hear so the world may
C H I NA 2 0 1 2
Starkey Hearing Foundation
Making History in China XI’AN • CHENGDU
Climbing together step by step many united doing the impossble guided by one dream of caring sharing giving and a world built on peace and understanding.
Together, we can change the world.
Tell us your ideas: facebook.com/starkeyhearing
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BILL & TANI AUSTIN reflect on a history-making adventure.
Director’s Cut Conducting hearing missions around the world, we have no shortage of amazing stories. The widening eyes, the eruptions of laughter, the dancing feet, the tears of joy when someone is finally connected to the world—we have the privilege of seeing the immediate, life-altering impact of the gift of hearing on a daily basis. But even so, there are times when we are truly blown away. Times when we have to take a moment to step back and reflect on what we are witnessing. Times when we have to just say: “Wow!” For two weeks in August, we had the chance to be part of something historic. We delivered more than 12,000 hearing aids to people in need in the People’s Republic of China. Not only was this our most significant mission there, but it was also the first government partnership with a foreign charity and largest foreign donation . . . ever. During those 15 days amazing things happened. The metaphorical “Great Wall” between our countries came tumbling down, and a once seemingly untouchable government opened its doors to us and to the gift of hearing. Our mission is to bring peace and understanding in the world through hearing care, and this mission is further proof that it is not only possible, but it’s happening right now.
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Letters and posts from you—on the web and in the mail.
Engage Twitter keep us in touch with our supporters all the way from China.
F0llow the conversation @starkeyhearing. @MarleeMatlin: Here’s wishing @starkeyhearing a great trip/ mission in #China! @taniaustin have a great time! I wish I could be there with you for the kids. @nbacares: @StarkeyHearing @YaoMing & @realtuffjuice will visit China this weekend to distribute hearing aids to more than 6,000 children and adults.
@TaniAustin: @starkeyhearing is heading home from China. New friends even Sonshay the Panda, she shared her apple
@DALLASAUSTIN: Gonna help give the gift of hearing to these 600 people today...starkey rocks!!
@NBA: In Chengdu, @YaoMing & @realtuffjuice along w/ @starkeyhearing give the gift of hearing w hearing aids to 700+ Caron! #starkeychina @starkeyhearing: @realtuffjuice is as tough as they come on the court, but he also has a heart of gold! Thanks Caron! #starkeychina @starkeyhearing: We are heading home from changing more than 6,000 lives in China. An amazing trip to Xi’an and Chengdu China.
@DALLASAUSTIN: The ear is the road to the heart it allows us to share our thoughts and dreams of the future “ Bill Austin” awesomeness !
@realtuffjuice: Wow I had an life changing experience today... Hearing for the first time.
Monumental day 4 us in Xi’an. @StarkeyHearCEO @TaniAustin & team about to fit 500 people. 1st govt sanctioned charity event ever in China! Tweeted by @starkeyhearing
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Our mission. Bringing understanding among people through hearing care. The goal is clear: Deliver more than 1,000,000 hearing aids this decade. The reason is obvious: Help people in need, in turn transforming families and communities. The method is effective: Reach out to hearingimpaired children and adults around the globe— many living in isolation, at home and in developing countries. The results are life-changing. Tell us how you can help: facebook.com/starkeyhearing Or donate now by visiting: https://action.starkeyhearingfoundation.org
Giving the Gift of Hearing: Globally Bill Austin began with the desire to make a difference 50 years ago. He followed up with action. To date, Starkey Hearing Foundation has given more than 1 million hearing aids to people in need throughout the world. We’re building a global network of care—and you can help.
1 + 1 = 2 = million hearing aids through 2010
million hearing aids this decade
www.StarkeyHearingFoundation.org
million hearing aids provided to those in need
Countless lives changed, as we impact not just the person in need but also their family and friends with the gift of hearing.
DESTINATION
CHINA
July 24, 2011
Ms. Tao and her Chinese delegation attend 2011 So the World May Hear Awards Gala and meet with the Foundation team to begin planning a mission to China.
August 30, 2012
After fitting more than 12,000 hearing aids to people in need and using the gift of hearing to build a bond between two countries, the mission team heads home. 2011
August 26, 2012
NBA Legend Yao Ming, two-time All Star Caron Butler and NBA China CEO David Shoemaker join the mission team.
August 25 – 29, 2012
The team gives the gift of hearing, changing thousands of lives in Chengdu.
August 25, 2012
Government of Chengdu hosts welcome dinner to honor Starkey Hearing Foundation and gives Bill Austin the first-ever Orange Ribbon Award and names him Goodwill Ambassador to the city.
August 24, 2012
Bill Austin participates in NBA Cares Day with Caron Butler and Yao Ming.
August 19 – 23, 2012
The team gives the gift of hearing, changing thousands of lives in Xi’an.
August 19, 2012
Bill Austin receives the passport to the South Gate of Xi’an during a formal welcoming ceremony.
August 16, 2012
August 17, 2012
Officials host formal Gala to introduce Starkey Hearing Foundation to prominent leaders in China. 10
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The team arrives Beijing ready to change lives.
September 2011
Bill and Tani Austin and Brady Forseth arrive Beijing to begin Phase 1 preparations for a 2012 mission. They also traveled to Suzhou, Chengdu and Xi’an to meet with partners, scout locations and start identifying patients.
Fall 2011
Devoted supporters and Minnesota Timberwolves owners, Glen and Becky Taylor, sign on to sponsor the China mission. Glen Taylor begins assisting with discussions with the NBA. Brady Forseth visits with NBA executives in New York to discuss plans for the China mission. Foundation team meets GRAMMY Award-winning songwriter and producer Dallas Austin.
February 2012
Brady Forseth returns to China to finalize agreements and details with key partners, including China Hearing Foundation, Starkey China, the governments of Chengdu and Xi’an, and the Disabled Persons Federations of Chengdu and Xi’an. The NBA and NBA Cares sign on as mission partners. NBA China CEO David Shoemaker gets involved.
March 2012
Pentair signs on as a mission sponsor.
April 2012
NBA Legend Yao Ming and two-time All Star Caron Butler sign on to join the mission team in China. China mission dates are confirmed – August 2012!
May 1, 2012
Dallas Austin participates in the live Listen Carefully kick-off event and signs up for the China mission.
Spring 2012
Minnesota Timberwolves co-owners, Bill and Teri Popp sign on as China mission sponsors.
August 4, 2012
Starkey Canada sponsors the China mission at the 2012 So the World May Hear Awards Gala
PepsiCo Foundation provides generous grant to sponsor China mission. S TA R K E Y H E A R I N G F O U N DAT I O N
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So China May Hear
Xi’an
CHINA
In 2011, Starkey Hearing Foundation donated
+120,000
hearing devices
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Chendu
1,000,000 We commit to giving
hearing aids globally by the end of this decade.
to·geth·er
adverb, \t -’ge-thər\ 1. in or into one place 2. in or into association 3. at one time 4. by combined action 5. with each other
Mission: Xi’an
The Goal Use hearing as a vehicle for understanding.
What We Did Fit more than 12,000 hearing aids . . . with care.
Welcome to Xi’an
For two weeks in August, Starkey Hearing Foundation had the chance to make history, beginning with Xi’an. THE STARKEY HEARING FOUNDATION team arrived Xi’an ready to change lives and bridge cultural divides. Fortunately we had the help of long-time supporters Pentair, PepsiCo Foundation, Glen and Becky Taylor and Bill and Teri Popp! Mr. Listen Carefullly Dallas Austin joined the team on his first mission. But we couldn’t have fit more than 12,000 hearing aids in two weeks without the help of Starkey Canada. That amazing team of hearing professionals worked in overdrive and put their vast mission experience to excellent use.
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August 16 – August 30, 2012
There was a young mother that needed aids. We found out that her 3-year-old daughter needed help too, and the mom was able to hear her daughter saying Ma Ma. The dad then also got fit, and it all came together when the entire family was hearing. Kent Holden Starkey Canada Hearing is something that we take for granted, and we do not realize how precious it is until it’s gone. I can’t imagine how lonely the world would be without it. Leslie Holden Starkey Canada
special thanks: Pentair, Glen and Becky Taylor, Bill and Teri Popp, Government of Xi’an
We were informed of the importance and sincerity of this mission. It was a highlight to our mission careers to be on this team. Words cannot express the acknowledgement that my Canadian team felt the entire time we were away. Jason Toone Starkey Canada
This was life-changing for the people who received this help. But, really, I think it often makes even more of a difference in the lives of those providing the help. It’s just so rewarding. Dr. Susan Pearson Mayo Clinic Health System
The gift of hearing can also be a bridge to understanding between people of vastly different cultures and backgrounds. Bill and Teri Popp Minnesota Timberwolves Co-Owners
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What was so impactful about this particular mission was the global shift that we got to witness and be a part of. This was the first government partnership with a foreign charity in the history of China, and this once seemingly untouchable regime opened its doors and rolled out the red carpet for us. It felt as though we were watching barriers being broken right before our eyes. Richard Brown Starkey Hearing Foundation Board of Directors
special thanks: PepsiCo Foundation, Dallas Austin
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The team enters through the South Gate
Noteworthy
Passport to Peace and Understanding Founder Bill Austin was given a passport to the Yongning Gate, an honor last given to President Bill Clinton in 1996. XI’AN IS THE CAPITAL OF THE SHAANXI PROVINCE and home to nearly 8.5 million people, making it one of the most populous cities in China. It is also one of the oldest. With more than 3,100 years of history, Xi’an is considered one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. It was also the location of our first Chinese mission, and the government of Xi’an welcomed us with open arms. Bill and Tani Austin and the Foundation entered the city through the South Gate during a formal Entering Ceremony and were offered welcoming drinks out of butterfly cups, an ancient Chinese tradition when welcoming distinguished guests. They were also given a power bowl, which symbolizes power and respect, but in more modern times has also come to mean honesty and trust and is given to demonstrate a close and reliable partnership. It was humbling to see the obvious way the people recognized the power of the gift of hearing. Bill was given the passport to the South Gate, an honor last given to President Bill Clinton in 1996. The South Gate is also called the Yongning Gate, which means peace and stability forever. The name aligns so well with our mission – to bring peace and understanding around the world through hearing care.
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The Goal Use hearing as a vehicle for understanding.
Mission: Chengdu
What We Did Fit more than 12,000 hearing aids . . . with care.
Changing Lives in Chengdu While in Chengdu, Christine (our daughter) and I fit a young woman of about 14 years of age. Her mother, who looked to be quite young herself, was very attentive and concerned about her daughter, who had never before had a hearing aid. Her daughter did not speak any language. After we fit the young lady, our translator, Sherry, read the young lady’s name from her registration slip. Upon hearing her name, the young lady repeated her name back to us. Her mother then broke down crying. It moved both Christine and me to tears. It was clear that the young lady had never spoken her name out loud or responded to someone speaking to her verbally. I felt I had received so much more than I had given! Teri Popp Minnesota Timberwolves Co-Owner
For me, the gift of giving someone hearing makes me feel like I have a special purpose in life. Kevin McNabb Starkey Canada The most memorable experience was fitting an elderly woman who had been hard of hearing for over 30 years. When speaking to her husband we where told that it had been a very bitter life because of her hearing loss. When we fit the aids, she and her husband started to cry and could not stop thanking us. Leslie Holden Starkey Canada 20
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August 16 – August 30, 2012
special thanks: Starkey Canada, Starkey China, China Hearing Foundation
It was a very memorable experience and the memories will stay with us. We left with confidence. It was our feeling that the support system upon our leaving the country would be there for the recipients of the hearing aids. Glen and Becky Taylor Minnesota Timberwolves Owners Knowing that the gift of hearing can actually mean the difference between ‘simply existing on this planet’ or a ‘person being able to enjoy a meaningful and fulfilling life,’ made a huge impact on us. Knowing that a child could grow up living on the streets in destitution simply because that child couldn’t hear, and knowing that the problem could be solved with hearing aids, compels us to return again and again ‘So the World May Hear.’ Working on these missions has made us understand that we give the gift of life, learning, peace and compassion to those in need. Bill and Teri Popp Minnesota Timberwolves Co-Owners
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special thanks: Government of Chengdu, JNBA Financial Advisors
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Founder BILL AUSTIN receives special honor.
Noteworthy
Goodwill Ambassador
Bill Austin was given the first-ever Orange Ribbon Award and named Goodwill Ambassador to the City of Chengdu. WE CONDUCTED OUR SECOND CHINESE HEARING MISSION IN CHENGDU. The emerging megacity is home to more than 14 million people and is one of the most important economic centers in Western China. Chengdu is also the capital of the Sichuan Province, which was ravaged by an 8.0 M earthquake in 2008 that killed nearly 70,000 people. From the devastation of four years ago, the people have risen with resilience and strength, but the level of need is still great, including the need to reconnect families through the gift of hearing. After helping thousands in Xi’an, the team arrived Chengdu ready to reflect caring into the lives of others. We worked tirelessly to fit all who came and were rewarded by the laughter of children hearing the sounds of their world for the first time. Once again we were honored and deeply moved by the overwhelming gratitude expressed by the people and the support of the government. At one memorable ceremony Bill Austin was given the first-ever Orange Ribbon Award and named Goodwill Ambassador to the City of Chengdu. The award was named for a young girl, Orange, who was severely injured in the earthquake. In 2011, she wrote a blog and highlighted several wishes she had for her life, including walking once again through the streets of her city. With the help of many, she was able to accomplish all of her wishes and is now an inspiration to the people of Chengdu. The government of Chengdu and the Chengdu Disabled People Federation created the award to honor individuals determined to enrich the lives of the disabled. Bill Austin has said, “I don’t believe in disability. I believe in ability.” Orange’s story is further proof that whatever “disabilities” you might seem to have, we all have the ability to reflect love and life into those around us.
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A special thanks to our sponsors.
Thank You Without your support and generosity this historic event would not have been possible.
Glen & Becky Taylor Taylor Corporation
Bill & Teri Popp Popp Communications
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NBA Cares partnership is a slam dunk.
Field Notes
NBA Cares Scores in China Eight-time NBA All-Star and former Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, two-time NBA All-Star and Los Angeles Clippers forward Caron Butler, and NBA China CEO David Shoemaker join us in China. BILL AUSTIN SAYS, “ALONE WE CAN’T DO MUCH. TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD,” and we are fortunate to have so many wonderful partners that help us change lives around the world. One such partner is the NBA, having helped us give the gift of hearing in the United States, Egypt, Puerto Rico and Turkey. When they found out we were going to China for the first time they wanted to be a part of it and stepped up in a big way to show their support, including bringing in the biggest man in China – literally and figuratively! On August 26, eight-time NBA All-Star and former Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, two-time NBA All-Star and Los Angeles Clippers forward Caron Butler, and NBA China CEO David Shoemaker joined the Foundation team in Chengdu, on behalf of the NBA and NBA Cares, to change hundreds of lives. The excitement in the air was palpable when Yao arrived—heads turned and smiles spread across the faces of the children. He was easy to spot! At 7’6”, he towered over the rest of the mission team and everyone in attendance. Yao and Shoemaker jumped right in to assist Bill with the fittings. As patients began hearing the voice of their hero, and the world around them, for the first time the smiles got even brighter. “It is very meaningful to help kids hear their parents’ voices and to be able to call mom and dad in their own voice for the first time in their life,” said Yao. “ I am proud to partner with Starkey Hearing Foundation and NBA Cares in
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the largest ever hearing mission to China, which will enable thousands of people to hear their loved ones for the first time.” Butler joined Tani Austin to assist with fittings throughout the day. He’s known for his toughness on the court, but we saw that he has a heart of gold and worked hard to reflect caring into the lives of all he met, including one woman who heard for the first time in 15 years. It’s an unbelievable movement,” said Butler. “They are definitely impacting and changing lives forever. That’s the type of stuff that I as a basketball player, and as a human being, want to be a part of.” It was a time the team, the players, and all of those helped will remember for a long time.
The NBA family is proud to team up once again with Starkey Hearing Foundation to provide thousands of children and adults with hearing aids. I am thrilled to have been a part of this life-changing mission. This ongoing partnership underscores the league’s commitment, through NBA Cares, to supporting internationally recognized youthserving organizations that make a profound difference for those in need around the world. David Shoemaker NBA China CEO
It is an honor to join Starkey Hearing Foundation and NBA Cares to give the gift of hearing to thousands of people in China. The ability to hear is such an important part of life on and off the court and I am thankful to have the opportunity to help improve the lives of so many people. Caron Butler Two-time NBA All-Star and Los Angeles Clippers forward It is very meaningful to help kids hear their parents’ voices and to be able to call mom and dad in their own voice for the first time in their life. I am proud to partner with Starkey Hearing Foundation and NBA Cares in the largest ever hearing mission to China, which will enable thousands of people to hear their loved ones for the first time. Yao Ming 8-time NBA All-Star and former Houston Rockets center
special thanks: NBA, NBA Cares, Yao Ming, Caron Butler, David Shoemaker
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The goal of the Clinton Global Initiative is to turn ideas into action.
Noteworthy
8th Annual Clinton Global Initiative Meeting Founder Bill Austin pledges continued action, So the World May Hear, during the 8th Annual Clinton Global Initiative Meeting FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR, Starkey Hearing Foundation participated in the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting along with heads of state, chief executives of companies, directors of major nonprofits and other global leaders. Bill Austin was invited to address attendees on the Foundation’s efforts to bring peace and understanding through hearing. After a short video presentation on the Starkey Hearing Foundation’s global work, Bill joined President Bill Clinton onstage and gave an update on the Foundation’s CGI commitment to fit more than 100,000 hearing aids to people in need annually, for a total of 1 million this decade. Starkey Hearing Foundation fit more than 120,000 hearing aids in 2011, (the first year of the commitment), and has visited 14 new countries. The Foundation is now on pace to complete its 1 million hearing aid pledge three years ahead of schedule. But as we experience all over the world, it’s not big numbers that are important. It’s the individual stories that are truly the most touching, and CGI was no different. By chance we met Angel, a young woman who serves as the Chief Inspiration Officer for Ginkgo Academy, and let us tell you…she is an inspiration. Her organization works with “disabled” youth in China. Bill found out that Angel had a hearing loss, and as always, he was prepared to do something about it. He worked quickly to get her fit with new hearing aids, customized to her loss. “I told him about how I could only hear in one ear. I was really amazed at how quickly I had my new hearing aids . . . I can hear so much better with these! It is really great,” said Angel. In 1998, President Clinton visited Angel’s home in a small Chinese village, but the government was embarrassed of her and hid her away. She didn’t have the chance to meet him, but the President definitely knows her now. In fact, to end the event, he called her on stage and told her story, showcasing her courage and heart to all in attendance. When asked about her experiences at CGI Angel said, “I think many people with disabilities are really not disabled. It is the ‘normal’ people who are disabled in their thinking, because they do not understand that I am able to think and participate just like them. I hope the people who receive your hearing aids can get a chance to go to school, to learn, to marry, have kids and have a good life. We need more people to be advocates and champions for ending discrimination around the world.”
I don’t believe in disability. I believe in ability.
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MS. TAO helps make the China mission a reality.
Firsthand
Ms. Tao Siliang Ms. Tao Siliang is a hearing angel in the truest sense. She has more than 25 years of experience working in hospitals as a medical doctor and has served as chairperson for the China Hearing Foundation since 2005. Ms. Tao is a member of the Tao dynasty and the daughter of former Vice Premier Tao Zhu. Her hard work helped make the Chinese mission a reality. During the mission she spoke about why she wanted to work with Starkey Hearing Foundation and develop the first government partnership with a foreign charity in the history of China.
I BELIEVE THERE ARE THREE GREAT BILLS in America - President Bill Clinton, Bill Gates and Bill Austin. What Starkey Hearing Foundation does is beyond nationalities, nations, race, countries and war. Their work makes soldiers drop their weapons and smile. Last July, I was honored to see Starkey Hearing Foundation for myself, and Bill Austin and I had a great talk while I was there. I asked him, ‘Having been to so many countries for this good work, why haven’t you come to China? After all we have 28 million hearing-impaired people here.’ He said that he couldn’t find suitable partners in China. So I said,
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‘Why don’t we work together then?’ He responded: ‘Let’s go help the kids in China!’ Just like that it was set and he is now here in China as promised to help more than 6,000 hearingimpaired people in Chengdu and Xi’an. Mr. Austin helped me understand charity work better. We have the tradition of helping people from ancient times, but we just got started on modern charity work here in China. There’s still a lot to learn from our American friends. First, we need to help people see that it is everyone’s responsibility to help each other. Second, we need to build a powerful influence over the society. I learned from Mr. Austin that if you want to be a philanthropist, you have to be a person of social activities first. He believes that one person alone is not enough. We have to get everybody involved. That’s why President Bill Clinton, President Bush, Hollywood superstars, singers, and NBA players are all Starkey volunteers. Because of the one-child policy that we have, hearing-impaired children in big cities and developed areas have received the government’s help, but all the kids from remote areas are still in need of support. Adults and elderly in poverty are also desperately in need of help. They don’t have medical insurance, and they don’t have access to government funds, and there are a lot of them. But now, with Starkey Hearing Foundation’s generosity, they can be helped. This will have a great impact on Chinese society. We see China as a developing country. We still have 150 million people in poverty, 80 million disabled people, of which 28 million are hearing impaired. We look forward to having more mission visits from the Starkey Hearing Foundation. China takes up onefourth of the world’s population. Helping China mean helping the world!
DALLAS AUSTIN finds a new calling.
Firsthand (take two)
Dallas Austin Could you share your experience with us in China? I was looking forward to doing the fittings. Coming to Xi’an to do it, it was unbelievable. It was a magical experience. Eight to ten years ago we couldn’t come and do something like this, so it’s a really, really big deal to come into China as Americans and help people that need help here. That is a tremendous, tremendous effort on Starkey’s part. It goes down in history. Everyone coming together as one, that’s what it’s all about.
What were your expectations? I am addicted. It’s one of these things you can’t get enough of to tell you the truth. You can’t wait for the next one to come. You can’t wait for the next experience—the next elderly lady or the next kid. It’s an addictive experience. It’s pretty emotional too. When you see a child and the mother or father is with him…as soon as they hear the words come out of their mouths, as soon as they say “Mama,” its priceless. You look into their parent’s eyes and you know, to first see their kid hear “ba-ba-ba” and say it back, there’s nothing better than that. It’s the closest thing to a miracle that I think you can be a part of.
Could you imagine your world without sound? No way. My world without sound wouldn’t exist. I can’t imagine it. It’s for one, so isolated, you must feel like you’re very alone in this chamber by yourself. Hearing the words “I love you” is a little different than seeing them move or seeing in sign language. To hear the tone difference in your voice, the emotional melody that comes along with somebody saying kind words to you, it’s an amazing feeling. If I never heard music before…I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to hear for the first time. For a lot of the kids, I would take my phone and put the music up to their ear once we had the hearing aids in just to see their reaction to it. Now they are going to hear music going forward, it’s amazing.
What inspired you to become a part of this mission? It started with my friend Scott at Best Buy. He fell and lost his hearing and Bill fixed it. I was doing some work with Best Buy, and I have a
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foundation myself, so I was told to check out the Starkey Foundation. I had a meeting with Brady and everybody, and they started playing me the videos. First the kids couldn’t hear, then they click on the aids. All of a sudden the kids are repeating the words that they were saying, repeating the ba-ba-ba’s. That was heavy. I asked, ‘How are you all doing that? How do I be a part of it?’ One of the first things I did was go back to Minneapolis, to Eden Prairie Middle School with 1500 students. I worked with the Listen Carefully campaign, which talks to kids who can hear and says don’t damage your hearing, be cautious about how loud you listen to stuff because you can lose your hearing. It was really important to me to relay that message to the kids. So from that point I asked, when is the next mission?
Your foundation is a grass roots foundation. You made it happen. You believed we could make a difference. When you look at someone like Bill Austin, I admire him so much because I see a lot of myself in him. I look for these guys in my life because I didn’t have a father growing up. You sit there and you watch him, and watch his detail, even him just sitting there organizing and doing everything. It takes his whole year and all this time to be this hands on and do this with a team. It’s still about seeing him be the first one there, and be a role model for this team. I am the same way. You have to be hands on. The foundation is something your passionate about.
Tell us about a fitting that stands out from the China mission, your first. My first is the one that sends you through the roof. Of course I was a little nervous. It’s delicate. You’re working with someone’s ears. As soon as I finished it, the girl started to speak. The look on her face put chills all over me.
Sounds Good
Can you identify that sound? The crackle, the pop, the bang. The rumble in your chest. The ground shakes. The beautiful explosions of color and light – Red! White! Blue! Many of you associate fireworks with the Fourth of July, but did you know they originated in China? As early as the 10th Century, Chinese pyrotechnicians were respected for their complex fireworks displays, nearly 700 years
before they gained popularity in Europe. So the next time you’re ringing in the New Year or celebrating Independence Day, remember these explosions in the sky have been marveling humans for more than 1,000 years. Also remember to protect your hearing and Listen Carefully! At close distances fireworks can be as loud as 150 dB.
listen carefully.
Music: we want you to be able to hear it. The sounds of a guitar. The lyrics to your favorite song.
The majority of teen hearing loss can be prevented. Join the movement at www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org
One in 5 teenagers has hearing loss due to highvolume sounds in daily life. Like the blare of car horns. Or the music pumping through your headphones. You can’t control the volume of the world around you, of course. But you can lower the volume of your headphones. It’s such a simple thing to do. You’ll save your hearing. Your hearing is fragile. So don’t listen loudly. Listen carefully.
Protect your hearing. Lower the volume.
BKLT2615-00-EE-HF 81048-900