MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact:
Laura Reimers
Vice President, Communications
National Industries for the Blind
703.310.0453
lreimers@nib.org
For Immediate Release
April 7, 2010
Lions Industries for the Blind to Celebrate 40th Anniversary
Local nonprofit to host Mayor of Kinston, national and local leaders
for open house and community event
KINSTON, NORTH CAROLINA—Lions Industries for the Blind, Inc. (LIB) will mark its 40th
anniversary with a community event and an open house on Thursday, April 14. LIB, an
associated agency of National Industries for the Blind (NIB), has a longstanding history of
providing meaningful employment opportunities for people who are blind, while delivering highquality products and services to their customers.
What:
LIB will host an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Visitors are encouraged
to tour the manufacturing facility, meet the employees and get a firsthand look at
the opportunities available at LIB. The tour will also showcase the unique and
diverse products and services LIB provides to federal, military and commercial
customers.
Who:
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When:
Ray Amyette, Executive Director of LIB
Marc Camnitz, General Manager of LIB
Kevin A. Lynch, President and Chief Executive Officer of NIB
BJ Murphy, Mayor of Kinston
Roy Peay, IST Lead, Airframe Division of DLA Aviation, Richmond, VA
Dr. Lacy Presnell, Past International Director of Lions Clubs International
International Director of Lions Clubs International (TBD)
LIB employees
Thursday, April 14, 2011
10:00 AM, Ribbon cutting
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM, Remarks
2:45 PM – 4:30 PM, Open house and media interviews
Where:
Lions Industries for the Blind, Inc.
4126 Berkeley Avenue, Kinston, NC 28504
Media:
To register for this event or to schedule an interview, please contact Laura
Reimers at 703.310.0453 or lreimers@nib.org.
History:
Since 1971, LIB has been providing viable employment and training opportunities
to blind and visually impaired citizens of Eastern North Carolina. Originally
established as “Eastern Carolina Industries for the Blind, Inc.,” LIB has helped
more than 500 people who are blind increase their economic and personal
independence over the past 40 years.
In 1976, LIB became an associated agency of NIB. As an associated agency, LIB
manufactures and distributes high-quality products and services to federal and
military customers through the AbilityOne Program. More recently, LIB also
expanded its business to include custom embroidery and direct garment printing to
commercial customers.
Today, LIB employs 34 people who are blind; this is significant, considering that
the national unemployment rate hovers around 70%. Nationwide, NIB and its 90
associated agencies employ more than 6,000 people who are blind.
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