Microsoft Canada Wins "New Spirit of Community Partnerships" Award for helping develop the CNIB's digital library
MISSISSAUGA, ON, September 21, 2004 - Microsoft Canada and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) have been honoured with Imagine's "New Spirit of Community Partnerships" Award in recognition of their partnership in developing the Digital Library. This award recognizes their commitment to improving access to information for more than three million print-disabled Canadians.
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The award winners were announced yesterday by Chris Pinney, Director of Imagine at the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy's Annual Symposium in Toronto.
Blind children can't take the written word for granted. They can't just pick up their textbooks at the start of the school year, or head down to the local bookstore to find the books they need. But their desire to read and learn is no different than sighted children.
For visually impaired children, the options for obtaining books were few. Such books are produced in braille, in audio format or as electronic text. For each format, these books take time and money to produce. The Digital Library has solved these issues allowing timely access to thousands of new books and resources.
"The program had ambitious goals - to provide equal access to information for visually impaired Canadians and to enable them to use technology as a tool to expand their world and their opportunities," said Frank Clegg, President, Microsoft Canada. "I'm extremely proud that Microsoft Canada and the CNIB are working together to meet these goals. The experience is made even more special by being recognized by Imagine along with a distinguished group of leading organizations and their charitable partners."
"Only three per cent of all published material in Canada was available in a format that people who are blind or visually impaired could use, putting some children at a huge disadvantage and at serious risk of falling behind their peers," said Jim Sanders, CNIB president and CEO. "Partnerships with companies like Microsoft Canada serve as a gateway to learning for thousands of blind and visually impaired children, paving the way for equal access for all."
This is the second consecutive year Microsoft has won this celebrated award presented by the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy to Canadian companies and charities that form an innovative partnership to address a social need.
Microsoft Canada and the CNIB began creating the CNIB Digital Library in 2002. The alternative format library allows thousands of visually impaired Canadians access to tens of thousands of new books, over 40 newspapers and hundreds of magazines. The library also contains The Children's Discovery Portal - the first portal in the world designed specifically for children who are blind and visually impaired. The portal is considered a template for visually impaired libraries around the world.
About the CNIB
The CNIB is the primary provider of vision loss support services to more than 100,000 Canadians and houses one of the world's largest specialized libraries. A new client walks through the CNIB's doors every ten minutes of every working day. Seventy-nine per cent of the CNIB's annual revenues are received from individuals, foundations and corporate donors, with the balance contributed by government. For more information visit www.cnib.ca
About Microsoft's Community Programs
Microsoft Canada's I CAN Community Program is committed to enhancing the lives of young Canadians and their families through community initiatives focusing on technology and learning. Over the last two years, I Can has impacted the lives of over 275,000 children through specially designed community programs, financial assistance, and software and solutions support. Microsoft Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. Visit www.microsoft.ca/ican for more details.
About Imagine's New Spirit of Community Partnership Awards
Imagine's New Spirit of Community Partnership Awards were founded in 1996 to recognize and celebrate innovative and effective partnerships and programs created by companies, nonprofits and charitable organizations that are making a difference. For the past nine years, with the help of a jury of senior leaders from across the country, Imagine has selected five winners and five honourable mentions that have made a contribution to any area of community need - from culture and social welfare, to community development and the environment.
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