The D.E.A.F. Awards is scheduled for September 13, 2008. Join us for an evening of entertainment!
  Deaf Initiatives, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
DEAF Awards

On September 23, 2006, Deaf Initiatives hosted the 5th biennial D.E.A.F. Awards, an evening of entertainment featuring CJ Jones, from 7:30 - 9:00 pm at the Columbus Marriott Northwest. The D.E.A.F. Awards is an extension of the transition weekend, Making a Difference with Your Future. More than 400 members of the Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing communities attended the Awards in 2006.

Deaf Initiatives was thrilled to welcome internationally known actor and comedian CJ Jones! CJ Jones is an internationally known deaf entertainer who has been delighting audiences young and old with his unique style of visual imagery and storytelling for over 25 years.

CJ Jones
CJ Jones
CJ is known primarily as a comedian, actor, producer, director and motivational keynote speaker. He has traveled with the National Theatre of the Deaf and toured with "Children of a Lesser God" on Broadway. He has also appeared on NBC's Fraiser", the PBS television shows "Sesame Street" and "Rainbow's End", and was the host of "Happy Hands Kids Klub".

The D.E.A.F. Awards is also an opportunity for the students participating in the Making a Difference with Your Future workshop to showcase their skills. Through a brief question and answer period, the students compete for wonderful prizes. Each student is required to answer one of the 4 following questions.

D.E.A.F. Awards
Deaf Awards - Photo 1 Deaf Awards - Photo 2
D- How will Determination will Make a Difference with Your Future?
E-How will Enthusiasm will Make a Difference with Your Future?
A-How will Attitude will Make a Difference with Your Future?
F-How will You Make a Difference with Your Future?
Deaf Awards - Photo 3 Deaf Awards - Photo 4

The next DEAF Awards is scheduled for September 13, 2008. This event is open to the public and is a wonderful way to show support for youth who are deaf or hard of hearing. Tickets to the D.E.A.F. Awards are available through Deaf Initiatives. All tickets sold are eligible for fabulous door prizes throughout the evening. The money raised from this event will be used to support deaf and hard of hearing youth around Ohio through the Making a Difference with Your Future transition weekend and other projects offered by Deaf Initiatives. To purchase tickets, or for more information, contact Meredith Crane at Thedeafund@aol.com

2006 D.E.A.F. Award Winners
Deaf Awards Winners
© 2007 Deaf Initiatives