Press Release

The Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program Honors its Outstanding Distributors for FY 2003

February 27, 2004
For immediate release
Contact: Eric Beale, Commercial Distribution Coordinator
Phone: (703) 603-7743
Fax: (703) 603-0655
Email: ebeale@jwod.gov

Arlington, VA--The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (the Committee) is pleased to announce that nine of its commercial office supply distribution partners have met the criteria for the Committee's "Outstanding Distributor" designation for Fiscal Year 2003, based on their continual efforts to support the JWOD Program. The commercial distributors that have achieved this distinction include three large businesses: Boise Cascade, Corporate Express and Office Depot; and six small businesses: Caddo Design & Office Products, KM2 Incorporated, Metro Office Products, Miller's Office Products, Northeast Office Supply Co. and Stephens Office Supply.

To earn the Committee's "Outstanding Distributor" designation, distributors must: 1) maintain substantial JWOD product sales, 2) ensure that Federal customers receive the appropriate JWOD items, 3) produce high quality catalogs that make it easy for Federal customers to find the JWOD products they require, and 4) market the JWOD Program through a variety of efforts.

"The Committee appreciates the efforts that these valued commercial partners have made to support the JWOD Program and its mission to create employment opportunities for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities," said Leon A. Wilson, Jr., Executive Director of the Committee. For more information about the JWOD Distributor Program, including links to the web sites of the Outstanding Distributors mentioned above, please visit www.jwod.gov/distributors.

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The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled is the independent Federal agency that administers the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program, which creates jobs and training opportunities for persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. The Committee's primary means of achieving its employment goal is through facilitating Government purchases of supplies and services from nonprofit agencies employing such individuals.