RFB&D's 13th Annual Record-A-Thon

April 16 - 21, 2007

Fact Sheet

What is RFB&D?
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic®, a nonprofit volunteer organization, is the nation's educational library for people who cannot read standard print effectively because of visual impairment, dyslexia or other physical disability. With more than 109,000 educational titles in our CV Starr Learning Through Listening® Library, RFB&D is the world's leading producer of fully accessible, recorded textbooks for students of all ages. More than 7,100 volunteers in 29 RFB&D recording studios across the United States donate nearly 400,000 hours recording books for more than 141,000 students in kindergarten through graduate school and beyond who have disabilities that make reading standard print difficult or impossible.

RFB&D's results are measurable in the lives of students with disabilities. A Johns Hopkins study concluded that students using RFB&D's AudioPlus® digitally recorded textbooks on CD increased content acquisition by 38 percent.

What is the Record-A-Thon?
RFB&D - New Jersey Unit launched its first Record-A-Thon in 1995. Record-A-Thon is an intensive, weeklong volunteer effort to double the production of taped textbooks at RFB&D recording studios across the United States in preparation for the busy back-to-school season in the fall. It also serves to raise funds and increase public awareness.

When and where is the Record-A-Thon celebrated?
This year, RFB&D-NJ Unit's 12th annual Record-A-Thon will be held April 16-21, 2007, at our recording studios at St. Joseph's Seminary in Plainsboro, NJ.

What are the objectives of the Record-A-Thon?
RFB&D-NJ Unit's more than 400 volunteers and celebrity guest readers are challenged to meet three goals during the Record-A-Thon: to increase accessible textbook production, to raise funding to support our local programs and to increase public awareness of our service among students who may benefit from our recorded textbooks, as well as their parents and teachers.

Who participates?
RFB&D's dedicated volunteers and others are the heart of our program! Since the Record-A-Thon was launched, performers from stage, screen and television as well as prominent public officials, authors and athletes, have joined our regular studio volunteers to make the Record-A-Thon an even greater success. Nationwide, past celebrity volunteers have included news anchor Ted Koppel, the cast of the CBS drama Chicago Hope, Jasmine Guy, Sandy Duncan, Betty White, Ed Asner, Jonathan Winters, Judge Marilyn Milian of The People's Court, actor Beau Bridges and The View's Meredith Vieria.

Local Celebrity readers have included former Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Congressman Rush Holt, Herman Parish, State Senator Diane Allen, Jennifer Morgan, Robert Fagles, Brian Malone, Freeman Dyson, Louise Collins, and Professor Burton Malkile, Peter Benchley, Wendy Benchley, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Charles H. Johnson, Gina Kolata, Paul Muldoon, and Princeton University President Shirley Tilghman. Last year's celebrity volunteers included NJN Morning Edition host Robin Shannon, Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, former Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Freeman Dyson, and C.K. Williams.

What can I do to support the Record-A-Thon?
Contact RFB&D-NJ Unit at 609-750-1830 for more information about contributing your time, or to make a secure, tax-deductible donation. There are many ways to help make the Record-A-Thon a success in and out of the recording booth. We welcome and appreciate your assistance!

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