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THE TIMES MIRROR FOUNDATION SUPPORTS RFB&D-LA

Los Angeles, California, January 27, 2003 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - National nonprofit organization Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic's Los Angeles Unit (RFB&D-LA) is delighted to announce they have received a two-year grant for $20,000 from The Times Mirror Foundation on behalf of the Los Angeles Times, in support of RFB&D-LA's Adopt-A-Text program. It costs RFB&D-LA an average of $1,000 to record each new textbook, including the direct costs of materials and supplies, along with the indirect costs such as volunteer recruitment and training. Thus the grant will support the recording of 20 new audio books to add to RFB&D's national library, where 93,000 audio books are already housed.

RFB&D records audio textbooks for students from Kindergarten through graduate school and beyond, who have a vision, physical or learning disability. RFB&D-LA serves 2,300 students in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, while nearly 550 volunteers in three local studios record the textbooks.

The Times Mirror Foundation, an affiliate of Tribune Company, which owns the Los Angeles Times, is dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations that measurably improve the quality of life in the communities they serve. The foundation focuses its support on program areas that include journalism, education, literacy, community enrichment, arts and culture.

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