National Braille Press to Honor Karen Keninger with Hands On! Award

Keninger to receive award at Annual “A Million Laughs for Literacy” Gala on November 1, 2013

National Braille Press announced today that Karen Keninger, Director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, (NLS), Library of Congress will receive the Hands On! Award at its 2013 annual “A Million Laughs for Literacy” gala on November 1st at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. 

The Hands On! Award is given annually to an individual who has made and continues to make a difference in the world of braille literacy and whose accomplishments have helped blind children and adults succeed in their own life. 

Karen Keninger was appointed Director of NLS in 2012 and throughout her career has established and maintained effective work relationships with a broad range of individuals and organizations in efforts to bring accessible materials to everyone. NLS is the branch of the Library of Congress that administers the free program that loans recorded and braille materials to residents of the United States who are unable to read or use standard print materials because of visual or physical impairment. As Director of NLS, Keninger is focusing her efforts to ensure that all patrons have the reading material they need to increase their quality of life. National Braille Press has been a braille publisher for the Library of Congress for the past 30 years.

"Karen Keninger has worked endlessly to advocate for braille literacy and has a true passion to ensure that blind people have the information they need in braille. As a braille reader herself, she wants others to avail themselves of the opportunities that braille provides in education and the workplace," said Brian MacDonald, President of National Braille Press. "National Braille Press is honored to present this years' Hands On! Award."

Additionally, National Braille Press is honoring Jay Hooley, Chairman, President and CEO of State Street Corporation with this year’s Presidents Award for his longstanding support for National Braille Press and its mission. The 2013 “A Million Laughs for Literacy” co-chairs are Jayne Donahue, EVP of State Street Corporation, Tom Sullivan, Chairman and Founder of Lumber Liquidators, Ward Mooney, CEO of Crystal Financial and Mike Sheehan, Chairman of Hill Holliday. The program will include a special performance by comedian Paul Reiser who is widely known for his work in TV and film, as well as a live auction to support National Braille Press’s literacy initiative, Hands On! Books for Blind Children.

For more information about “A Million Laughs for Literacy” Gala visit: http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/events/gala.html

ABOUT NATIONAL BRAILLE PRESS

A non-profit braille publisher, National Braille Press promotes literacy for blind children through outreach programs and provides access to information by producing information in braille for blind children and adults. National Braille Press is the premier braille publisher in the US that specializes in producing original braille works written by blind authors expressly for blind people. www.nbp.org