National Braille Press Announces 2015 President's Award Recipient

National Braille Press (NBP) announced today that the 2015 President’s Award will be presented to Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. NBP will present him with the award at the annual “A Million Laughs for Literacy” gala, which will be held November 12, 2015 at the Renaissance Waterfront Hotel in Boston. The gala brings together leaders from the community who are committed to NBP’s mission of promoting braille literacy for blind and visually impaired children.

Mayor Walsh is receiving the award because he insisted that tactile warning strips and ramps be installed in the Beacon Hill neighborhood, despite resistance from its residents. As the Mayor stated, “If we want to be an inclusive city, we need to make sure people have the opportunity to be inclusive in every neighborhood by getting around” (Boston Globe.)

To make this year’s “A Million Laughs for Literacy” gala accessible to all, NBP will have a live audio feed of the event that will be available to the public. The link can be found on NBP’s website, nbp.org.

“The National Braille Press and the blind and visually impaired community have a great advocate in Mayor Walsh,” said Brian MacDonald, President of National Braille Press. “We applaud his efforts to gain accessibility for everyone who walks the streets of Beacon Hill.”

Also honored at this year’s gala event will be 14 year-old Connor McLeod, “Hands On” award beneficiary, of Australia who led a national effort to change the way Australia’s currency is printed so that the blind and visually impaired are able to identify money more easily. Connor’s campaign resulted in the Royal Bank of Australia agreeing to add tactile braille labels to bank notes. World famous blind adventurer, Erik Weihenmayer, will be a special guest. Prior to the gala event, Erik and Connor are planning to rock climb together at Central Rock Gym in Watertown on November 12.

This year’s event is co-chaired by Danny Hirce, SVP at State Street Bank Corporation, Tom Crohan, Assistant VP and Counsel at John Hancock and Tom Sullivan CEO and Founder of Lumber Liquidators.

“A Million Laughs for Literacy” also features a performance by stand-up comedian Gary Gulman, a native of Peabody, Mass. a finalist on the NBC hit series Last Comic Standing. Gulman has performed on every late night program from Late Night with Seth Myers to The Late Show.

ABOUT NATIONAL BRAILLE PRESS

A non-profit braille publisher, National Braille Press promotes literacy for blind children through outreach programs and provides access to information by producing information in braille for blind children and adults. www.nbp.org