FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MuchMoreMusic Announces Winner of First Annual AccessAbility Scholarship

Photo available @
www.muchmoremusic.com/media

(TORONTO - January 17, 2006) MuchMoreMusic and The National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) are pleased to announce that Carrie Moffatt of Victoria, BC is the winner of the 2005 MuchMoreMusic AccessAbility Scholarship.

This scholarship awards $3,000 (CDN) in tuition to an applicant with a permanent disability who best demonstrates skill, talent, excellence and enthusiasm in pursuing a future in the broadcast industry. This initiative builds on parent-company CHUM Television’s commitment to encouraging participation of persons with disabilities in Canadian broadcasting. NEADS advocates for full access to post-secondary education for disabled students, and helps graduates make the transition to the employment market. The scholarship launched September 1, 2005 with a deadline of November 1; NEADS selected the finalists and a MuchMoreMusic panel chose the recipient.

Moffatt is an Applied Communications student at Victoria’s Camosun College. She has been hearing impaired since birth, and started losing her vision at age 16. The combination of hearing loss and the retinitis pigmentosa that caused her tunnel vision led to a November 2004 diagnosis of Usher Syndrome Type 2, an extremely rare genetic condition for which there is no cure or treatment.

“I forged on and took positive action,” says Moffatt in her application. “I am very determined and driven, and I will not let my diminishing sight restrict me...I am looking forward to initiating positive change for people with disabilities, the environment, and the local and global community.”

Among Moffatt's many accomplishments are fundraising for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Victoria, published journalism and a work-stay in Costa Rica.

“We are pleased to have Carrie Moffatt as the recipient of our first annual AccessAbility Scholarship,” says David Kines, Vice President, Music and Youth Specialty Channels, CHUM Television. “This intelligent, capable and enthusiastic young woman has an exciting future ahead of her, and we are delighted that this scholarship can help her reach her goals.”

For information on next year’s scholarship, interested students should go to: www.muchmoremusic.com/scholarship or contact Jenna Wong, MuchMoreMusic Public Relations.

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Contact:

Frank Smith
National Coordinator, NEADS
(613) 526-8008
info@neads.ca

Jenna Wong
MuchMoreMusic Public Relations
(416) 591-7400 x2798
jennaw@muchmoremusic.com