NORTHBROOK, Ill., Aug 26, 2009 -- Celebrating the stories, culture and heritage of America's Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community, Purple Communications(TM), Inc. (PRPL) will honor Chicagoland resident, Howard A. Rosenblum Esq., prominent deaf lawyer and communication equality advocate.
Community members are encouraged to join in the celebration on August 29, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Chicago-Northbrook, 2875 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Northbrook, IL. The event will feature former Miss Deaf America, Lauren Teruel Ridloff, as emcee of the festivities, which include an onstage interview with Mr. Rosenblum and 'Q&A' session from 6:45 pm to 9:00 pm, EDT. 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 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 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. Mr. Howard A. Rosenblum, Esq., 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. Mr. Rosenblum chose the Midwest Center on Law and the Deaf (MCLD), an organization he founded, as the recipient of the $1,000 cash prize.
"Growing up my parents told me I could be whatever I wanted to be," says Rosenblum. "A doctor, a lawyer, whatever, that I should just go for it. Now that I am a lawyer, I want to ensure that the legal and judicial systems are accessible to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community and that is why I created MCLD. With a fully accessible system, the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community can realize their dreams as long as they give 100 percent to achieving them."
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.
"Howard's fight for fair and equitable communications access is exemplary. He is an inspiration to deaf youth everywhere, confirming that anything is possible with hard work and dedication. We are proud to honor him as one of our 2009 Trailblazers," 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."
Rosenblum became the only Deaf lawyer in the State of Illinois in 1992. He has worked as an attorney for Equip for Equality, an organization that pursues accessibility rights for people with disabilities and is the founder of the Midwest Center on Law and the Deaf (MCLD). Founded in 1999, MCLD continues today, bridging the gap between the legal/justice system and the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community, ensuring equal treatment.
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/Rosenblum.
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