria"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Stamford, CT 06905
</font></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Cambria"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">her phone number is 203 323 9564.</font></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Cambria"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"></font></font></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Cambria"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Thanks for thinking of her on her birthday!</font></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Cambria"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><font size="3" face="Calibri">Barbara</font></font></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Cambria"><font style="FONT-SIZE:
14pt"></font></font></span> </p>
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