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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Today, I had the pleasure to work with our students in our Braille Enrichment for Literacy & Learning (BELL) Academy program where many of the instructors are part of our Teachers of Tomorrow program. Our educational programs, our legislative advocacy efforts, our legal advocacy efforts and all of our programs across the country are supported by our General Fund called the “White Cane Fund.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As many of you know, I organize our Jernigan Fund that provides first time convention scholarships and leadership development programs to create our next generation of leadership.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am asking you to support these 2 funds through the Give 25 campaign.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Part of our work is to promote people from outside of the Federation to give to support this important work. We are asking that you reach out to a small set of people this month who might be friends, family, or colleagues to ask them to support our work together and to give and support you as a “Connector.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'>You have compelling personal stories which will resonate with your friends, family, and colleagues. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Take a few minutes and ask some of these people to give.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'>You might also end up winning a BrailleNote Evolve if you can convince 4 people to give and identify you as their connector.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Information about our Give $25 campaign: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'><a href="https://nfb.org/give25">https://nfb.org/give25</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Our donate page for this campaign is<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'> <a href="https://nfb.org/give25donate">https://nfb.org/give25donate</a></span><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'><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>You know the powerful impact the National Federation of the Blind has had on your life. Your friends and family know it as well. Take a few minutes to ask them to support our work together.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You could send emails, send some targeted text messages, or do a social media post.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Below, I provide a sample email you could adapt, a text message you could adapt, and a sample social media post.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email template<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hi [Name],<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I’m reaching out to invite you to be part of the <b>Keep NFB Advancing Connections, Community and Opportunity: Give $25</b> from the National Federation of the Blind, an organization that means so much to me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Give $25</b> to support critical programs that expand opportunities for blind people. You’ll also be entered to <b>win cash or a convention prize</b>. And thanks to a matching grant from AIRA, the visual interpretation service, every dollar up to 25k will be doubled. Even better—you can support me as a Federation Connector. Just indicate that I prompted you to give, and I could win a prize AND know that I advanced the mission of an organization that helps me live the life I want.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please use our Give $25 online donation form at <a href="https://nfb.org/Give25Donate">https://nfb.org/Give25Donate</a>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Thanks for being part of this community.</b> Your support helps bring blind people to their first National Convention, raises expectations, and expands opportunities for blind people nationwide.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Text/DM<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hey [Name]! Quick ask—I'm participating in a fundraiser for the National Federation of the Blind. Every $25 contributed supports awesome programs AND enters you to win cash or convention prizes. You can support me as a Federation connector by indicating that I prompted your gift and your dollars will be doubled thanks to a matching gift from AIRA. Would you be willing to join me and give 25? Here’s the link to contribute: <a href="https://nfb.org/give25donate">https://nfb.org/give25donate</a>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Here is a sample post. Others are available on the Give 25 page.</span></b><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'> </span></b><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Facebook, LinkedIn, Mastodon, and Instagram</span></b><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Do you want to advance the lives of blind people? When you give $25 to the NFB, you help break down barriers, expand opportunities, and raise expectations for blind people: nfb.org/give25donate. Dollars are Doubled thanks to a matching gift from AIRA, the visual interpreting service.<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>Finally, if you are thinking, I am not willing to reach out to friends, colleagues, or family, please consider giving yourself and state that Tracy Soforenko was your connector.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>give in June because the connector process must be implemented before convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you so much,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tracy Soforenko<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>202 285-4595<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfb.org/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.nfb.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbv.org/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.nfbv.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind. Live the Life You Want<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>