Ken Venturi: A Champion to Those Who Stutter

For Immediate Release
Contact: Greg Wilson
gregwilsonpr@gmail.com
571-239-7474

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (May 18, 2013) – Jane Fraser, president, the Stuttering Foundation (www.StutteringHelp.org), issued the following remarks concerning the passing of Ken Venturi, the first spokesman for the Foundation:

“The stuttering community lost a real champion in Ken Venturi.

“Nearly 30 years ago, Ken became our first “Famous Person Who Stutters” – a ever-growing list of more than 100 well-known people who provide hope and courage to the 68 million people who stutter worldwide. He was one of the first to offer his help to the stuttering community, and remained faithful to the cause for decades.

Ken faced no bigger obstacle than stuttering. Ken Venturi is a hero to those who stutter, going out of his way to share his personal experience when consulted by a colleague, friend, or child who stutters.

“Ken was the first national spokesman for the Stuttering Foundation nearly three decades ago. As was his way, he offered to fill that role for us because his concern for those who stutter was unparalleled. In a letter dated July 1986, Ken wrote my father, our founder Malcolm Fraser, saying he wished to do whatever he could to help those who stutter.”

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About the Foundation  

Malcolm Fraser, a successful businessman and stutterer, went on to establish and endow the nonprofit Stuttering Foundation in 1947. The Stuttering Foundation provides a toll-free helpline, 800-992-9392, and free online resources on its Website, www.StutteringHelp.org, including services, referrals and support to people who stutter and their families, as well as support for research into the causes of stuttering. Please visit us at www.StutteringHelp.org.

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