Honeywell and Verizon Provide Major Sponsorship for 2003 Disability Mentoring Day
National Program to be Commemorated in Every State on October 15, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mariana V. Nork
(202) 457-0046(WASHINGTON, DC) October 10, 2003 - The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), national host of Disability Mentoring Day - which provides job-shadowing and career exploration opportunities for students and job seekers with disabilities - acknowledges the sponsorship of two corporations for this year's program. Honeywell and Verizon Communications are the Lead National Corporate Sponsors of 2003 Disability Mentoring Day.
In addition to the support received from Honeywell and Verizon, thirteen corporations are also providing sponsorship support, and AAPD is partnering with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy, the National Public Sponsor.
Disability Mentoring Day is held on the third Wednesday in October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month; this year, Disability Mentoring Day will be commemorated on October 15 in communities in every state, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and more than twelve international locations. Disability Mentoring Day promotes career development for students and job-seekers (mentees) with disabilities; with national coordination from AAPD as National Host, local communities nationally organize their own activities that bring students and employers (both public and private) together for informational sessions about career opportunities and one-on-one mentoring.
In 2003, Disability Mentoring Day has a network of volunteer Local Coordinators in regions across the country and almost 8,000 mentees are expected to participate on October 15. AAPD's coordination of Disability Mentoring Day is made possible by support received from outside funding sources. Honeywell and Verizon have made Lead grants to enable AAPD to expand its outreach to ensure the people with disabilities in communities across the country can participate and benefit. Both corporations also have facilities in locations nationally participating in Disability Mentoring Day, with corporate employees serving as mentors.
"AAPD thanks and recognizes Honeywell and Verizon for their demonstrated support and endorsement of Disability Mentoring Day and their pledge of employee participation this October 15," says Mariana V. Nork, Senior Vice President of AAPD. "Their grants but also their active involvement in this national program greatly help to further the program and the career mentoring of young people with disabilities."
For further information regarding Disability Mentoring Day, contact AAPD at 800-840-8844, email DMD, or visit the AAPD website.
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the country's largest cross-disability membership organization, promotes the economic and political empowerment of all people with disabilities in the U.S. It was founded in 1995 to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities, including their family, friends and supporters, and be a national voice for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Further information can be found on the AAPD website