(June 29, 2006 -- Santa Barbara) Announcing nine scholarships at a luncheon held on June 17, Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) Executive Director Tim Owens said, "Building lives, building confidence is our motto here and with these four-year scholarships for elementary and high school students with print disabilities - we are confident the award will make a positive difference in their education and their lives." Seven of the nine recipients attended the awards luncheon with their families. Valued at $1,000 each, the funds for the scholarships were raised during the nonprofit's recent Record-A-Thon -- $6,000 was raised by the RFB&D volunteers, while another $3,000 came from the Latkin Foundation. Students were chosen by area teachers and were asked to write an essay on why they thought RFB&D could help them. RFB&D Board member Pamela Harris and Executive Director Owens judged the responses. Scholarships went to: Alexander Avalos, Rylee Erickson, Beverly Gechter-Ortiz, Brisa Hurtado-Sanchez, Susana Ortiz, Tomas Rosas, Alyssa Sharpe, Jonathan Trejo, and Isavel Vivanco. After the luncheon, the students and their parents were shown how to use their new audio textbook playback devices, also part of the RFB&D scholarship award for each individual. (photo available of winners)

Pictured left to right: Tomas Rosas (6th grade) -- Jonata Middle School (Buellton); Jonathan Trejo (6th grade) -- Alisos Elementary School (Carpinteria); Rylee Erickson (6th grade) -- Los Olivos Elementary School (Los Olivos); Beverly Genchter-Ortiz (8th grade) -- Jonata Middle School (Buellton)Alyssa Sharpe (8th grade) -- Vandenberg Middle School; Brisa Hurtado-Sanchez (9th grade) -- San Marcos High School; Susana Ortiz (9th grade) -- Carpinteria High School Not pictured are: Isavel Vivanco (6th grade) -- Los Olivos Elementary School andAlexander Avalos (6th grade) -- Alisos Elementary School (Carpinteria)

The Santa Barbara Unit of RFB&D is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year serving Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Kern Counties with its audio textbook service. During its annual Record-A-Thon that took place April 24 - 29, nearly 300 guest readers turned out from the community with half wanting to return as regular volunteers. Owens stated, "The success of this year's Record-A-Thon exceeded our expectations in this arena. Getting more volunteers will help RFB&D to produce more audio books for students with reading differences." Owens also proudly proclaimed that the Unit met its $40,000 fundraising goal for the weeklong event.

This year's Record-A-Thon was announced on April 10 in a special gathering of area actors including Efram Zimbalist, Jr., Don Murray, Louise Latham, George Backman, Bonnie Lewis, Robert Lesser, Rudy Woolrich, and Christina Allison among others, who joined in reading the new bio on Sir Laurence Olivier, called "Olivier." All the readers said they had to get the book now after reading only a chapter or two. On April 24, politicians and educators came in to the studios to read including: Mayor Marty Blum, City Council members Roger Horton (also an RFB&D Board member), Das Williams, Grant House, Helen Schneider and Buellton Mayor Victoria Pointer. From the education side readers included Santa Barbara Superintendent for City Schools Brian Sarvis, Congresswoman Lois Capps, and Dr. Florene Bednersh who were joined by other city and county educators. Also attending were two of the founding members of the Santa Barbara Unit for RFB&D - June Kelley and Dee McGillivray (Board member). Both are still vital and active to the organization. (photo available)

Most compelling on the opening day of the Record-a-Thon, was an RFB&D member, 22-year-old Marisa Maiani, now in her final year at SBCC. Marisa said, "I was diagnosed with dyslexia in the fourth grade and no longer am I called stupid or slow by my classmates. It [RFB&D] made a tremendous impact on me. I started getting straight "A's" and now I'm looking forward to going to Cal State Northridge this fall.

Chefs came in on Tuesday April 25 to read from Julia Child's newest book "My Life in France," and several of the chefs & restaurateurs had stories they shared about the Queen of the kitchen who was so admired by all of them. Attendees included: John Downey, owner/chef of Downey's; Michael Hutchings, owner/chef Waterside Enterprises; James Sly, chef for Lucky's; Emily Solari, chef at Elements; Mitchell Sjerven, owner of bouchon; Ed Galsterer, former PR head at the Biltmore and Don Skipworth, culinary teacher/chef.

Thursday was a 'Writers Read' day spearheaded by RFB&D volunteer and past board chair, Fred Klein (himself an author), who rounded up a great assembly of authors from Santa Barbara. Tab Hunter and Kevin McKiernan read selections from their own books "Hollywood Confidential" and "The Kurds" respectively.

Dozens of individuals and groups from the area participated in this year's Record-A-Thon, keeping the studios buzzing for six days, nine to ten hours per day using the six recording booths. There was a constant influx of energy and commitment. Actor Robert Carradine and actor/director Perry Lang stopped in to read. Julie McGovern, CEO for Cox Communications/SB Rotary Club President did too. Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, Starbuck Tisdale Associates, Medtronics, Venoco, Business First National Bank, Merrill Lynch, UCSB Associated Students, Tri-County Optometric Society, Santa Barbara and Montecito Rotary Clubs, along with Daughters of Penelope are just some of the community organizations and businesses that participated.

Sponsors for the 2006 Record-A-Thon included the RFB&D Volunteers; Fredric E. Steck Family Foundation & Kelly LeBrock; Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians; Latkin Foundation; Venoco, Inc.; Volentine Foundation; Ann Jackson Family Foundation; Mid-State Bank; Inamed, A Division of Allergan; Business First National Bank; Starbuck, Tisdale & Associates; Peebles-Sheen Charitable Foundation; Lompoc Host Lion's Club; Kiwanis Club of Santa Barbara Suburban; Santa Barbara News-Press; Santa Barbara Independent; KCLU Radio; Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf; Jeanne's Bakery at Gelsons; and RFB&D's Board of Director's, Record-A-Thon Committee, and Woman's Auxiliary.

The Santa Barbara Unit of RFB&D, one of 21 units of Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic was founded in 1976. Volunteers here produce more than 150 audio textbooks each year housed in a lending library at RFB&D's headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey. Books are provided to schools and individual students - grades kindergarten through graduate school. Print disabled students, who utilize RFB&D's "learning through listening" service, report greater comprehension, higher grades and renewed confidence and self-esteem.

If you would like to become involved with RFB&D and to find out more about the Unit's scholarship program, please call us at (805)681-0531. For more information on how to avail the services of RFB&D locally, go to RFB&D Santa Barbara's website at www.RFBD.org/SB.htm.