hear so the world may
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Starkey Hearing Foundation
Magic and Memories MEXICO • UNITED STATES • SENEGAL • GHANA • NIGERIA • LIBERIA • INDIA • PHILIPPINES
LISTEN CAREFULLY The band is playing. The crowd is cheering. Life is abuzz. The sound inspires, transforms, needs to be protected. Smile. Laugh. Connect to life. Give your heart through your deeds to others.
Vow to act.
Tell us your ideas: facebook.com/starkeycares 3
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Inside We want to hear from you. Tell us your thoughts: facebook.com/ starkeycares 6700 Washington Avenue South Eden Prairie, MN 55344 www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org 9440 Santa Monica Blvd #708 Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Starkey Hearing Foundation is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) public tax-exempt charitable organization.
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Founders’ Note Founders Bill and Tani share their philosophy. Reel A peek at stunning, documentary films of missions and more. Engage News and posts from friends worldwide.
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Field Notes Youth Ambassadors.
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Noteworthy Blessings from India.
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Firsthand Chris Potenza.
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Sounds Good Can you identify this sound?
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Recent Missions 16 18
Starting Off Right in Mexico Connecting people across generations. Next Stop: Piedras Negras and Mexico City Reaffirming our commitment to the people of Mexico.
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New York, New York Changing the world for New Yorkers.
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Senegal Rediscovering the beauty of the human spirit.
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Ghana Experiencing potential in action.
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Nigeria Refueling our motivation.
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Liberia Delivering hope with hearing.
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Unforgettable Encounters in India Impacting thousands of lives and receiving a special blessing.
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Manila Giving patients a once in a lifetime experience.
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M agic and Memories Th e Gala through the Years.
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BILL AND TANI AUSTIN’S philosophy.
Founders’ Note We truly are blessed to travel the world delivering the gift of hearing to thousands of children each year who would otherwise live in the isolation of a silent world. Providing hearing care alone does not completely dissolve the psychological barriers that continue to cause many of these children to believe that they are limited in ability. We must connect with and empower them to push past these barriers to reach their full potential. We stand firmly behind the belief that there is no such thing as disability, only ability. This belief guides each and every interaction we have with patients in the mission field. By reflecting love and care into the lives of each child we meet, we hope to send the message, “You are important. You matter. You are a part of this community and our world. You deserve a chance to reach your full potential in life.” The gift of hearing opens up a whole new world of opportunity. It connects individuals to life, and helps them realize they can accomplish anything they set their minds to doing. Hearing aids are important tools, but what we really leave these children is the inspiration to work toward a better life and the knowledge that they too can improve the lives of others. So the world may hear!
Bill and Tani Austin 4
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Excellent real-time documentary-style short films await you at starkeyhearingfoundation.org. So head there—and let us know what you think.
Reel We round up our latest visual storytelling. Breaking Down Barriers In August 2012, joined by Yao Ming, Caron Butler and Dallas Austin, the Starkey Hearing Foundation became the first private institution to hold a government sanctioned charitable event in China. This film chronicles how the metaphorical “Great Wall” between our countries came tumbling down, and how a once seemingly untouchable government opened its doors to us and to the gift of hearing.
Unlocking a Generation After seeing her hearing-impaired cousin flourish with access to hearing aids in the United States, Carla Rondeau returned home to El Salvador to open her own clinic. However, many of her patients could not afford the technology she offered. Enter Bill Austin and the Starkey Hearing Foundation. This film explores the fifteen-year partnership between the Rondeaus and the Starkey Hearing Foundation, a partnership that has opened up a world of opportunity for a generation of El Salvadorians.
“The heart sometimes is hearing. That’s the way to connect people – to learn from each other, to listen to our hearts.” YAO MING 6
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Awakening the Sounds of the Stadium In this film, capturing our most recent mission to Yankee Stadium in New York, Yankee greats Joe Girardi and Alex Rodriguez joined Barbara Bush, Chelsea Clinton and the Foundation team to help reflect caring into the lives of New Yorkers. We also met Bridget and Ivan Smith, whose children Kira and Colin both suffer from hearing loss. The Starkey Hearing Foundation provided Kira with hearing aids several years ago, resulting in an enormous improvement in her grades and connection to life. On this mission her little brother received the same gift, awakening him to all the wonders he had been missing.
“There is no price to it. The Starkey Foundation is a godsend.”
“These kids, if we fit them with hearing aids, they will be able to become someone in life.”
BRIDGET SMITH Mother of two children with hearing loss.
CARLA RONDEAU
Letters and posts from you—on the web and in the mail.
Engage Facebook and Twitter have been buzzing with Starkey Hearing Foundation.
F0llow the conversation @starkeycares. @MileyCyrus: Thank you to all my fans who donated to @starkeycares @spotresuedogs for my birthday :) y’all topped it again best bday present by far!
@DJuskie: @WCCO: Facebook post leads father to the gift of hearing. 2nd time @starkeycares has been in the news this week!
@urnotjana: My 2013 ‘Vow to Act’ is to ‘Listen Carefully’. Hope to hear my grandkids loud and clear. JOIN ME!
@randil: @starkeycares was just featured on @eonline! Audiology + celebs = love
@DawnBaker2009: got a new student today, he has a starkey HA. thx 4 giving him that gift.
@nbacares: @YaoMing, @realtuffjuice join @starkeycares to give the gift of hearing to over 6,000 in China
@chefgirl_75: Getting my hearing aids in the morning! Thank you @starkeycares for giving me this option :) Very excited to see how they work!
Euner Neco B. Batan II: I’m one of them with Sir Elton John. It was amazing. What a feeling I feel! I’m very lucky to be with him @ that moment I’m very thankful I can hear now with the help of the hearing aid. It was my greatest moment in my life.
I met you five years ago; even when I was 5 years old and I had my first ear phone I didn’t know the difference between living or being alive. Now I know that difference because of you. You have taught me that it is not enough being alive, breathing, eating, walking, or dressing myself; life is more than that… It is what you do. Is being a good person, giving love to everyone, giving hope to other persons. I hope someday I will have the chance to give you back a little part of all the love that I’ve received from you. God bless you always. Luis I will always remember you, doctor.
“ We just gave 24k hearing aids to people in need & wanna equal it w/ 24k FB likes!” Retweeted by @ShannonElizab
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Our goal. 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/starkeycares Or donate now by visiting:
https://action.starkeyhearingfoundation.org
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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 to date
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.
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Empowering the youth, becoming Starkey Hearing Ambassadors.
Field Notes
Starkey Hearing Ambassadors Necessity truly became the mother of invention when Tani Austin, looking for a solution to challenges associated with quickly overcoming language and cultural barriers, came up with the Starkey Hearing Ambassadors program. In an effort to fill in the language and culture gaps, Tani began asking communities to help identify young leaders being fit during missions. These older children are fit first and then assist the team for the remainder of the mission. Able to contribute to the team and help the younger children, the student ambassadors swell with pride and confidence, beginning to understand their own endless potential. Seeing how empowering the responsibility is to these students, the mission team encourages them to continue to assist the younger children when they have questions with their hearing aids even after the team leaves. This ensures that the Hearing Ambassadors’ confidence continues to grow for years to come, benefiting the entire community.
“ We operate under the philosophy that there is only ability.� -Tani Austin
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Meet some of our Starkey Hearing Ambassadors: Julianna
We hit the jackpot with Julianna! As she became more confident with her hearing aids, she was highly motivated to share her knowledge with the younger kids. She was so excited by seeing her own ability that she was determined to help every child feel the same sense of empowerment. She pushed the mission team to work even harder, encouraging us with, “Come on! Come on! Focus!”
Adam
12 year-old Adam spoke remarkable English. After fitting him and seeing his potential, Tani asked him, “How would you like a job today?” She told him to go back home and ask for permission, and that if he came back, he could work with her for the day. Adam perked up, ran home and back, and for the rest of the day, he was an amazingly enthusiastic worker, assisting the team and helping other children reach their full potential.
Mohammed
When the team first met Mohammed, we were intrigued by his talkative and curious nature, so we asked him to be a Starkey Hearing Ambassador for the day. Mohammed learned quickly and pushed himself just as hard as the team. Impressed with this young man’s enthusiasm, Tani paid him for his efforts at the end of the day. Wide-eyed, Mohammed stared at the money and asked, “Is this money?” Tani replied, “I hired you. You did good work for me today. Go home and give that to your mother.” Mohammed’s face lit up with pride, and he raced home. 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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Meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Noteworthy
A Blessing from His Holiness the Dalai Lama The mission team ends their time in India with a pilgrimage to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
After a whirlwind swing through India that included stops in Hisar, New Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Bangalore, Mundgod and Hubli, delivering the gift of hearing to more than 7,000 people, the mission team was honored with an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His Holiness had heard about the work we were doing and wished to give the team a blessing. Excited and humbled, the team made its way to the Tibetan settlement in Mundgod, India. After making it through the intimidating security check point, the mission team was confronted by the awe inspiring view of 20,000 Tibetan Buddhist monks spilling out into a courtyard. They knew it was going to be a special experience! Lama Guru Gyaltsen, the director of the Pema Tsai School that the team had visited earlier to provide the gift of hearing, came bounding up to greet everyone with a huge smile on his face. He guided them through the remaining security and up to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The teams’ time with the Dalai Lama was not long, but it was unforgettable. Bill Austin explained to him that the Foundation travelled the world to promote peace and understanding through hearing and then asked him to share some words of wisdom. The Dalai Lama spoke about how we are all seven billion brothers and sisters, and no kindness is too small because if we all do what we can, collectively we will make a difference. Or as Bill says so often, “Alone we can’t do much. Together we can change the world!”
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Recent Missions
New York Mexico
India Senegal Liberia
Philippines
Nigeria Ghana
We have delivered the gift of hearing to more than
100 countries. 80%
of people with hearing loss live in low and middle-income countries.
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In 2012, Starkey Hearing Foundation donated
131,000+ hearing aids.
Commitment breeds hope.
commitment
noun /k -mÄt' m  nt/ e
e
1. An agreement or pledge to do something in the future 2. The state or instance of being emotionally compelled 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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Mission: durango, mexico mazatlan, mexico
Starting Off Right in Mexico
Two more cities received valuable hearing care. STOPS IN MAZATLAN AND DURANGO got the fall swing of missions off to a strong start. We worked closely with local partners to provide the gift of hearing to more than 1,000 people. The mission team worked diligently to change the lives of people of all ages, ranging from 3 to 90 years old. It was amazing to see the tears in a mother’s eyes as her child heard her voice for the first time, and then later see the joy in an older man’s face when he was reconnected to life after many years of silence. It was our third visit to Mexico in 2012 and certainly wouldn’t be our last, once again emphasizing our long-standing commitment to our friends to the south.
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The Goal
Open a world of opportunity for the residents of Mazatlan and Durango.
What We Did
Connect people across generations.
September 2012
special thanks: Starkey Mexico, Starkey Hearing Alliance, Lions Club Mazatlan, University of Sinaloa
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Mission:
The Goal
Continue to grow our network of care in Mexico.
piedras negras, mexico
mexico city, mexico
Next Stop: Piedras Negras and Mexico City The fourth mission to Mexico in 2012 was filled with joy and promise. OUR MISSION TO PIEDRAS NEGRAS and Mexico City reaffirmed our commitment to providing the gift of hearing to the people of Mexico. We worked closely with our partners Starkey Mexico and the Starkey Hearing Alliance to ensure that everyone at the mission left with the deeper connection to life that hearing brings. Patients, volunteers, and mission team members all felt the miracle of hearing. When the mission was over, we left confident that we had changed hundreds of lives, and with the knowledge that since 2000, we have provided more than 120,000 hearing aids to the people of Mexico.
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What We Did
Reaffirm our commitment to the people of Mexico.
October 2012
special thanks: Starkey Mexico, Starkey Hearing Alliance, David Dent
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The Goal
Mission:
Help children hear the crack of the bat.
new york, new york
New York, New York Starkey Hearing Foundation once again partners with the Yankees to change lives. FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, the New York Yankees helped us hit a home run and deliver the gift of hearing at Yankee Stadium. Third Baseman Alex Rodriguez, Manager Joe Girardi, Barbara Bush, Chelsea Clinton and Alan Kalter were just a few of our friends on hand to provide the gift of hearing to children and adults in need from the greater New York area. Rodriguez and Girardi signed baseballs and posed for photos with the lively crowd, giving recipients the chance to meet two of their heroes. “This was our fifth mission in New York, and we could not be more thankful to the New York Yankees organization for welcoming us back and helping us improve lives,” said Bill Austin. “Watching a person’s face light up when they hear their world like never before is an incredible experience and sharing that moment is something you never forget.” By day’s end, our team and special volunteers had fit recipients, ages two to 65, with top-of-the-line, digital hearing aids, customized to their hearing loss.
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What We Did
Open up a world of sound for New Yorkers.
September 2012
special thanks: New York Yankees, Joe Girardi, Barbara Bush, Alan Kalter, Alex Rodriguez, Chelsea Clinton
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Mission: dakar, senegal
Senegal The horrors of the past are no match for the beauty of humanity. OUR FIRST MISSION TO SENEGAL was marked by a profound journey into the past that emphasized the importance of giving the gift of hearing to future generations in this wonderful and caring country. We were honored to visit Goree Island, the holding island for slave trading from the early 1500s to the late 1800s. The emotional impact of seeing this sad and difficult history firsthand left many on the team speechless. However, we were reminded of the resilience and generosity of the human spirit when a resident of the island invited us into her home for a meal, telling us we were to consider it our home as well. Renewed by this experience, our mission team, along with dozens of local volunteers and supermodel Fatou N’Diaye, went on to fit nearly 1,300 children and adults with new hearing aids at the Fann Hospital in Dakar.
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The Goal
Expand our efforts into Senegal.
What We Did
Once again witnessed the beauty of the human spirit.
November 2012
special thanks: Amy Jacobsohn, Mark Breton, Joyce White, Chuck Peterson, The Greenbaum Foundation, Ambassador Lewis Lukens, Fatou N’Diaye, Minister Youssou N’Dour, Dr. Malick Diop, Peace Corps. Senegal, Tostan Foundation
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Mission:
tamale, ghana kumasi, ghana
Ghana Ghana shows us the meaning of potential. FOR FIVE DAYS IN NOVEMBER, the people of Kumasi and Tamale welcomed us into their hearts and communities for the first time. Working mainly with children from deaf schools around the region, our mission team was overwhelmed by the community support and highly motivated volunteers. In Tamale, we fit a 12-year-old boy named Adam who, after being fit with hearing aids himself, spent the rest of the day eagerly helping us provide the gift of hearing to other children. While in Kumasi, the students that had already been fit proved just as eager to assist. We met Julianna, a young woman who was so motivated that she would drive us to work harder and encourage us by cheering, “Come on! Come on, focus!� Bolstered by the love and support shown by the local community, the mission team was able to provide hearing aids to more than 1,700 people in need.
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The Goal
Bring hearing care to the people of Ghana.
What We Did
Experienced potential in action.
November 2012
special thanks: Amy Jacobsohn, Mark Breton, Joyce White, Bob Lacosta,
John Moritz, Hearts of the Father Foundation, Dr. Jim Murphy, KATH Hospital, HARK, Sound Seekers
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Mission:
The Goal
Begin to build a system of hearing care.
lagos, nigeria
Nigeria A warm welcome from the people of Nigeria helps the mission team. Throughout our time in Lagos, we were moved by the enormous response and need. We fit a young blind girl and were once again reminded of the miraculous power of the gift of hearing. When the sound waves hit her brain for the first time, it was like turning on a light switch—life, energy and curiosity poured out of her. We fit another girl whose outer ear was deformed, blocking her canal. Once she was fit with an aid that was able to get sound past her outer ear, her speech was perfect. Regardless of the challenges faced, we found inspiration and warm smiles everywhere we turned, fueling us onward to impact more lives.
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What We Did
Reflected caring to all we met.
November 2012
special thanks: Joyce White, Bishop Sunday Onouha, Simeon Afolabi, Dame Emanuella Abimbola Fashola
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Mission: zwedru, liberia monrovia, liberia
Liberia Nothing expresses gratitude like spontaneous song and dance. IF THERE WAS ONE WORD that could describe our first experience in Liberia, it would be jubilation. The sheer joy the team was greeted with each day was astounding. On missions, we always expect the unexpected, but we will never forget the response we received from the children of Monrovia as they broke into song and dance after hearing their voices for the first time. In Zwedru, we met Blessing, a 7-year-old who suffered not only from hearing loss, but also epilepsy and cerebral palsy. When the team met her, she was flailing uncontrollably, would not stand up or make eye contact. She was disconnected from her family and the world. After receiving hearing aids, her face shifted into focus, and she looked directly at those who spoke to her. The outpouring of hope witnessed in Blessing’s eyes, and expressed by her family, is something we will never forget.
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The Goal
Deliver the gift of hearing to the children of Liberia.
What We Did Delivered hearing and hope.
November 2012
special thanks: Joyce White, Women’s International Campaign, Tiyatien Health, Marjorie Margolies
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Mission:
hisar, india
The Goal
Reflect caring to the people of India.
new delhi, india lucknow, india
jaipur, india hubli, india
mundgod, india bangalore, india
Unforgettable Encounters in India The team changes thousands of lives and receives a special blessing. Starkey Hearing Foundation mission team’s most recent trip to India was a whirlwind, accentuated by reuniting with old friends and making new ones. We visited Hisar, New Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Bangalore, Mundgod and Hubli delivering the gift of hearing. In Jaipur, we saw many familiar faces and once again met Amjour, a young girl with gorgeous blue eyes we first helped hear in 2007. Her father expressed enormous pride in how well his daughter has been doing since first being fit. The final leg of the India mission was in Mungod, where the team had the great honor of meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He blessed the team for the work we are doing in India and around the world. Throughout the trip we worked late into the night to provide the gift of hearing to all who came. While we work hard to help as many people as possible, we never forget to slow down and think about the impact made on the people we help just by showing that we care. With the support of our partners, we were able to change the lives of more than 7,000 people.
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What We Did
Impacted on the lives of thousands.
November 2012
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special thanks: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, On Semiconductor, Chris & Santi Curren, Starkey India, Kuldeep Bishnoi, Mahima Chaudhury, Shivjit Singh
special thanks: Akhil Chauhan, Jiender Kumar, M.C. Mathur, Amit Tiwari, Aimaddin Ahmad Koran, Naven Chawla, Lama Guru Gyaltsen, Lama Pema, Rajiv Arora, Tibetan Fund, Gautam Sahani
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Mission: manila, philippines
Manila Sir Elton John contributes his legendary musical talents to the mission. Manila, Philippines was the last stop on the 2012 mission schedule and on a six-country swing, where we delivered more than 24,000 hearing aids. It could not have ended on a more amazing note for both the team and the children and adults receiving the gift of hearing. Sir Elton John and David Furnish, joined the team to help change lives. Both have supported the Foundation for years—John performed at our galas in 2004 and 2009—but this was the first time they had the chance to participate in a mission firsthand. John was so moved by the experience that he played an impromptu set, making his music the first some of the people in attendance had ever heard.
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The Goal
Show our love for the Philippines.
What We Did
Gave recipients a once in a lifetime experience.
December 2012
special thanks: Sir Elton John, David Furnish, University of Santo Tomas, Tao Corporation, Dr. Hubert Ramos, Dr. Norby Martinez, Dr. Salve
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MAGIC AND MEMORIES The Gala through the Years
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EACH SUMMER FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, celebrities, world leaders, Foundation friends and generous donors travel from all over the world to come together on a warm Minnesota weekend to celebrate the spirit of giving. For three days the stars align in St. Paul to support the life-changing work of the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Since the Gala’s inception in 2001, the support has been overwhelming and driven the event to places and experiences we could never have dreamed. The Gala celebrates the impact made possible when people collectively stand behind a cause and showcase the amazing things being done around the world. Each year we honor humanitarians who dedicate their time and service to helping others around the globe and here at home, like Muhammad Ali, Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe and President Bill Clinton. The gift of hearing brings people together, and we are so grateful for the outpouring of support we have seen over the last 12 years. As Bill Austin says, “Alone we can’t do much. Together we can change the world.” Join us as we celebrate the power of caring and take a stroll down memory lane… 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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TANI AUSTIN REFLECTS ON 12 AMAZING YEARS
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WITHOUT A DOUBT, there would never have been a Gala if it had not been for Tani Austin. She knew that bringing people together for such a meaningful event would dramatically amplify the impact of the Foundation’s global efforts. Tani works tirelessly each year to ensure all in attendance have an experience they will never forget and leave knowing they too can change the world by reflecting caring into the lives of others. Where did the original idea for the Gala come from? If hearing loss touches someone’s life in any way, Bill wants to help, so over the years, he has provided care to cultural icons, political leaders, celebrities and presidents. When these influential people experienced the power of the gift of hearing, they would reach out to Bill asking how they could help, but he never wanted to ask for anything in return. In his mind, he was just doing what he was meant to do. However in 2001, I decided it was time to start asking, so I booked a hotel and wrote letters inviting eight American icons to be honored at a benefit. Within 24 hours seven of the eight had accepted! I knew I had a problem because Bill didn’t want me to ask in the first place. Now I had seven honorees and a hotel! When I told Bill, he told me there was no backing out now and planning for the first gala began in full swing. Jerry Ruzicka asked Rayovac for their support, and they stepped up as a sponsor for $100,000. The event soon sold out, and we raised $600,000 that first year. The success of the first event really got our attention. We saw the power of sharing Bill’s vision with others, and we understood that the Foundation could do more around the world by working together.
Tell us about the early years of the Gala. The first was such a success that we knew we had a vehicle to highlight Bill’s vision and the Foundation’s work. Immediately after the first Gala, people began signing up for the second one. The incredible support and desire to help is really what created the momentum for continuing. It’s grown, but the number of attendees has stayed the same for the last five or six years. We don’t want it to get bigger—
we want to keep it intimate. You see Billy Crystal walk past your table. President Clinton could be seated next to you, or you may get in a bidding war with Elton John. It’s an experience like no other. There were celebrities and other supporters that would fly in during those early years and say, “Why Minnesota?!” But now they see that’s part of what makes it special. Everyone who comes in for the Gala truly wants to be here and believes in the work we are doing.
What is your favorite Gala memory? Elton John sang Happy Birthday to me from the stage. For a moment I had to look around. I was wondering whom he was singing to. It was a real “pinch me” moment.
How do you manage your hectic mission travel schedule and planning the Gala? It has always been my attitude that the Gala is part of the missions. I’m not sitting in an office hoping someone will buy a ticket. I call from the mission field, which is more exciting, and they know we are working hard. When I leave a message saying, “I’m in Tanzania,” calls are returned. We do not stop work to raise money. I may be standing next to a child at a mission, while talking to a sponsor on the phone about supporting the Gala. It makes the work alive and real.
What do you envision for the future of the Gala? Every year the Gala takes on a life of its own, and I don’t try to control that. My vision is to keep its message powerful and give back to the people who give us so much. We try not to make things happen. Instead, we set up the possibilities. I try to get the right people in the room and leave everything else up to the destiny of the evening.
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THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN 40
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THREE WEEKS BEFORE the first Gala, the company that had been hired to produce the event proved unreliable. Steven Sawalich stepped in and helped turn the event into one of the top fundraising events in the country. Over the years, he has been behind the scenes—witness to every faux pas, blooper, and no-show— while calmly ensuring that the audience is left in awe and knows nothing of the incredible amount of work necessary to make the Gala happen. How has the Gala changed for you throughout the years? In the beginning it was much smaller in size. Now, when people come to our event they notice its massive impact. It has become one of the top fundraising events in Minnesota, but it took us 12 years to get there. Many people and organizations want to replicate what we are doing, but for us it’s not about the event – it’s about helping people and raising awareness about the work that we do. I think that heartfelt emotion translates to our supporters and donors in a way that cannot be duplicated.
What does it take to pull together a successful Gala production? The production crew is made up of 40 to 50 people and an orchestra. In addition, there are hundreds of volunteers who donate their time and energy at the event and throughout the year. They are passionate about the work we do, and seeing them come back year after year is really inspiring.
What was the most challenging thing you had to manage at a Gala? When Garth Brooks was the headliner, and that same night, his daughter became ill and was admitted to the hospital. He had to leave. My show binder was 60 pages of cues and calls that took more than two weeks to organize—I had to rearrange it all in five minutes while the show was going on. We needed to make sure there was not a moment of dead air – even 30 seconds can feel like an hour. It was tough, but we pulled it off.
What was the biggest blooper at a Gala? That would be Meat Loaf. During a meeting with Meat Loaf’s manager, I explained that we had allotted 15 minutes for him to perform. His manager pushed back a bit, exclaiming, “That’s only one song!” After a long discussion, he finally agreed that Meat Loaf would perform two songs during that time. But he had one more question for me, “Ok, how many cuss words can Meat say?” I said, “Let’s start with zero and try not to go higher.” Needless to say, I may have lost that battle, but Meat Loaf put on a spectacular show.
After all of these years, does the Gala retain the same sense of wonder for you? It’s all such a blur! My main goal for every Gala is to make sure everyone has a good time, and it’s an entertaining show. We attend many events each year in Los Angeles and New York, and at the end of many of those events only five percent of the audience is left. At our event in St. Paul, only five percent leaves. Everyone is there for the cause, and the dedication shows in the quality of the event and the energy of the guests and volunteers.
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≥ John Mellencamp wowed the crowd as headliner. ≥ Jay Leno posed for a
≥ Billy Dean and Paul Anka performed. ≥ Gen. Schwarzkopf and Heather Whitestone
photograph shaking hands with rival Alan Kalter (announcer for The Late Show With David Letterman) and then immediately auctioned it off.
were honored.
≥ The name changed to the So the World May Hear ≥
2001
2002
Awards Gala to better reflect the diverse crowd and the global impact of the Foundation’s work. Sir Elton John performed at the Gala for the first time.
2003
2004
2005
2006
≥ The inaugural Great American Awards Gala was ≥ ≥
a huge success. More than $600,000 was raised to support the gift of hearing. Shirley Caeser and Lee Greenwood performed. Stan Musial, Scott Carpenter, Carol Channing and Medal of Honor winner Joe Foss were honored.
≥ Michael Bolton sang an original song written for the evening by Paul Williams. ≥ Garth Brooks bid $250,000 in the auction to fund a mission to South Africa.
≥ Larry King and Arnold Palmer were honored. ≥ Sam Moore performed.
≥ Goldie Hawn was honored for her philanthropic efforts. ≥ Jim Belushi and Kenny Logins were just a
couple of the star studded performances.
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2007
≥ President Bill Clinton attended for
≥ Garth Brooks performed as the “Mystery Guest.” ≥ Garth thanked Bill and Tani
≥
for helping to restore his daughter’s hearing.
the first time and gave a speech honoring Bill and Tani and the work of the foundation. The Gala eclipsed the $7 million fundraising mark for the first time.
≥ A record $7.6 million was raised. ≥ Robin Williams and Billy Crystal left everyone in stitches and auctioned Glen Frey’s guitar to Pedro Martinez and Sammy Sosa.
2008
2009
2010
≥ Elton John gave an unforgettable one-hour performance. ≥ Billy Crystal kept the audience
2011
2012
TO BE CONTINUED...
≥ Miley Cyrus and Garth Brooks brought the house down. ≥ President Bill Clinton, Marlee Matlin, Doug Pitt and Randy Hogan were honored.
laughing.
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CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT? Elton John Brings the Gala to the Tipping Point Bill and Tani Austin met Sir Elton John at an event in early 2004, and the trio had an immediate rapport. Bill said to John, “I’ll help you with AIDS if you help me with hearing aids,” and the two shook hands, both understanding the other was absolutely serious. That summer Sir Elton John performed at the So the World May Hear Awards Gala for the first time, propelling the Gala to a whole different level. Although he was accustomed to entering events from the stage, John elected to show his support throughout the event by sitting with the Austins and going to the stage from their table. Having an icon so close built the electricity in the audience. Once on stage he said, “I was very tired when I came here tonight, but I’ve gotten so much energy from this room!” That was also the first year we held a live auction for missions during the program, and John got into a bidding war with another guest for the very first 4 4 SSTA TARRKKEEYY HHEEAARRI INNGG FO FOUUNNDAT DATI O I ONN
mission! Once the price got up to $75,000, John jumped on stage, grabbed the microphone and said, “If you pay 75, I’ll pay 75!” The other bidder agreed and $150,000 was raised in support of the mission. Tani Austin will never forget the call she received the following day. “My phone rang, and I looked and didn’t recognize the number,” she said. “I picked it up, and it was Elton! He said, ‘Tani, it’s Elton. Last night was brilliant! I don’t usually enjoy these events, but I really enjoyed that one.’ I knew we had something truly special on our hands.” That magical summer night in 2004 changed the world for Starkey Hearing Foundation and for the hundreds of thousands of children and adults that have been given the gift of hearing since. Sir Elton John holds a special place in our hearts because his support helped us build the Gala to what it is today.
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CHRIS POTENZA inspires action through extreme fitness.
Firsthand
Becoming the Ironman Motivated to get in shape while also giving back, Chris Potenza competed in his first Ironman Triathlon and raised more than $7,000 for the Starkey Hearing Foundation. What first inspired you to do the Ironman? I had first thought of doing an Ironman back around 2003, when I was in the process of running a couple of marathons. I was a very average runner but always thought how exciting it would be to do an Ironman. But then I got hurt and life got busy. I ballooned up from 190 to close to 230 pounds. In 2009, I went for a physical, and my doctor gave me what I like to call my “scared straight” appointment— telling me that I had dangerously high blood pressure, was well overweight and setting a bad example for my kids. The next day I threw out all the junk food in the house and joined a boxing gym. After about a year of working out, I was feeling pretty good about myself, but my kids were starting to throw around words like “I can’t” and “impossible.” I wanted to prove to them that anything is possible if you work hard and dedicate yourself. Around that time, I was volunteering at an Ironman event in Arizona, and the courage I saw from folks no different than me, grabbed hold of me in a way I can’t even describe. I was in line the next morning at 5:00 a.m. to sign up for the 2012 Ironman.
Why did you want to support Starkey Hearing Foundation? I have been fortunate enough to be able to work with the Foundation through my role with the Minnesota Timberwolves. For the past four years I have attended the Gala and have been amazed by the Foundation’s work. I watched people make large donations at the event and always wished I could do more. Two years ago, I brought my daughter Grace, who was nine at the time, to the event to see Miley Cyrus, and she has been very interested 4 6 S TA R K E Y H E A R I N G FO U N DAT I O N
in Starkey Hearing Foundation ever since. When I told her I wanted to do something for charity with my race, Starkey came up and immediately felt right.
What was training for the Ironman like? Training was consuming. I trained roughly six days a week and averaged about 16 to 20 hours. The biggest challenge was balancing training with family time and work responsibilities, which meant a lot of early mornings and lunchtime swims. Training is lonely. Music played a huge part in getting me through those hours. I had different playlists I would use depending on my mood or workout. I even started to identify certain songs with the race itself. Even months after the race, when a song I associate with the home stretch comes on the radio, I tear up.
Do you have a personal connection to hearing loss? Not particularly. I’ve just seen the work that Starkey does and have been moved by its impact. You give people the ability to live a full life, to learn and be respected by others, and that is powerful!
How did you feel as you were finishing the Ironman? It really starts to hit you those last three miles. The whole year of training played in my mind. I allowed myself to get lost in reflection and got pretty choked up. The last 200 yards to the finish line, I had so much adrenaline. I jumped around like a maniac, highfiving spectators and leaping into the air. It’s pretty funny to watch the tape of it now, as I am not sure where I got the energy. As soon as I finished I made a point to grab my kids and tell them to remember this moment as proof you can do anything.
What advice do you have for others looking for ways to give back? It’s so important for people to realize that you don’t have to be rich or famous to make a difference. I am a totally average guy who one day woke up and made a choice. I dedicated myself to it, and I recruited people to follow me on my path. It was worth every minute, and it feels so good to help others!
“ You give people the ability to live a full life, to learn and be respected by others, and that is powerful.�
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Sounds Good Can you identify that sound?
Fingers flutter across the black and white keys. With each key pressed, a hammer releases and strikes a steel string, causing it to vibrate through a bridge to a sounding board, amplifying and marrying the vibration to the air—building a melody. The piano has 88 keys, which span the frequency range 27.5 Hz to 4,186 Hz, while human hearing can span 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. The lowest frequency on a piano is close 4 8 S TA R K E Y H E A R I N G FO U N DAT I O N
to the start of the human hearing range, but the highest frequency is octaves from the top. This is because the ear’s ability to distinguish between higher frequencies is less effective than at the lower frequencies. So, the next time you are listening to a piano virtuoso in concert or your neighbor’s child practicing Chop Sticks, remember to protect and preserve the entire span of your frequency range and Listen Carefully!
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 high-volume 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.
Save the date — Awards Gala, July 28, 2013! 2013 Honorees Include:
SIR RICHARD BRANSON
JIMMY WALKER
Founder, Virgin Group
Celebrity Fight Night
DENNIS & LESLIE HANSEN
ANGEL CHUN LI ZHAO
Hearing Angel Humanitarians
Ginko Academy
Please join us to celebrate the spirit of giving and help us reflect caring around the world! B K LT 2 6 3 2 - 0 0 -E E-H F 810 8 6 - 9 0 0