Sprint to Sponsor MICA RUNWAY 2006

From: DeafVision Filmworks - Dec 27, 2005

Media Contact: Trudy Suggs
T.S. Writing Services
media@micarunway2006.com
media@trudysuggs.com
(507) 334-2366 FAX

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sprint to Sponsor MICA RUNWAY 2006
Event held by DeafVision Filmworks, Inc./JADE Films
 
Dec. 27, 2005 [New York City] – DeafVision Filmworks announced today that Sprint is a sponsor for this year’s Millennium International Caribbean Africa (MICA) Runway 2006. “This is always an exciting event that brings together people from all corners of the world,” said event chair Ann Marie Bryan, also known as Jade. “It’s also a great opportunity to see new work, network and have a great time.”

MICA Runway 2006, a community affair celebrating and recognizing diversity of all colors, shapes, sizes and backgrounds, will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2006 in Manhattan, and is being hosted by DeafVision Filmworks, Inc., and JADE Films. “MICA Runway 2006 will entail a fashion showcase of wardrobes by renowned designers and sponsoring boutiques,” Jade added. “Also, visual, performing, and literary artworks will be displayed by various artists who are deaf and hard of hearing.”

Funds raised from the event will help support the completion of two films produced by DeafVision Filmworks, "Somalia" and "9/11 Fear in Silence: The Forgotten Underdogs.” Cash prizes will be awarded by DeafVision and JADE Films for the talent portion of the evening, which includes American Sign Language poetry, dance, drama and film screening showcase. More notably, a scholarship will be awarded to a student artist who is deaf or hard of hearing in support of her/his future artistic aspirations.

“Sprint is proud to be a sponsor of this year’s MICA Runway event,” said Mike Ligas, director of Sprint Relay Services. “As the largest provider of relay communications services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community nationwide, our team works every day to ensure that communications are accessible and reliable for those who are deaf and hard of hearing. This event provides a new way for Sprint to help open new, untraditional lines of communication.”

Added to this year’s list of awards is an award in remembrance of Sarah Marie Pack, who was a dedicated publicist and editor contributing many years of service to DeafVision Filmworks/Jade Films. The Sarah Marie Pack Writing Award will be given to a student writer who is deaf or hard of hearing, selected by a panel of MICA judges. Monetary donations are also being accepted to contribute directly to this award.

“What I’d like to see accomplished at the MICA Runway 2006 event is that we see a significant improvement or change within the deaf, hard of hearing and hearing communities to learn to support each other,” said Jade. “I’d also like to see the building of a bridge where entrepreneurship, network and leadership are developed, since these are crucial factors of success. We need not be too segregated when people, especially those who are artists, turn to each other for support.”

More information is available at www. micarunway2006.com.

About MICA

The Millennium International Caribbean Africa is an Image that is engulfed with the celebration and recognition of diversity. Similar to our collective visions, in geology, MICA defines various groups of minerals extracted rocks that resist heat by withstanding the pressures of high temperature and/or environmental erosions. MICA strongly feels that as a group of people we, too, represent perseverance and determination.

About DeafVision Filmworks, Inc. & JADE Films

DeafVision Filmworks, founded in 1991, caters to filmmakers of color to develop stories that are overlooked, ignored, or suppressed by the media gatekeepers. DeafVision Filmworks is a New York-based non-profit corporation founded by African American Ann Marie “Jade” Bryan, who believes in the importance of educating the general public about the cultural experiences of Deaf and Hard of Hearing population. JADE Films, where the passion of words are turned into action, is an independent film production company that strives to raise consciousness about African Americans and Latinos who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, whether culturally Deaf or with varied degrees of hearing loss who do not identify with deaf culture.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business and government customers. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks offering industry leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone.

Sprint Nextel has more than 15 years of experience in providing relay services to persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind, or who have a speech disability to communicate with hearing persons on the phone. Relay service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no restrictions on the number of calls placed or call length. For more information, visit www.sprintrelay.com.

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