News Release w/ Media Contacts
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 28, 2019
Contact: Sara Huffman
Director of Communications
Cell: 213-422-XXXX
Email: huffmansv@vcu.edu
Virginia Voice Seeks Volunteers for Visually Impaired Virginians
RICHMOND, Va. – Reading the news helps many people feel connected to their community. Reading a magazine is a relaxing way to unwind. Seeing a play is a fun way to escape for an hour. How would you feel if you couldn’t do any of these things because you couldn’t see? The Virginia Voice aims to help visually impaired people do all of these things.
The Richmond nonprofit offers audio reading programs to access current newspapers and magazines, as well as live audio description to access local preforming arts. Services are free of charge and can be accessed via a special radio receiver provided by Virginia Voice or via the organization’s website.
Virginia Voice is currently looking for more volunteers to serve as readers. More than 100 volunteers are needed each week to create the programming Virginia Voice offers. During their audition, potential readers will be asked to read two stories from the newspaper or a magazine and from a list of vocabulary words.
Suffer from stage fright? Don’t worry, there’s a place for you at Virginia Voice, too. Volunteers are also needed to deliver the specially tuned radios provided by Virginia Voice. As important as readers, drivers are often the first, and sometimes only, face-to-face contact our listeners have with Virginia Voice.
Readers and radio delivery drivers are asked to volunteer a minimum of one time a month.
“Can you imagine not being able to read for yourself? The Virginia Voice reading service provides the eyes and the voice for those who can’t read themselves. But we can’t do it unless we have enough volunteers,” said Paula Otto, board chairwoman for Virginia Voice.
“Our volunteers are so important to us because they provide a connection to people who might otherwise feel disconnected.” said Otto.
Volunteers can get more information and apply online by visiting: www.virginiavoice.org
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Since 1978, Virginia Voice has provided audio access to individuals who are blind, have vision impairments or other disabilities all throughout the Commonwealth. Located in Richmond, Virginia, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit offers services 24 hours a day, seven days a week to individuals who have difficulty reading due to visual impairment or physical disabilities.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
WPM TV (PBS)
Lisa Tait ltait@vpm.org
(VPM is a partner and if it’s not an issue, I’d think they’d cover this)
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Bill Lohmann
(804) 649-6639
(He’s written about V.V. in the past)
WTVR-TV 6 (CBS)
Robert Hughes rhughes@wtvr.com
Lauren Parker lparker@wtvr.com
(WTVR has done stories about the theater side of V.V.’s work)
Boomer Magazine
Lisa Schaffner LisaSchaffner@verizon.net
Annie Tobey annie@boomermagazine.com
(Lisa is in charge of the “Giving Back” column that focuses on people giving back to the community, so she might be interested. Annie is the Editor.)
