Thank you on behalf of Seedlings

Last month, I asked everyone to vote for Debra Bonde's non-profit organization, Seedlings (located here in Michigan), in order to help her win a $10,000 prize being offered through Mannington Mills. Bonde's organization provides braille books to blind children and works to promote the cause of braille literacy. I just received good news from Seedlings. Read on:

Seedlings’ Founder is Winner of National Award and Online Public Voting

Debra Bonde, Founder and Executive Director of Seedlings Braille Books for Children in Livonia, was selected as one of the winners of the 2007 “Stand On A Better World” Award from Mannington Mills, a leading manufacturer of fine flooring. Mannington Mills celebrates women who “do the right thing” to make a difference in the lives of people and communities locally as well as globally. Ms. Bonde was recognized in the national category for her work in furthering the non-profit mission of increasing braille literacy by making braille books for blind children, locally and around the world. Tennis great Billie Jean King and ABC-TV’s Deborah Roberts of “20/20” were among the esteemed judges presiding over this year’s awards. More information regarding the awards is available at www.StandOnABetterWorld.com.

In addition, for the first time, Mannington Mills added an award category, Your Better World, which allowed the public to cast a vote online for one of the finalists. Your vote counted! Thanks to all of Seedlings’ supporters, Ms. Bonde was also the winner of the Your Better World Award.

Ms. Bonde will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Wilmington , Delaware , on November 15. Through this program, Mannington Mills hopes these stories will raise awareness and encourage others to make a difference.

We truly appreciate all of your help and support. If you voted, we thank you. If you passed the word along to others, please pass along our thanks to them as well. Your votes made a huge difference. Thanks to you, Seedlings will receive a $10,000 donation from Mannington which will enable us to produce 1,000 braille books! [emphasis mine]

Best wishes,

Julie Connoyer
Community Outreach
Seedlings Braille Books For Children

Congratulations to Debra Bonde and Seedlings and a big THANK YOU to everyone who helped make a difference in a blind child's life.