In June 2005, a special Benevon 101 Workshop was held for twenty-two units from Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic^®, a national organization that records textbooks for students with "print disabilities" (those who can't effectively read standard print because of a disability). Now, the various teams are sharing and celebrating their successes—such as the Kentucky Unit, which had a small fundraising event with a big payoff.

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic was established in 1948 to help veterans who were blinded during WWII to take advantage of the newly passed GI Bill of Rights, which guaranteed a college education to all veterans of the war. These veterans didn't read braille, so Anne T. Macdonald, a member of the New York Public Library's Women's Auxiliary, mobilized women to record textbooks in the library's attic.

Today, the organization has twenty-nine recording studios, in addition to the national headquarters, and serves more than 141,000 people—including students (in kindergarten through graduate school and beyond) and working professionals. In 1995, the organization changed its name from Recording for the Blind to Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) in response to the growing needs of students with learning disabilities. Today, more than 70% of RFB&D's members have been diagnosed with a learning disability.

In June 2005, Benevon held a 101 Organizational Workshop in Philadelphia specifically tailored for twenty-two RFB&D units from across the U.S. Through templates and conference calls, the RFB&D units are now sharing best practices in fundraising and hearing about the successes of the first units to hold fundraising Ask Events^™, such as the Kentucky Unit.

Founded in 1952, the Kentucky Unit has a $300,000 budget with well over 70% coming from grants and foundations. They serve 1,000 students but have literally just scratched the surface of the need for their services. Martha Stephenson, the executive director, said the Kentucky Department of Education estimates more than 40,000 schoolchildren need a "reading accommodation" because of a print disability. Stephenson said so many more children could increase their confidence, independence, and success by having a portable player to listen to RFB&D's AudioPlus^® textbooks on CD.

The unit in Kentucky has a small staff of five, but they formed a Benevon team with board members, volunteers, and staff to carry out the model.

"It's a great, energetic team," said Stephenson.

The Kentucky Unit, like the other RFB&D units that attended the 101 Workshop, holds introductory Point of Entry Events called "Learning Through Listening Hours." Because the Kentucky Unit is located on the campus for the Kentucky School for the Blind, guests hear from a student who has benefited from the recorded textbooks and take a tour of the studio, which has seven recording booths open Monday through Saturday.

The Kentucky Unit held its one-hour Ask Event on November 9 in Louisville. They had sixty-eight guests and raised a little more than $71,000 in gifts and pledges for five years.

"We were elated with the results," said Stephenson. "We weren't surprised that people were moved because we are confident about our organization and our work. But we were surprised by the generosity of people who were new to RFB&D."

Of the sixty-eight people in attendance, twenty-five were new to RFB&D.

Stephenson said that what probably protected them from the much talked-about donor fatigue after the recent string of natural disasters was that 32% of the people at their Ask Event had attended an RFB&D Point of Entry^®, far beyond the 20% minimum year-one benchmark set by Benevon. Thus, many Ask Event guests were already connected to the organization.

Other RFB&D units reported similar results. At the November 9 Ask Event in Denver, RFB&D's Rocky Mountain Unit raised $109,000 in gifts and pledges from 115 people—also a huge success.

"It was a great event with lots of positive impact," said Betsy Boudreau, the Rocky Mountain Unit's executive director. "We followed the recipe just as you all said."