In remembrance of one of our leaders, Mary Ann Parks, who was the Secretary of the Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind, a new scholarship and subsidy program has been established.  Mary Ann Parks was first elected in 2005 and helped oversee the division as it went through great expansion.  As one of the leaders of the Division, she helped to manage the summer conventions, kept valuable records and assisted in the production process, and promotion of, our "Sound In Sight" album which was released in 2007.  In addition to working with the Performing Arts Division, Mary Ann also held the post ofSecretary of the NFB of Georgia.  On August 25, 2007, due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident, Mary Ann passed away.  She will always be remembered for the positive, upbeat and strong-willed person that she was, and she will greatly be missed by all who knew her.

In 2008, the Performing Arts Division established a scholarship in her name.  Each July, at our National Convention, the Division will award a scholarship to recognize achievement by, and to offer support of, a legally blind individual interested in pursuing an education in, or pertaining to, the performing arts.  The scholarship will be available to high school seniors through grad students who are currently pursuing, or planning to pursue, a full time, post-secondary course of study in a performing arts degree program, or are pursuing, or plan to pursue, a degree in a field that is related to the performing arts, at an accredited institution in the United States.  Each applicant will be considered based upon performing arts achievement and excellence, performing arts-related aspirations and goals, academic excellence, and community service endeavors.

The scholarship winner will attend the National Convention,  where the scholarship will be presented annually.

In addition to our scholarship program, we are also in the process of establishing a subsidy program which will, through a short application process, assist legally blind individuals withfunding for performing arts projects, travel-related expenses incurred as a result of performing arts projects, as well as other such related needs as they arise.  Each application will be carefully reviewed and stipends will be awarded based upon exhibited need.  

Please consider making a donation to the Mary Ann Parks Performing Arts Scholarship program.  The money raised will help to fund both the scholarship and the subsidy programs, and all donations are tax-deductible.  You may visit our website at www.padnfb.org. 

You can make a check payable to The National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division and send it to Brooke Fox, POBox 4203 New York NY, 10163.  Please write Scholarship in the memo line.  No amount is too large, or too small.  And each donation will be greatly appreciated.  
If you need more information, please call our offices at 917 903-5650

Lisa Ostrow: Scholarship Coordinator.