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MEDIA CONTACT
Golisano Foundation
Dalmath Associates (585) 586-6650
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Golisano Foundation and Community are Preparing for Annual Spread the
Word to End the R Word Campaign
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Launch Press Conference is Wednesday March 7
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Monroe County, City of Rochester, Hospitals, High Schools, Sports Teams, Colleges and Businesses and More Organizations Planning Pledge Campaigns and Events
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- February 21, 2018 --
For the eighth year,
a record number of organizations will join the
Golisano Foundation
on and around Wednesday, March 7 to Spread the Word to End the R-Word™.
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Spread the Word to End the R-Word
asks people to pledge to take a stand against using the R-word, "retard" or "retarded," a word that is offensive and derogatory to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is being held on and around the national Spread the Word to End the Word day of awareness on Wednesday, March 7.
The Rochester movement has become one of the largest in the country.
"Most people who use the words retard or retarded do not mean to be hurtful, but to the millions of people around the world who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families and friends, it is hurtful, it is a form of bullying, and is as cruel and offensive as any other slur," said Ann Costello, Executive Director of the Golisano Foundation.
Spread the Word to End the Word was founded in 2009 and is an ongoing effort by
Special Olympics
International (SOI) and
Best Buddies International
to inspire respect and acceptance. The Golisano Foundation has spearheaded this initiative in Rochester since 2011. The goal is to promote more inclusive communities for people with disabilities and special needs, and reach out to more people who can spread the word and pledge to use respectful language that promotes more accepting attitudes for all people. The R-Word initiative also helps celebrate the unique gifts and talents that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have and can share with the world.
Soeren Palumbo, the founder of Spread the Word to End the Word and Sr. Director, Global Youth Engagement for Special Olympics, said, "Since 2009, Rochester has had the second most online pledges of any city – second only to Chicago, a city 10x the size of Rochester. And the difference in pledges between Rochester and Chicago is within 10%. This speaks to the great work being done by the Golisano Foundation and others in the Rochester community. I am excited to work together to showcase and grow this important and impressive work. And, as a sibling of someone with an intellectual disability, I’m incredibly grateful for the Golisano Foundation team’s good work to make respect and inclusion a reality for those in Rochester and, by example, throughout the country and world.”
To date more than 50
organizations and associates of the Golisano Foundation in NY State as well as Florida are planning Spread the Word to End the Word pledge activities. Additional activities will be announced as details are finalized.
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Launch Press Conference - Wednesday March 7 - End the R-word Day Proclamation
WHEN & WHERE
10:20 to 11:15 a.m.
Bishop Kearney High School, 125 Kings Hwy S., Rochester
WHO
- Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo
- City of Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren
- David Seeley, Irondequoit Town Supervisor
- Steve Salluzzo, President, Bishop Kearney High School
- Evalyn Gleason, Golisano Foundation
- Representative from Best Buddies
- Bishop Kearney High School students
MEDIA CONTACTS
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Highlights of Other R-Word Activities
The following Rochester organizations will be Spreading the Word to End the Word with pledge activities on site, email and social media campaigns and more:
- March 5 - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Nazareth College Accessibility Day. Try using a wheelchair on the ramp at the information desk at Shults Center. 4245 East Ave., Rochester.
- Media contact: Nancy Bauter (315) 783-3100
- March 6 - 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Nazareth College Together Tuesday. How can we be more inclusive on campus? Answer this question during the lunch hour outside the diversity council room, Shults Center, 4245 East Ave., Rochester.
- Media contact: Nancy Bauter (315) 783-3100
- March 6 - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Nazareth College Game Night with RIT Best Buddies Chapter, game room, Shults Center, 4245 East Ave., Rochester.
- Media contact: Nancy Bauter (315) 783-3100
- March 7 - 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.: Nativity Prep Academy Assembly,15 Whalin St, Rochester. Evalyn Gleason, Golisano Foundation, and Best Buddy Speaking
- Media contact: Ginny Lenick (585) 271-1630
- March 7 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Pledge Station at The Strong National Museum of Play, 1 Manhattan Square Dr, Rochester, “The Happiest Hour” after-hours event from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. (21 and over).
- Media Contact: Crisandra Harrison or Kate Whitman
- March 7 - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Pledge Station at Rochester Museum and Science Center, 657 East Ave., Rochester.
- Media Contact: Hannah Barry (585) 271-4552 x247
- March 7 - 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Nazareth College pledge signing, Café Sorelle (located in the Golisano Academic Center), 4245 East Ave., Rochester.
- March 8 - 4 to 6 p.m.: Spread the Word Event at Gigi’s Playhouse, 372 North Goodman St., Rochester.
- On-site media contact: Lindsay Jewett (585) 259-4558, Best Buddies
- March 8 - 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Everybuddies Choir Performance, Wilmot Recital Hall at the Nazareth College Arts Center, 4245 East Ave, Rochester.
- March 9 - Nazareth College Light it up Blue. Wear blue on campus to show your support for disability awareness. 4245 East Ave., Rochester.
- March 9 - 7:05 p.m.: Pledge table at Amerks game, Blue Cross Arena, 100 Exchange Blvd, Rochester.
- On-site media contacts: Evalyn Gleason, Golisano Foundation, and Lindsay Jewett (585) 259-4558, Best Buddies
- March 11 - 3:05 p.m.: Pledge table at Amerks game, Blue Cross Arena, 100 Exchange Blvd, Rochester.
- On-site media contacts: Evalyn Gleason (585) 255-0912, Golisano Foundation, and Lindsay Jewett (585) 259-4558, Best Buddies
- March 14 - 4 to 8 p.m.: Happy Hour at Swiftwater Brewery, 378 Mt Hope Ave., Rochester. $1 off drafts, pledge table, t-shirt give away.
- On-site media contact: Jim Rosette (585) 530-3471
- March 23 - 4 p.m.: Spread the Word Amerks Game, Blue Cross Arena, 100 Exchange Blvd, Rochester. Banners and promotion throughout the game. Open skate for kids and families from 4 to 6:30 p.m.; game starts at 7:05 p.m.
- On-site media contacts:
- Lindsay Jewett (585) 259-4558, Best Buddies and Nicole Richardson (585) 286-9934, Amerks
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Friends of the Golisano Foundation that are participating outside Rochester:
- Best Buddies New York (covers areas from New York City to Buffalo)
- Lee Health Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida
- Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center
- University at Buffalo
- Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital
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Video Message from Tom Golisano
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How to Organize a Pledge Event
Go to
r-word.org
and take the pledge, and to get information and resources on how to Spread the word to end the word in schools, companies and organizations.
Email the Foundation with Pledge Activities
Social Media
The Foundation will also be following along on social media. Tag us in your pictures and tweets on
Facebook
and
Twitter
and
Instagram
using the hashtags #respect, #rword, and #RocRespect.
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About Golisano Foundation
The Golisano Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States devoted exclusively to supporting programs for people with intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1985 with an initial gift of $90,000 from B. Thomas Golisano, the founder and Chairman of Paychex, the Foundation now has more than $40 million in gross assets,
has awarded more than $24 million in grants, about $2 million annually, primarily to non-profit organizations in a multi-county region surrounding Rochester, NY.
The Golisano Foundation is committed to opening doors, changing perceptions, and forging unprecedented partnerships in pursuit of the goal to provide individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with pathways to self-sufficiency, personal dignity, and the best possible expression of their abilities and talents throughout their lifetimes.
Through our targeted initiatives, it is our vision that communities will encourage and commit to inclusion, acceptance and opportunity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and provide services that empower individuals to make their way productively and creatively in their communities. In addition to providing funding, the Foundation also serves as a proactive partner with organizations that serve people with intellectual disabilities, working together to promote acceptance and inclusion in the community and workplace.
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Spread the Word to End the Word
Spread the Word to End the Word was founded in 2009 and is an ongoing effort by Special Olympics (SO), Best Buddies and SO supporters to inspire respect and acceptance through raising the consciousness of society about the R-word and how hurtful words and disrespect can be toward people with intellectual disabilities.The campaign, created by youth, is intended to engage schools and organizations and communities to rally and pledge their support at
www.rword.org
and to promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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