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HHF News
Refreshed Visual Identity Introduced
To uphold and continue to communicate our commitments to excellence and innovation, Hearing Health Foundation (HHF) presents refreshed branding to reflect our ambition to fund cutting-edge research and to make hearing health treatments and prevention top of mind for everyone, no matter their age, gender, location, or circumstances. The logos were created pro bono by award-winning agency The Escape Pod, based in Chicago, and were launched in February 2021 and appear with this issue of the magazine.
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Crisp and modern, the refreshed designs are consistent with our mission of progress through research. The main logo’s symbol can be interpreted multiple ways, echoing how each individual’s hearing health experience is unique.
Similarly, research findings are dynamic, ever evolving, and inform multiple scientific questions. The refreshed designs for HHF’s hallmark research programs, the Hearing Restoration Project and Emerging Research Grants, unify these two programs while also demonstrating their distinct identities. (To see the program logos together, please turn to pages 42–43.)
Having given life to so many prominent advances in hearing and balance research since 1958, HHF remains committed to the preservation of our history in our communications, and continues to emphasize “Prevention | Research | Cure” in our tagline. Our refreshed branding embraces a proactive approach to hearing health while underscoring the continuing need for forward motion in scientific research.
Second Annual Thankathon
HHF is incredibly thankful for our community of supporters. Our life-changing hearing and balance research simply would not exist without the generosity of our donors. To communicate our gratitude in a special way, we held our annual Thankathon in October 2020, and for the second year HHF volunteers, Board of Directors, and staff again made contact with about 800 individuals who contributed to our work over the past year. Thanks again to everyone who helped further our mission during an especially challenging time. We are always so happy to chat with donors who also receive the magazine, which has so far resulted in at least one story shared by a friend of HHF. Please see the article by Jayne Sowers, Ed.D., about her fellow pioneers of early intervention for infants and toddlers with hearing loss, on page 30.
Lisa Goodrich, Ph.D., a professor of neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, became scientific director of the Hearing Restoration Project (HRP) in January 2021 and facilitated the annual HRP meeting in mid-March. She had since 2016 served as a member of HHF’s Scientific Advisory Board, which is the body of hearing and balance experts that provides guidance and support to the HRP. Goodrich succeeds Peter Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., the HRP scientific director since 2011, and he will in turn join the Scientific Advisory Board. Please learn more about Goodrich and the HRP on page 38.
A Heartfelt Tribute to Kerry Gifford
HHF would like to honor the life and family of Kerry Gifford, who passed away in July 2020 at the age of 72. Gifford generously named HHF as the recipient of his estate, and we sincerely thank his niece Patti Duer for providing details about her uncle’s life. Gifford was the youngest of five children and all had a hearing loss since childhood except one, who was color blind. Gifford was born in the city of Ogden, in northern Utah, on January 21, 1947, and spent most of his life in the area. He graduated from Ogden High School and attended Weber State College, also in Ogden. He worked at Hill Air Force Base outside the city for 26 years before becoming self-employed as a day trader, a job he loved, and living in Farmington, just south of Ogden.
Gifford’s wife of four decades, Clara, a retired schoolteacher, passed away two years before him. He had taken care of her while she endured a long, painful battle with stomach cancer. He had always enjoyed traveling with her and missed her intensely. Gifford’s other passion was cars, and for years he drove a red Buick Reatta. He also enjoyed cooking, learning about beer and wine, skiing in the mountains close by, and bowling. He earned many trophies with his local bowling league.
Gifford was preceded in death by his father, mother, and siblings. Surviving are many nieces and nephews. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a graveside service in Ogden was held to honor Gifford, attended by a group of 35 people, and his casket was placed atop that of his beloved wife.
HHF is tremendously grateful that Gifford’s estate allows us to further our mission of prevention and research of hearing loss and related conditions.
In this photo from the 1970s, Kerry Gifford is on the far left with three of his siblings including Barbara, the mother of Patti Duer, who shared details about her uncle’s life.
Paul Orlin Receives HHF Leadership Award
HHF’s Board of Directors presented Paul Orlin with the Collette Ramsey Baker Leadership Award in January 2021. This award recognizes one individual annually for emulating our founder’s service and dedication to funding research. A principal at Amici Capital LLC in New York City, Orlin has enthusiastically served as a member of the board since 2000 and has been the board vice chair since 2015. He was integral to the creation of our groundbreaking Hearing Restoration Project, and under his tenure we have also significantly strengthened and expanded our Emerging Research Grants program. HHF sincerely appreciates Orlin for his inspiring, ongoing leadership.
