BURLINGTON, Mass., Sept 23, 2009 -- Celebrating the stories, culture and heritage of America's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community, Purple Communications(TM), Inc. (PRPL) will honor former local politician, retired professor and deaf advocate Mr. Kevin Nolan.
Local community members as well as the Greater Boston area are encouraged to join in the celebration on September 26, 2009 at the Marriott Boston Burlington, 1 Burlington Mall Road in Burlington, MA. The event will feature former Miss Deaf America, Lauren Teruel Ridloff, as emcee of the festivities, which include an onstage interview with Kevin Nolan 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 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. Kevin Nolan 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. Nolan chose the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), a non-profit that organizes the disability community to be a powerful force for change- politically, socially, and economically.
In October 2009, Purple Communications will announce the 2009 Trailblazer of the Year, one of the 10 finalists, at the Dream Bigger Gala in Washington, D.C. The Trailblazer 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. The individual will be chosen by online voting at www.purple.us/dreambigger.
"Kevin Nolan's dedication to his community as an educator and in public office embodies the spirit of a true Trailblazer. He has been an inspiration to his students and constituents and have encouraged citizen activism and involvement to achieve change within the community," 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."
A run-in with a judge who almost denied him his civic duty as a juror because of his disability was the impetus for Kevin Nolan's political career. He felt that there needed to be a voice for constituents with disabilities and ran for City Council in Northampton, MA. Nolan successfully beat out a 20-year incumbent for the position, making him the nation's first born-deaf person elected to public office.
"I want to be a good example for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community and show other deaf people that they too can knock down barricades that have kept them from pursuing their passion, whatever that is, and to show them that they can be leaders in a hearing society," said Nolan. His advice to the deaf community: "Don't say you can't do it, and don't let your deafness stop you. Go for it and keep pursuing your dreams."
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/Nolan.
Safe Harbor
The statements contained in this news release that are not based on historical fact - including statements regarding the anticipated results of the transactions described in this press release - constitute "forward-looking statements" that are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "continue", or similar terms, variations of such terms or the negative of those terms. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to: (i) our ability to integrate the businesses and technologies we have acquired; (ii) our ability to respond to the rapid technological change of the wireless data industry and offer new services; (iii) our dependence on wireless carrier networks; (iv) our ability to respond to increased competition in the wireless data industry; (v) our ability to generate revenue growth; (vi) our ability to increase or maintain gross margins, profitability, liquidity and capital resources; and (vii) difficulties inherent in predicting the outcome of regulatory processes. Such risks and others are more fully described in the Risk Factors set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our actual results could differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Purple Communications(TM) is not obligated to update and does not undertake to update any of its forward looking statements made in this press release. Each reference in this news release to "Purple(TM)", the "Company" or "We", or any variation thereof, is a reference to Purple Communications(TM), Inc. and its subsidiaries.
"GoAmerica", "i711", the "i711.com" logo, "Relay and Beyond", and "Hands On Video Relay Service" are registered trademarks of Purple Communications, Inc. "Purple", "Powered by Purple", "IP-Relay.com", "hovrs", and "P3" are either registered trademarks, trademarks, or service marks of Purple Communications, Inc. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.