[stylist] Youth writing contest PR update

Thu Aug 4 16:54:13 UTC 2011

Nothing beats a good press release!

On 8/4/11, Donna Hill <penatwork at epix.net> wrote:
> Hi Shawn,
> Well, as to the reporter getting it ... This is an excellent example of the
> value of a press release. I will copy below what I sent (minus the contact
> info) and you can see for yourself that much of the article is taken
> directly from the press release, including the part about the NFB and the
> Jernigan Institute, which appears at the bottom of all NFB press releases
> including mine. Nonetheless, the reporter decided to include the
> information, which they don't all do, so kudos to her.
> Donna
> Block quote
> Blind Ellijay Middle School Student Wins First Prize in National Writing
> Contest
>
> Ellijay, Georgia, (July 8, 2011): Isabel Nieves (13, Ellijay) has won first
> prize in the middle school poetry category of the Youth Writing Contest of
> the nonprofit National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Writers' Division.
> Isabel, who will be attending Clear Creek Middle School this fall, is the
> daughter of Ramon Nieves, who has been with Home Depot in Blue Ridge for 20
> years, and Elizabeth Nieves, who is a stay-at-home Mom. The announcement was
> made Tuesday at the NFB's annual convention in Orlando, Florida.
>
> Isabel, who loves music (especially the classics like Doris Day), is a
> singer and self-taught pianist. She won first place for her solo performance
> of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" this past year at Gilmer Middle School. She
> occasionally sings with the Good Samaritan Catholic Church choir. She is an
> excellent Braille reader and loves reading all kinds of books (especially
> mysteries and Nancy Drew), which she borrows from the National Library
> Service for the Blind & Physically Handicapped. Her winning entry is
> "Directions to Music Land."
>
> Isabel was born premature at 24 weeks and weighed just one pound eight
> ounces. "She's definitely a miracle," her Dad says.
>
> She suffered a lack of oxygen and has Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), the
> most common cause of blindness in children. Despite four surgeries, she is
> totally blind.
>
> The annual contest promotes Braille literacy and excellence in creative
> writing. Despite strong evidence that Braille literacy significantly
> improves a blind person's ability to obtain employment and advanced degrees,
> only ten percent of America's blind children are taught to read it.
>
> Contestants were required to hand emboss their entries using either the
> slate and stylus or a Braille writer (no computer generated Braille was
> accepted). Entries were judged on creativity and quality of Braille. The NFB
> Writers' Division encourages all blind people to adopt a "can-do" attitude
> and learn the skills that will enable them to live full, productive and
> independent lives.
>
> "We are all impressed and delighted with Isabel's creativity and Braille
> skills," said Robert Leslie Newman, president of the NFB Writers' Division,
> "and we are thankful for the support she is receiving at home and in
> school."
>
> Isabel will receive a cash prize of $25 and the chance to be published in
> "Slate and Style," the quarterly literary magazine of the NFB Writers'
> Division:
> www.nfb-writers-division.net/
>
> The Nieves family has two other children: Emily (14) and Raymond (7).
>
> ###
> About the National Federation of the Blind: With more than 50,000 members,
> the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential
> membership organization of blind people in the United States.   The NFB
> improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, research,
> technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence.
> It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the
> nation's blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of
> the
> Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the
> United States for the blind led by the blind.
> Block quote end
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Jacobson, Shawn D
> Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 11:30 AM
> To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Youth writing contest PR update
>
> Donna
>
> Thanks for sharing; that was a good article and the person who wrote it
> understands our philosophy and the need for Braille; too bad the education
> establishment doesn't get it like the reported did.
>
> Shawn
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Donna Hill
> Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2011 7:00 PM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: [stylist] Youth writing contest PR update
>
> Hi Friends,
>
> The Times Courier of Ellijay, Georgia has published an article about Isabel
> Nieves, who won first place in our middle school poetry category with her
> poem "Directions to Music Land." It appears on the site as a PDF, and even
> when I saved it as text, it was jibberish. I'll attach the file in the hopes
> that one of you will have a better way of making this accessible.
>
>
>
> I've also heard from several reporters who want to do stories on Ethan Fung,
> Nicky Lentz and Lindsay Adar. Lindsay, who is the daughter of NOPBC
> President Laura Weber,  is having an interview this evening with the Houston
> Chronicle. Hopefully, we'll be able to read that one.
>
> Donna
>
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