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The True Legacy of Lazaro Arbos
For Immediate Release
Contact: Greg Wilson
gregwilsonpr@gmail.com 
571-239-7474

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (April 11, 2013) — Jane Fraser, president of the Stuttering Foundation, had the following reaction to the departure of Lazaro Arbos from American Idol Season 12:

“Bravo, Lazaro, Bravo!!
In Support of American Idol Finalist Lazaro Arbos, Stuttering Foundation Receives $10,000 Donation from Rita’s Italian Ice
Photo caption: Rita's Chairman Tom Christopoul (right) presents Stuttering Foundation President Jane Fraser (second from right) with a $10,000 donation on behalf of American Idol finalist Lazaro Arbos. They are joined by Lazaro's parents Gisela Andraca and Reinaldo (left) at the Rita's Italian Ice in Naples, Fla. Download photo
In Support of American Idol Finalist Lazaro Arbos, Stuttering Foundation Receives $10,000 Donation from Rita’s Italian Ice
For Immediate Release
Contact: Greg Wilson
gregwilsonpr@gmail.com 
571-239-7474
Stuttering Foundation Receives $10,000 Donation from Rita’s Italian Ice
Stuttering Foundation president Jane Fraser accepted a $10,000 donation today from Tom Christopoul, Chairman of Rita’s Italian Ice. Mr. Christopoul presented Ms. Fraser with the donation at Rita’s Naples outlet, where American Idol top ten finalist Lazaro Arbos worked as a Treat Team Member.
Stuttering Foundation Offers Six Tips for American Idol Judges When Speaking with Those Who Stutter
For Immediate Release
Contact: Greg Wilson
gregwilsonpr@gmail.com
571-239-7474

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Feb. 6, 2013) — American Idol contestant Lazaro Arbos threw the judges — and the worldwide TV audience — for a loop when he stuttered during his audition on the show a few weeks ago.
Singing and Stuttering: What We Know
The recent success of American Idol hopeful Lazaro Arbos has the entire country talking about singing and stuttering.
ASHA in Atlanta
The 2012 convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) was held Nov. 15-18 in Atlanta. This year the Stuttering Foundation had a great location with a 30-foot, corner booth.
Some Words From Our Blogger Voon Pang
Hello everyone, my name is Voon Pang and I have been blogging for the Stuttering Foundation since August of this year. I am a Speech Language Pathologist working for the Stuttering Treatment and Research Trust in Auckland, New Zealand.
Czech Republic Celebrates International Stuttering Awareness Day
The ancient Moravian city of Brno in the Czech Republic was the setting for an exciting workshop focusing on stuttering in the days leading up to International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD). The 10th annual conference of the Speech Therapists Association of the Czech Republic was held Friday, Oct. 19, 2012.
American Idol Contestant is 'Already a Winner' to Stuttering Community

Click here: Singing and Stuttering: What We Know

Click here: Latest News on Lazaro

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CELEBRITY FOCUS

Byron Pitts

Byron Pitts has brought much attention to stuttering with his memoir, Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life’s Challenges, released in September, 2009. The book not only details his speech difficulties, but also his illiteracy until age 12 and his unstable family life. Pitts overcame the odds to become the chief national correspondent with ABC News.

John Melendez

He is a talented musician, actor, and comedian. Listen to a podcast.

Bill Walton

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.

When I was 28, a chance encounter at a social event with Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Glickman completely changed my life in so many ways that things have never been the same since, nor have they ever been better. That day, in a very brief, private conversation (one way, mind you, since I literally could not speak at the time) Marty explained, patiently and concisely, that talking, communicating was a skill not a gift or a birthright and that like any skill, whether it be sports, music, business or whatever, needed to be developed over a lifetime of hard work, discipline, organization and practice. Marty gave me some simple tips that day and then encouraged me to take those keys and apply them to methods of learning that I had received from the special teachers that I had come across in my life, particularly the 6 Hall of Fame basketball coaches that I had played for throughout my career. The beginning of my whole new life was as simple as that. No gimmicks, tricks or shortcuts. Just the realization that with some help, guidance and a lot of hard work that I too could do what seemed so easy, simple and natural to everyone else, yet seemed impossibly out of my reach and comprehension.

Frank Wolf

This Virginian congressman has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1981. The longtime supporter of the Stuttering Foundation drew national attention to childhood stuttering in 2006 when he submitted an article about Tiger Woods from the SFA newsletter to the Congressional Record. The congressman is featured in the Stuttering Foundation's Famous People Who Stutter brochure.

Emily Blunt

Actress Emily Blunt struggled with stuttering early in her life. A teacher encouraged her to act in a school play at age 12 despite her stuttering.

Blunt’s name is prominently featured on the Stuttering Foundation's list of Famous People Who Stutter.