Pre-Game Celebration for Teen Phenomenon on 66-Foot Allegheny River Houseboat at PNC Park Dock

Pre-Game Celebration for Teen Phenomenon on 66-Foot Allegheny River Houseboat at PNC Park Dock

Hometown Girl Without a Voice to Sing National Anthem for Hometown Team, Pittsburgh Pirates

PITTSBURGH, July 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Who: Sara Pyszka, the 19-year old singer/composer from Pittsburgh, PA who does not have the use of her natural voice due to cerebral palsy. Sara speaks with the aid of a DynaVox speech generator and moves with a motorized wheelchair.

What: In celebration of Sara's first hometown Major League Baseball performance, her aunt and uncle, Karen and Frank Auffenberg, owners of the 66-foot houseboat, Auff and Running will host family and friends aboard the craft at the PNC Park Dock, before Sara's performance.

When: Tuesday, July 19, 2005 On Houseboat 2:00 - 3:45PM Inside Park starting at 4:30 PM

Where: Allegheny River Landing at PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Why: Sara has become an inspiration for countless people, both with disabilities and without. Her mother, Cindy, says, "If everybody had one-tenth of Sara's determination, the world would be a better place."

How: Sara composes on her DynaVox speech generator which she controls by means of a switch on her wheelchair's headrest. She can input notes, time signatures, tempi, lyrics, volume, intonation and virtually all other musical elements. Once she has composed or styled a piece, her DynaVox synthesizes Sara's chosen voice and outputs the song electronically.

More: For photos, music, video and background please go to: http://www.sara-sings.com/.

Interviews: Sara is available for interviews at houseboat and game. For appointments and B-roll please call Tom Imerito at 412-833-4932.

SUGGESTED LEAD AND LINK TO FULL STORY:

High school graduation, acceptance to Wright State University and a singing performance in a national venue before thousands of hometown Major League Baseball fans is surely cause for celebration. And because Pittsburgh's Sara Pyszka has achieved all of those accomplishments, her family is pulling out the stops for her on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 when Sara will sing the National Anthem on her DynaVox speech generator before a Pirates/Astros double header. The celebration will take place at the PNC Park Landing aboard the 66-foot houseboat, named Auff and Running, owned by her aunt and uncle, Karen and Frank Auffenberg of Upper Saint Clair, Pennsylvania.

For full story, please go to http://www.sara-sings.com/pirates.htm

Source: DynaVox Technologies

CONTACT: Tom Imerito of Quest Fore, Inc., +1-412-833-4932, or tomi@questfore.com ; or Joanne Kaufmann of DynaVox Technologies, +1-412-222-7952, or joanne.kaufmann@dynavoxsys.com

Web site: http://www.sara-sings.com/ http://www.sara-sings.com/pirates.htm

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