[Nfbsf] Fw: For Immediate Distribution - Important

[Jason Holloway]

March for Independence
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Kristi Bowman 
To: jrholloway at earthlink.net 
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 2:58 PM
Subject: For Immediate Distribution - Important


             
                     

                  Motor City
                  March for Independence
                  e-News 
                        Special e-News Announcement!
                       November 17, 2008 

                 


            Colleagues: 

            Over the past few weeks I have visited with Mark Riccobono, executive director of our NFB Jernigan Institute and Dr. Fred Schroeder, president of our Virginia affiliate and chair of our Braille Literacy Campaign.  Our discussions have focused on the synergy between the Braille Literacy Campaign and the Imagination Fund, and be assured there is dynamic synergy between the two projects.  The product of our discussions is the "white paper" that follows.  I hope you will find it helpful and inspiring as we move on to our work ahead.  

              2008-09 Imagination Fund Campaign
              One Million for Literacy

              This year's NFB Imagination Fund Campaign will continue to build on our past success and will expand our effort to the largest campaign yet.  During this campaign cycle our focus is on continuing to give our Imaginators a variety of tools to solicit contributions and promote the ongoing work of the Federation.  Additionally, we want to leverage our Imagination Fund work as an opportunity to promote the NFB's leadership in Braille literacy.  The NFB has launched the largest campaign for Braille literacy ever undertaken and the NFB Imagination Fund is an important way for you to encourage friends, family, business associates, and members of the public to contribute to new opportunities by giving to the Imagination Fund.

              Some members have asked about the distinction between our work in the Imagination Fund and our work in 2009 around the Braille literacy campaign.  Think of it this way:

              The Imagination Fund widens our circle of support by encouraging those outside the Federation to support the important work we are doing by giving financial contributions.

              The Braille Literacy Campaign creates widespread public awareness about Braille, encourages people to purchase the U.S. Louis Braille Commemorative Silver Dollar and builds awareness about the National Federation of the Blind.

              In other words, in terms of fundraising we want NFB members to focus on securing support for the Imagination Fund.  And, of course, the dollars contributed to the NFB Imagination Fund will support our Braille Literacy Campaign effort by building:

              - The initiatives of the NFB Jernigan Institute, including innovative research, education, and technology development related to Braille literacy

              - Braille outreach programs developed by NFB affiliates to address specific Braille literacy concerns in local communities

              - Leadership and support in local chapters to provide mentoring to newly blind individuals and families with blind children, and

              - Previously unimagined programs to change what it means to be blind.

              The NFB does need to provide matching funds in order to secure funds generated from the sale of the Louis Braille coin.  However, we are making specific outreach efforts to corporations, foundations, and other large donors to secure those funds.  This is largely being managed by the national office and the Braille Literacy team headed by Fred Schroeder.  If you know of funding sources that you can secure to support the Braille Literacy initiative, you should contact Dr. Schroeder so he can work with you to follow up.  Otherwise, NFB members should focus their individual fundraising efforts on the Imagination Fund culminating in our Motor City March for Independence in Detroit.  

              The pending release of the U.S. Louis Braille Commemorative Coin and our public outreach around Braille literacy provides a perfect vehicle to talk to members of the public about Braille literacy and encourage them to support us.  Thus, NFB members should continue to see the NFB Imagination Fund as our primary way to bring new dollars of support to our movement.  This year we will raise one million dollars and at the same time we will forever change Braille literacy in this country.


            As you can see the director of the Jernigan Institute, the coordinator of our Braille Campaign and the Imagination Fund chair have put together an integrated, robust initiative.  

            Now on to registration...Register Now!

            It's critical to begin raising Imagination Fund dollars now!

            Support the NFB Jernigan Institute, our Braille Literacy Expansion, and your local affiliate. Get the buy-in from your family, friends and community. 


            If you registered and marched last year, do it again for the '09 campaign. Please re-register before the holidays at  http://www.marchforindependence.org/. 


            For assistance and additional info about registering, call Kristi Bowman, (410) 659-9314, x2406. To sign up as a lead Imaginator, call Kevan at (866) 543-6808.  And, for info about Braille Literacy or the Louis Braille commemorative coin, visit http://www.braille.org/ .

            At Your Service, 

            Kevan Worley
            Imagination Fund/March for Independence Chair
            NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND





                
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