JWOD (Javits-Wagner-O'Day): Creating Jobs and Training for People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled Link to Site Map  
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2003 JWOD Outstanding Contributions Award Recipients

Photograph of Debbie BantzDebbie Bantz
Supervisory Contract Specialist
General Services Administration, Great Lakes Region
Property Management Division
Contract Support Services Branch

As a result of Ms. Bantz's influence and efforts over the past five years, the GSA Great Lakes Region has either grown or maintained approximately $17 million of janitorial contracts employing approximately 1200-1500 people with disabilities. Also during this time, Ms. Bantz played an integral part in the establishment of the Partners in Service Excellence Award and provided valuable input on Quality Assurance requirements for GSA contracts as part of the JWOD/PBS Working Group. These activities will allow JWOD-participating nonprofit agencies to provide GSA tenants with the excellence and quality they deserve while creating greater employment opportunities for people with severe disabilities.

Photograph of Lori DonovanLori Donovan
Contract Specialist
Acquisition Division
Bureau of the Census
Department of Commerce

As a result of Ms. Donovan's strong and consistent advocacy on behalf of people with severe disabilities, the JWOD Program was awarded a contract for the conversion of approximately 5.5 million images captured from Census 2000 forms to microfilm for long-term storage. This contract has had a great impact on the lives of 24 individuals with severe disabilities, allowing them to be financially independent, while providing the Bureau of the Census with the services it needs to meet its important mission. Ms. Donovan's continued advocacy for the JWOD Program for new and innovative initiatives within the Bureau of the Census will help create future job opportunities for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities.

Photograph of Harry VeneriHarry Veneri
Product Manager for Accessories
Defense Supply Center Philadelphia
Defense Logistics Agency

Mr. Veneri was the first person in the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia's (DSCP) Clothing and Textile Directorate to create jobs for people who are blind or severely disabled in the service arena. In adhering to DSCP's effort to streamline costs, Mr. Veneri approached NIB and Travis Association for the Blind (TAB) in Austin, TX, which produces many of the military's belts, and asked TAB to maintain a storage and distribution facility for military apparel. This partnership resulted in the Virtual Prime Vendor Accessories Program which, since awarded in to TAB in 1997, has lead to improved customer distribution channels, dependable quality customer service, reduced costs, and diversified jobs for people who are blind. In addition to the storage and distribution project, Mr. Veneri was the project manager for two other initiatives which resulted in the employment of a large number of people who are blind - Improved Physical Fitness Uniforms and Man's Brown Undershirts. Work on this product creates approximately three hundred jobs for people who are blind at 12 JWOD-associated nonprofit agencies.

Seal of The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled The Committee for Purchase From PeopleWho Are Blind or Severely Disabled
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