Rodger DeRose to discuss Disability Employment on CNBC, on August 27

Tune in to CNBC's Power Lunch TODAY at 1pm EST

WEST ORANGE, N.J.—Rodger DeRose, president and chief executive officer of Kessler Foundation, will be interviewed live on CNBC's Power Lunch, on Tuesday, August 27th at 1:30pm EST, from the New York Stock Exchange. He will discuss:

• Why employing people with disabilities is a good business decision
• How Kessler Foundation is expanding opportunities through funding disability employment initiatives, sponsoring governors' conferences to discuss ideas to increase employment for people with disabilities, and working with the US Business Leadership Network and Chamber of Commerce
• The current employment environment for people with disabilities, based on the monthly National Trends in Disability Employment (NTIDE) update--a joint effort between Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability

DeRose will be joined by Gregory Wasson, the CEO of Walgreens. In the Walgreens distribution centers that made a conserted effort to hire people with disabilities, productivity, dedication, and safety ratings increased while absenteeism and turnover decreased.

Of the 56 million Americans with disabilities--the largest minority group in the nation--only 20 percent are employed. According to the July and August NTIDE reports, more people with disabilities are actively looking for work but less are working. This shows that people with disabilities want to work but they are not finding the opportunities.

Since 2005, Kessler Foundation has distributed more than $27 million in funding to organizations that create or expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities nationwide.

Tune in to CNBC tomorrow at 1:30pm EST to hear more on this important topic.