FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RFB&D RECEIVES CORPORATE VOLUNTEER AWARD FROM BLINDED AMERICAN VETERANS FOUNDATION
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 16, 2009 - Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic® (RFB&D®), the 60+ year national nonprofit leader in providing accessible educational materials for individuals with print disabilities, received the Blinded American Veterans Foundation Corporate Volunteer Award today at the BAVF's 24th Annual Congressional Award reception in Washington, DC.
"Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic is greatly honored to be recognized
by BAVF and to be held in such good company as the other recipients today,"
said Chip Hughes,
RFB&D National Board of Directors member, in accepting the award.
"RFB&D was founded in 1948 specifically to serve Veterans of World
War II, who had lost their sight, and still were determined to pursue their
college education. Buck Gillespie was among those first veterans our volunteers
recorded for. In the ensuing six decades, RFB&D's mission expanded to
serve all Americans with visual impairments, and then to students with learning
disabilities such as dyslexia. Throughout we kept our focus on our roots
and duty to serve each generation of veterans as they returned home and
strove to earn an education. Today our volunteers and staff proudly continue
this tradition. So long as brave men and women answer our nation's call
to service, RFB&D will remain committed and stand ready to serve our
veterans of today and if needed tomorrow."
"RFB&D's work supporting veterans as they pursue their education is admirable. The Blinded American Veterans Foundation is proud to honor RFB&D, and to salute their efforts," said BAVF President John Fales. "I am looking forward to continuing to work with RFB&D to ensure our veterans can pursue their educations. I strongly endorse the credo of RFB&D's founder: 'education is a right not a privilege.'"
RFB&D received the Corporate Volunteer Award at BAVF's 24th Annual Congressional Award reception held at the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill. In addition to RFB&D, BAVF honored Senators Thad Cochran and James Webb with the George "Buck" Gillespie Congressional Awards; J. J. Green of WTOP and artist Tom Nielson with the Carlton Sherwood Media Awards; and Amadeo J. Szaszdi and the late Dr. William H. Eddy with the George Alexander Memorial Volunteer Awards.
About RFB&D: RFB&D serves nearly a quarter of a million students from kindergarten through graduate school and beyond who cannot read standard print due to a visual impairment and blindness, learning disability such as dyslexia, or other physical disabilities. Students rely on RFB&D to access the printed page and to achieve educational success. RFB&D's collection of digitally recorded textbooks and literature, available on CD or through Internet download, are proven, effective learning tools for students with disabilities.
RFB&D, a 501c3 nonprofit, relies on the generous contributions of individuals, foundations and corporations to support its programs. For information on RFB&D, call toll-free 866-RFBD-585 (866-732-3585) or visit www.rfbd.org.
About BAVF: The Blinded American Veterans Foundation was launched in 1985 by three American veterans who lost their sight during service in Korea and Vietnam. All had achieved successful careers despite their blindness. But the realization among them that many sensory disabled veterans had not had the opportunities afforded them led to their determination to form the Foundation and pursue its three main goals: Research, Rehabilitation and Re-employment. The Foundation was designed to become a nationwide focal point and clearinghouse for research, information dissemination and educational efforts. Since its founding in 1985, BAVF has made major strides toward achieving its goals of advanced research, improved rehabilitation programs and wider re-employment opportunities.
For more information visit www.bavf.org.
###
Contact:
Andy Malavsky
609-520-8033
media@rfbd.org
