Stuttering Foundation President Joins Actor Colin Firth to Raise Money for Children Who Stutter

For Immediate Release 
Contact: Greg Wilson 
greg@curleycompany.com
(571) 239-7474

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (February 25, 2015) — Four years after winning an Oscar for his role as the monarch who stuttered in The King’s Speech, Colin Firth (pictured with Stuttering Foundation President Jane Fraser) launched a major fundraising campaign on behalf of Action for Stammering Children aimed at increasing support and training for speech and language therapy at an event in London.

Funding recipients of the campaign – titled ‘Unlock a Child’s Voice’ – include the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children. Firth and Fraser are both Vice Presidents of the Michael Palin Centre.

“The King’s Speech was a turning point in history for the stuttering community, bringing worldwide attention, mainstream understanding and hope for those that struggle to speak,” said Fraser. “Colin’s commitment to helping children is key to helping families unlock the mystery of stuttering,” added Fraser.

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DOWNLOAD picture of actor Colin Firth and Stuttering Foundation President Jane Fraser at London Fundraiser for Stuttering Children

PHOTO CREDIT: Daniel Leal-Olivas/Press Association

Foundation Spokesperson Jane Fraser  
Jane Fraser is president of The Stuttering Foundation and co-author of If Your Child Stutters: A Guide for Parents, 8th edition. She is also vice president of the Action for Stammering Children, Michael Palin Centre, London.

About the Stuttering Foundation  
Malcolm Fraser, a successful businessman and stutterer, established and endowed the nonprofit Stuttering Foundation in 1947. The Stuttering Foundation provides a toll-free helpline, 800-992-9392, and free online resources on its Website, www.StutteringHelp.org, including services, referrals and support to people who stutter and their families, as well as support for research into the causes of stuttering.

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From BillWalton.com

Thank you for your interest in my life long problem with my speech and communication skills. I was a very shy and reserved young man who could not speak at all without severely stuttering until I was 28 years old. Always a success in the classroom and on the basketball court, I took refuge in the things that I did well as a youngster. A straight A student, my athletic abilities covered the deficiencies that limited my overall growth and development. The game of basketball was my religion, the gym my church. It was a convenient way of avoiding my responsibilities of developing my human relation skills.

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