CID RECEIVES $10,000 GRANT AND VOLUNTEER SUPPORT FROM MARITZ INC.

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, August 2006 – Central Institute for the Deaf (CID) has received a $10,000 grant from Maritz Inc. in support of the school’s technology upgrade. The company’s gift has been augmented by the support of more than a dozen Maritz volunteers.

During the first week of August, volunteers from Maritz provided two days of on-site and remote technical support for CID’s long-awaited technology upgrade. Phase one of the upgrade included new network servers and the acquisition and deployment of 48 new workstations for CID staff and eight new laptops for the student computer lab. Phase two will feature the installation of SmartBoards in classrooms used by CID’s primary school students (ages 6 to 12). 

 “Our teachers, staff and students have been waiting for new computers for a long time,” said CID executive director Robin M. Feder, MS, CFRE. “Thanks to the generous support of Maritz and bequests we have received this year, we were able purchase the equipment we need to educate our deaf and hard of hearing students. Now teachers can download lesson plans, access educational web sites, use supplemental textbook resources and integrate educational software into their curriculum. The laptops will give them the flexibility to bring computer-based lessons out of the computer lab and into the classroom. SmartBoards will allow our teachers to use computer resources while still maintaining face-to-face contact with students, an essential part of CID’s teaching methodology.”

Beth L. Rusert, vice president, public relations and corporate communications for Maritz, welcomed the chance to partner with CID. “One of Maritz’ philanthropic goals is to help empower the people of St. Louis to reach their fullest potential. CID empowers its students every day by teaching them the communication skills they need to compete and thrive independently in a predominately hearing society. This was a win-win situation. Maritz had the opportunity to help CID improve its organizational capacity, which in turn provided a meaningful volunteer opportunity for our employees.” 

Volunteer Rita McCoy agreed. “This volunteer opportunity has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever been a part of, and I have learned so much about CID,” she said.

Founded in 1914, Central Institute for the Deaf (CID) is located at the southern tip of the Washington University Medical Center complex within the city of St. Louis. CID is where hearing-impaired children from birth to age 12 learn to listen, talk and achieve literacy without the use of sign language. The work of the school is augmented by services that include speech and language therapy, pediatric audiology, mainstream assistance, continuing education for teachers and professional consultation for schools. CID’s educational tools are used to help deaf children in all 50 states, all provinces of Canada, six provinces of Australia and 33 countries. For more information, visit www.cid.edu.

CID teachers and pediatric audiologists have faculty appointments, provide practicum opportunities and collaborate with researchers in childhood deafness at CID at Washington University School of Medicine. CID at Washington University School of Medicine programs are affiliated with, but financially separate from Central Institute for the Deaf (CID) in St. Louis, Missouri.

Maritz Inc., based in St. Louis, is ranked No. 265 on the most recent Forbes list of 500 Largest Private Companies. Maritz provides market and customer research, communications, learning solutions, incentive initiatives, meetings and event management, rewards and recognition, travel management services and customer loyalty programs. Maritz has key offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany, with alliances in Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific and the Americas. For more information, visit www.maritz.com or contact us at 1-877-4MARITZ.