[Mt-blind] Fwd: NOPBC Wins $5,000 National PageTurner Award

[Dan Burke]

This is a great program - one in which a number of Montana kids have
participated in  during previous years...

Dan



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Pare, John" <JPare at nfb.org>
Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2007 13:05:12 -0500
Subject: NOPBC Wins $5,000 National PageTurner Award
To: "Pare, John" <JPare at nfb.org>

National Organization of Parents of Blind Children

Wins $5,000 National PageTurner Award



Baltimore, Maryland (March 9, 2007): The National Organization of
Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC), an affiliate of the National
Federation of the Blind (NFB), received one of 39 national 2006 James
Patterson PageTurner Awards.  The James Patterson PageTurner Awards
serve to honor libraries, schools, individuals, and organizations that
strive greatly to encourage the joy of reading across the United
States.



The NOPBC was honored with $5,000 for their tireless efforts to
promote leisure and scholastic reading for blind children.  The
Braille Readers are Leaders Contest, a national contest for Braille
readers from kindergarten through twelfth grade, and the Braille
Reading Pals, a program catering to younger children, are two of the
NOPBC's Braille literacy programs that received praise.



Barbara Cheadle, president of the NOPBC, said: "It is such an honor to
be recognized in the company of such amazing organizations and
individuals.  We thank James Patterson for his aid in our mission to
encourage and spread Braille literacy-and the joy of reading-across
America."



A definite correlation exists between Braille literacy and employment
rates among the blind, proving that Braille literacy is a vital
pathway to success.  Over 80% of employed blind or visually impaired
adults report using Braille every day, but the number of blind or
visually impaired students learning Braille has been decreasing.
Today, only 10% of blind or visually impaired students learn Braille,
emphasizing the need for programs like the one honored by this award.



This year's winners of the James Patterson PageTurner Awards came from
34 cities in 23 states.  James Patterson said, "I love being able to
help those who spread the word that reading a book is still one of the
great joys in our lives."


# # #

John G. Paré Jr.
Director of Public Relations
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, Maryland  21230
Telephone:  (410) 659-9314, ext. 2371
Cell phone:  (410) 913-3912
Fax:  (410) 685-5653
Email:  jpare at nfb.org