Re: FWD: NVDA needs you

>    As you are all aware, NV Access, the organisation which develops NVDA,
>    is a non-profit organisation which is predicated on making software for
>    the blind that requires no extra cost than the purchase of a computer.
>    What you may not know, however, is that to do this, we must seek grants
>    or donations from larger organisations to survive. Unfortunately, the
>    present financial climate has meant that these grants are much less
>    forthcoming than in the past, despite the accolades that NVDA has
>    received over the past couple of years.

>    Jamie and Mick, the core developers of NVDA, are essentially paid
>    minimum wage for their experience, knowledge and skills, which they are
>    prepared to accept because they love the fact that they are making a
>    positive contribution to the blind community and the accessibility
>    industry more generally. Despite their willingness to carry on,
>    however, there will be no money to pay them after July 2011 unless we
>    receive some financial assistance. Rest assured, we will be seeking
>    grants from and alliances with other companies, but the stark reality
>    is that these may not come to fruition in time to save NVDA. In short,
>    we desperately need your help.

>    For the last release of NVDA, our records indicate that there were
>    50,000 downloads. Even if we discount 20,000 for those who may have
>    downloaded NVDA multiple times, we are left with 30,000 individual
>    users. If every user donated $10 today, we would have $300,000 that we
>    could use to pay Jamie and Mick to continue to develop NVDA full time
>    for the foreseeable future.

>    We are very proud that we provide a free and open source screen reader
>    for our community and for the accessibility industry to use. The
>    principles that underlie the decision to make NVDA free and open source
>    are as important to the committee of NV Access now as they were when
>    Mick first envisaged the potential of NVDA. However, for NVDA to be
>    developed in the way that you have become accustomed, we need your
>    help. We are not being greedy or exploitative, merely pragmatic and
>    honest. Please think of how NVDA might have helped you, or may help
>    others, and donate today.

>    We sincerely thank you for any contribution you can make.

>    The NV Access Committee
> Your continued donations help keep NVDA development going strong. Donate at:
> http://www.nvaccess.org/wiki/Donate
> Or by purchasing voices from Ivona TTS:
> http://www.ivona.com/accessibility.php
> Use the following link with the code STOR-4NS3-DSCT to save 10% on Voices from nextup.com:
> http://is.gd/6pU86
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