October 2007: Grace P. Alparone of North Brunswick has been named Director of Development for the New Jersey Unit of Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D). The New Jersey Unit's offices, recording studio and educational outreach center are on the campus of St. Joseph's Seminary in Plainsboro.
Alparone has spent over 25 years raising money for healthcare. Her credits include working for Centrastate Medical Center in Freehold, Cadbury Senior Services, Inc. in Cherry Hill and Carrier Foundation in Belle Mead. Most recently she was Director of Development for the American Red Cross in Fairfield, where she was responsible for restructuring their development program in Essex, Passaic, and West Hudson counties in New Jersey. During her tenure there she raised $1.5 million from individuals, corporations and foundations.
She has several certifications in fundraising management and has been a long-time member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).
RFB&D is the nation's educational library serving those people who cannot effectively read standard print because of visual impairment, dyslexia or other physical disability. Its mission is to create opportunities for individual success by providing and promoting the effective use of accessible educational materials.
The New Jersey Unit of RFB&D is celebrating its 50th anniversary. In 1957, Alma Rotnem recruited a committee of "21 prominent Princetonians" and began recording in space donated by the Princeton Theological Seminary. Since then, the New Jersey Unit has grown and now employs the talents of nearly 400 volunteers who record educational material and help its Educational Outreach Center provide services for schools throughout the Garden State.
For more information about the New Jersey Unit of RFB&D, call 609-750-1830 or visit www.rfbdnj.org.