BATON ROUGE, La., June 17, 2009 -- Celebrating the stories, culture and heritage of America's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community, Purple Communications(TM), Inc. (Nasdaq:PRPL) will honor Baton Rouge resident, Mr. Tate Tullier, noted professional photographer, as part of Purple(R)'s 2009 Dream Bigger campaign.
Community members are encouraged to join in the celebration on June 21, 2009 at the Baton Rouge Marriott -- 5500 Hilton Avenue in Baton Rouge, LA. The event will feature former Miss Deaf America, Lauren Teruel Ridloff, as emcee of the festivities, which include an onstage interview with Mr. Tullier and 'Q&A' session from 6:45 pm to 9:00 pm, CDT. Purple will also host onsite workshops earlier that day, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, which include topics on local number registration and portability and a product demo on its P3 optimized Purple Netbook.
The Dream Bigger campaign recognizes trailblazers in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community and aims to celebrate the advances they have made. Whether it has been the breaking down of barriers or establishing new status quos, these Trailblazers have improved the overall quality-of-life for all members of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community. Tate Tullier, along with nine other visionaries in the in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community, have been chosen as one of this year's finalists. Each finalist was awarded a $1,000 cash prize from Purple Communications to be donated to a non-profit organization of their choice and in their name as a way of paving the road for the next generation of trailblazers in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community.
"We are proud to honor Tate's talent, drive and unwavering commitment to his craft," said Brandon Arthur, Vice President of Marketing Communications of Purple Communications. "The Dream Bigger campaign is all about recognizing community visionaries who have the tenacity to fulfill personal dreams and lead the way for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people everywhere to pursue theirs. Purple has always focused on creating cutting-edge technology services that make communication more convenient for its customers."
Tullier, one of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community's most prominent professional photographers, began his career at the young age of 12 using the Louisiana landscape as his inspiration. After graduating from Gallaudet University in 2003, Tullier successfully pursued a photography career in New York City by starting his own company. A native of Louisiana, Tullier returned to the South in 2005 and has since grown his business through a combination of online and 'word of hand' marketing in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community. He is heralded as a creative leader for Deaf youth within the community.
"Photography has been my passion since a very young age and I am flattered to be chosen as a finalist for Purple's Trailblazer of the Year in recognition of my achievements doing something I love," said Tullier. "To serve as a leader in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community, encouraging others to find their own artistic vision and pursue creative talents is truly an empowering experience."
In October 2009, Purple Communications will announce the 2009 Trailblazer of the Year, one of the ten finalists, at the Dream Bigger Gala in Washington, D.C. The selected individual will be chosen by online voting at www.purple.us/dreambigger. The person selected will best represent the essence of the Dream Bigger initiative, and will receive $10,000 to be donated in their name, to their non-profit organization of choice, as well as an all-expenses-paid vacation.
To learn more about the Dream Bigger campaign, find out dates and locations for all events, view and read Trailblazer stories, and vote for the 2009 Trailblazer of the Year, visit www.purple.us/dreambigger. Also, be sure to follow the Dream Bigger campaign on Twitter - www.twitter.com/idreambigger and Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Purple-Communications/42541479161.
About Purple Communications
Purple Communications is a leading provider of onsite interpreting services, video relay and text relay services, and video remote interpreting, offering a wide array of options designed to meet the varied communication needs of its customers. The Company's vision is to enable free-flowing communication between people, inclusive of differences in abilities, languages, or locations. For more information on the Company or its services, visit www.purple.us or contact Purple Communications directly by voice at 415-408-2300, by Internet relay by visiting www.i711.com or www.ip-relay.com, or by video phone by connecting to hovrs.tv.
To view this press release in video format please click here: www.purple.us/Press/Tulliervideo.
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