MEMPHIS, Tenn. (December 19, 2012) — The Stuttering Foundation,
www.StutteringHelp.org, celebrates its
65th anniversary this year, marking more than six decades as the world’s foremost non-profit dedicated to helping those who stutter.
Founded on December 27, 1947, with an initial bank deposit of $2,500 by the late auto parts magnate Malcolm Fraser, himself a stutterer, the Stuttering Foundation has been run by Fraser’s daughter, Jane for more than 30 years. Over the decades, the Foundation has provided help and support to persons who stutter in a number of ways.
"Our goal is simple, to provide effective and accurate materials, up-to-date training and hope to those who stutter, their families, and the dedicated therapists who help them,” said Foundation President Jane Fraser.
Today, the Foundation:
• publishes and distributes more than half a million books and brochures on stuttering therapy each year, reaching readers in all 50 states and more than 136 nations;
• responds annually to more than 25,000 telephone calls to its toll-free Helpline (800-992-9392) from those who stutter, their families, and speech-language pathologists;
• publishes quarterly
newsletters about major developments in the stuttering community for its vast distribution list;
• has a streaming video library on its website and its
YouTube channel and has placed video programs in more than 8,500 public libraries that provide help for stuttering; more than 273,809 people have viewed the
YouTube channel this year alone;
• has conducted more than 1,000
media interviews with television and radio stations, newspapers, websites, magazines and bloggers during the past year to raise awareness of stuttering and its treatment;
• generates hundreds and hundreds each in print and television/radio public service announcements regarding how people who stutter can receive help;
• Has offered intensive training programs to speech therapists in all 50 states and more than 40 countries;
The Stuttering Foundation also provides a list of
famous people who stutter on its website, which is often used by journalists in articles about stuttering. Many of the statesmen and celebrities listed have served the stuttering community as spokespeople to raise awareness about the disorder and its treatment.
“There are few in life who are as determined to apply a no-nonsense, businesslike mind to the cause of helping others,” said long-time friend and Foundation board member Jimmy Garrison. “Stuttering didn’t prevent Malcolm from realizing his dreams; in a sense, it liberated him. It opened the doors to a fruitful career that has touched millions, and he left a legacy – the work of the Stuttering Foundation – that will keep his mission and goals alive in perpetuity.”
“We remain dedicated to the vision my father, Malcolm, had in 1947 – giving a voice to people who stutter and continuously working to update the means by which we reach out to the stuttering community and the public with our messages of hope and inspiration for the nearly 70 million people worldwide who stutter, and their families,” added Jane Fraser.
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Foundation Spokesperson Jane Fraser
About the Foundation
Malcolm Fraser, a successful businessman and stutterer, went on to establish and endow 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. Please visit us at
www.StutteringHelp.org.
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