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| Denisegilmore Registered user Username: Denisegilmore Post Number: 100 Registered: 10-2000 |
"Disability Mentoring Day -- October 20, 2004" [Following are three AAPD press releases addressing various aspects of Disability Mentoring Day 2004. For more information on Disability Mentoring Day, visit http://www.dmd-aapd.org/] FIFTEEN MAJOR CORPORATIONS PROVIDING SPONSORSHIP FOR 2004 DISABILITY MENTORING DAY (DMD) Funding Makes it Possible for DMD to be Commemorated in Every State on October 20, 2004 (WASHINGTON, DC) August 17, 2004 -- The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) announces that fifteen (15) corporations are participating in Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) 2004 as National Corporate Sponsors. To be commemorated on October 20, DMD provides job-shadowing and career exploration opportunities for students and job seekers with disabilities. AAPD is partnering with the U.S. Department of Labor Office (DOL) of Disability Employment Policy to host the sixth-annual Disability Mentoring Day. "We believe that Disability Mentoring Day is a great experience for both the mentees and the participating organizations," says AAPD President and CEO Andrew J. Imparato. "Not only do the students gain insight into possible career paths and job opportunities, but the organizations have the opportunity to meet and interact with a largely-untapped group of prospective employees. Disability Mentoring Day has paved the way for many internships, job offers, and a more diverse workforce." DMD has expanded from a small DC-based event for three dozen students, to a national event with a rapidly growing network of volunteer local coordinators all across the country and more than 6,000 mentees. In its role as National Host, AAPD recruits volunteer local coordinators in various regions in every state, promotes the event nationally, and provides resource materials and technical assistance to its substantial corps of participating volunteers. In addition to DOL, which is National Public Sponsor, these fifteen National Corporate Sponsors are playing a significant role in making DMD a truly effective public- private partnership. Through their support, they are helping to tackle the longstanding problem of unemployment and underemployment among people with disabilities: * American Airlines * American Online Inc. * BellSouth * Cingular Wireless * Darden Restaurants * Hewlett Packard * Honeywell * Independence Technology * Microsoft * Oracle * Pitney Bowes * SAP * SunTrust * U.S. Cellular * Verizon "Both economic empowerment and improving employer attitudes are at the heart of civil rights for people with disabilities, explains Andrew J. Imparato, AAPDs President and CEO. By building relationships between students with disabilities and mentors working in fields that interest them, Disability Mentoring Day helps to create a pipeline of qualified workers for participating employers and gives disabled students greater direction and motivation to pursue their career goals. DMD also makes private sector employers more aware of the vast and largely-untapped talents and skills that people with disabilities possess. We applaud and thank these fifteen National Corporate Sponsors for embracing and helping to further this important national mentoring program. AAPD encourages employers, educators, disability advocates, parents, and students and job seekers with disabilities to get involved with Disability Mentoring Day in their area. For further information regarding DMD involvement, contact AAPD by telephone: 800-840-8844 (V/TTY); by email, aapd@aol.com; or visit the AAPD website, http://www.aapd- dc.org. ========================= SUNTRUST BANK, FLORIDA CEO NAMED HONORARY CHAIR FOR DISABILITY MENTORING DAY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2004 George Koehn to Serve as Spokesperson for Job Shadowing Activity for Students with Disabilities TALLAHASSEE George Koehn, Chairman, President, and CEO of SunTrust Bank, Florida, was named Honorary Chair for Floridas Disability Mentoring Day (DMD), scheduled for October 20, 2004. During DMD, local students with disabilities from across the state will be matched with local volunteer businesses and spend the day shadowing a business mentor. The program gives the students an opportunity to learn more about the workplace and see the day-to-day responsibilities required of a person in their career field of interest. Students with disabilities are often underestimated in their abilities. Having a chance to interact with business professionals gives these students an opportunity to show prospective employers what they can do. SunTrust Bank, Florida, is proud to be a part of this statewide endeavor to expose students to the business world and help employers learn more about working with people with disabilities, stated George Koehn, Chairman, President, and CEO of SunTrust Bank, Florida. Floridas Disability Mentoring Day is organized by a statewide planning committee chaired by The Able Trust. In 2003, more than seven hundred students and three hundred business mentors participated statewide. The Able Trust hopes to increase participation this year to include more students and business mentors, and believes Koehns participation will help encourage more Florida businesses to get involved. Koehn will serve as Floridas Disability Mentoring Day spokesperson, participating in public service announcements and the DMD kickoff event on October 20. Koehn will assist with recruitment efforts and participate in DMD promotional activities geared toward Florida employers. In addition, SunTrust Bank, Florida, will support DMD by encouraging their employees to serve as business mentors for participating students. This is a great way for employers to learn first hand about the benefits of working with people with disabilities, said Kristen Knapp, Vice President of Public Relations for The Able Trust and chair of the statewide planning committee. The businesses that participated in 2003 expressed a tremendously positive experience, and many plan to take these students on as summer interns or part- time employees. It turned out to be a win-win situation for everyone involved. Floridas Disability Mentoring Day is part of a national effort sponsored by the American Association of People with Disabilities. It began in 1999 as part of a White House effort to increase the profile of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, celebrated every October. Florida sponsors include Clear Channel Radio, Volunteer Florida, Merrill Lynch, Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Polk County Workforce Board. For more information about Disability Mentoring Day, visit www.abletrust.org or call toll-free 888.838.2253. About The Able Trust. The Able Trust, also known as the Florida Governors Alliance for the Employment of Citizens with Disabilities, is a 501c3 public-private partnership foundation established by the Florida Legislature in 1990. Its mission is to be the leader in providing Floridians with disabilities fair employment opportunities through fundraising, grant programs, public awareness and education. Since its establishment, The Able Trust has awarded over $14 million in grants to individuals with disabilities and nonprofit agencies, enabling more than 2,000 Florida citizens with disabilities to enter the workforce each year. ===================== NEW YORK CITY IS CHOSEN AS NATIONAL LAUNCH CITY FOR 2004 DISABILITY MENTORING DAY Sixth-Annual Disability Mentoring Day to be Commemorated Around the Country on October 20 Washington, DC - The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the countrys largest cross-disability membership organization, and the New York City Mayors Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) have announced their partnership to nationally launch Disability Mentoring Day from New York City on October 20, 2004. Matt Sapolin, Executive Director of MOPD, will serve as Chairperson of the Disability Mentoring Day Local Organizing Committee in New York City. Disability Mentoring Day is a national program designed to provide students and job seekers with disabilities in every state across America a firsthand experience in learning about career opportunities in a variety of their chosen fields. Held the third Wednesday of every October, in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Disability Mentoring Day helps to promote the importance of encouraging students and job seekers to develop the necessary skills and experiences to compete in today's competitive workforce. For many people with disabilities, past participation in Disability Mentoring Day has translated into ongoing relationships, internships and firm job offers in a wide array of employment settings. "More than 70% of people with disabilities wishing to work are unemployed, said Mayor Bloomberg. Leading up to this October 20 th, my administration, through critical partnerships with the private sector, will work to provide opportunities to job-seekers with disabilities that will help to increase their chances for career exploration and bridge the gap that exists between employers and qualified people with disabilities. New York City has the most creative and successful business leaders I am confident that they will take full advantage of this highly-unique opportunity to tap into a valuable part of our workforce. Disability Mentoring Day has expanded from a small Washington, DC-based event for three dozen students to a national event with almost 7,000 mentees in every state and the District of Columbia, plus Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and 14 countries. Disability Mentoring Day is nationally supported by sponsorships received from major national corporations and a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). This year, AAPD is recognizing New York Citys commitment to people with disabilities and hopes that, with Mayor Bloombergs lead, local employers will be eager to demonstrate to the rest of the world that New York City strives to make its workforce mirror society. AAPDs work and close cooperation with New York City as the national launch city of this years Disability Mentoring Day will bring unprecedented attention to this critical career-exploration program for people with disabilities, explains Andrew Imparato, AAPD President and CEO. We are grateful to Mayor Bloomberg and to Matt Sapolin for their demonstrated commitment to the expansion of Disability Mentoring Day in New York City and in communities around the country. New York City is a great place to send the message that hiring people with disabilities is good for business. Local corporate leaders and jobseekers with disabilities are encouraged to get involved in this years activities in New York City, which will be carried out over the course of the next eight months. MOPD will be announcing a list of events related to October 20ths Disability Mentoring Day activities in New York City. For more information about Disability Mentoring Day and its activities in New York City or for general information about the MOPD, contact Matthew Sapolin, Executive Director for the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities at: 212-788-2830. For more information about the American Association for People with Disabilities and the national Disability Mentoring Day program, contact Mariana Nork at 202-457-0046, x24, or by e-mail. The Mayors Offfice for People with Disabilities serves as a liaison between City government and disabled individuals and organizations representing or serving New Yorkers with disabilities. The Office works with City agencies to make sure that the particular needs of People with Disabilities are considered in the development of City policies, programs, and services. For more Information visit MOPD website or Contact: MOPD: Silvia Alvarez (212) 788-2958. AAPD, the countrys largest cross-disability membership organization, promotes the economic and political empowerment of all 56 million children and adults with disabilities in the U.S. It was founded in 1995 to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities, including their family, friends and supporters, and to be a national voice for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For additional information, visit AAPD website. # # # ===================== JOIN AAPD! There's strength in numbers! Be a part of a national coalition of people with disabilities and join AAPD today. http://www.aapd-dc.org |
