hear so the world may
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Starkey Hearing Foundation
Team of Angels Embracing the gift of hearing UNITED STATES • DOMINICAN REPUBLIC • HAITI • GHANA • SENEGAL LIBERIA • MEXICO • MALAWI • UGANDA • KENYA • RWANDA
BECAUSE WE CARE Hearing is our concern so The world may hear so The world may understand that We are one human family that We know life ongoing by Sharing and caring Together
We Can Change the World
Tell us your thoughts: facebook.com/starkeycares 3
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Inside 4
Founder’s Note Bill Austin finds the hero within.
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Reel A peek at stunning documentary films of hearing missions and more.
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Engage News and posts from friends worldwide.
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Field Notes Hope for the Congo.
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Noteworthy Inspiring the Innovators.
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Firsthand Derrick Coleman Jr.
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Sounds Good Can you identify this sound?
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We want to hear from you. Tell us your thoughts: facebook.com/ starkeycares 6700 Washington Avenue South Eden Prairie, MN 55344 www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org 12555 Jefferson Boulevard #150 Los Angeles, CA 90066 Starkey Hearing Foundation is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) public tax-exempt charitable organization.
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Recent Missions 16
Los Angeles Inspiring new partnerships and friends.
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Teamwork Across Mexico Giving a lifetime of hearing.
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Dominican Republic Letting baseball fans hear the sounds of the game.
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Translating Love Making an impact.
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Haiti Building a foundation for the future.
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A Celebration of Life Celebrating a hero.
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New York Inspiring those who need it most.
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Lions of Mexico Building powerful partnerships.
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Ghana Showing the path to success.
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Malawi Connecting generations.
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Senegal Giving voice to knowledge.
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Uganda Channeling the passion of a star.
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Liberia Returning sound with dignity.
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Kenya Giving hope for a better tomorrow.
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Touching the Soul in Mexico Creating lasting friendships.
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Rwanda Developing new partnerships.
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T eam of Angels
NFL players embrace the gift of hearing.
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Hearing Angel MVPs From the football field to the hearing mission field, these remarkable NFL players know what it takes to make a powerful impact.
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Uncommon Heroes Derrick Coleman Jr. inspires a new generation of role models.
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BILL AUSTIN finds the hero within.
Founder’s Note The search for a role model is about discovering who you truly are. As a young boy I felt a strong desire to make an impact and respect life that made me feel different from those around me. I felt odd, as though I didn’t really fit in. I knew in my heart that I belonged to the world but did not know what that meant or how it would happen. Then I read about Albert Schweitzer. Nobel Prize-winning Schweitzer was a medical missionary in western Africa who dedicated his life to the service of others and believed that all life needed to be respected and cared for. Once I was introduced to his thinking and way of life, I knew it was all I ever wanted. I saw the world honoring him, and thought, “If they think he’s okay, then I’m okay too.” I no longer had to hide who I really was. Knowing that there was someone like Schweitzer in the world empowered me to lead the life I wanted to live. Our role models and heroes give us that. They often show us a different way to live that touches our truest nature and sets us free. They inspire us by doing not what they think the world wants them to, but what they know to be right. Phillip Brooks once said, “The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show the real smallness of your greatest greatness.” Our heroes ignite the flame within that lights the path to our greatest greatness. As our action inspires others, the collective impact on the future of humanity will be far more than we could ever imagine. Together we can change the world. So the world may hear,
William F. Austin 4
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Short documentary films await you at youtube.com/StarkeyHearingFndn. Check them out, and let us know what you think.
Reel We round up our latest storytelling. Champion Changes Lives Each year the team welcomes celebrities and sports stars to help us give back to the community supporting the Super Bowl. This year’s hearing mission in New York held some very special surprises. Watch our short film featuring Seattle Seahawk and Starkey hearing aid wearer Derrick Coleman Jr. as he joins us the day before winning the Super Bowl to help change the lives of New Yorkers in need and reunite with his biggest fans.
Tony Hawk Gives Back Skateboarding superstar, entrepreneur and philanthropist Tony Hawk is a man for all seasons, but nothing is more important to him than making a positive impact on the lives of others. Watch as he joins the hearing mission team in Cambodia and shares his philosophies on life and giving back.
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10 Seconds One touchdown. Ten seconds of cheering. That’s all it takes to damage your hearing. This short film, explores and demonstrates the importance of wearing hearing protection while cheering for your favorite sports team. Listen Carefully.
“I went through all the pain, the crying – I went through all of it. I didn’t have a role model, so I want to be that for others.”
“If you really stick with what you know and what made you successful, you are going to make a serious impact.”
DERRICK COLEMAN JR.
TONY HAWK
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Letters and posts from you – in the mail and on the web.
Engage Social media has been buzzing with Starkey Hearing Foundation.
Follow the conversation @starkeycares
@Mrdavidpatrick: Spend some time with @starkeycares and this guy @LarryFitzgerald is bound to show up.
@LarryFitzgerald: Great start and 1st day of the Butare, Rwanda mission with @starkeycares 350 happy men, women and child.
@willwitherspoon: Great time with Sister Rosemary @starkeycares in St. Mary’s #Gulu
@OneRepublic: Noise-induced hearing loss among teens is growing at an alarming rate. Check out @ListenCarefully to learn how to protect yourself.
@JessicaESanchez: Back with Starkey <3
@ABCWorldNews: From the Buddhist monks of India to the Bronx, Bill and Tani Austin’s @starkeycares fitted 165,000 hearing aids in 2013.
@HopeNorth: @ForestWhitaker visited Uganda last week with @starkeycares. Thank you both for all you do for Hope North & Uganda!
@JackBrewerBSI: Another incredible day with @starkeycares! Giving this 18 month old girl the gift of hearing was truly amazing.
@keatonsimons: Happily up early to spend the day helping @starkeycares give the gift of hearing during #Grammys Week in #LosAngeles!
@OzzyOsbourne: Join @MrsSosbourne & me. Support @starkeycares, a charity that gives the gift of hearing to people all over the world.
“Joining @starkeycares at @Sister_Rosemary sanctuary to bring the gift of hearing to those in need!” Tweeted by @ForestWhitaker
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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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; many living in isolation, at home and in developing countries. The results are life changing.
Learn more and join the movement 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. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re building a global network of care â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and you can help.
1 + 1 = 2 = million hearing aids already provided
million hearing aids this decade
million hearing aids
Countless lives changed as we impact not just the person in need but also their family and community with the gift of hearing.
www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org 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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Dikembe Mutombo opens up his heart and home to bring hearing care to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Field Notes
Hope for the Congo Dikembe Mutombo partners with us to bring sustainable hearing care to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Former NBA star turned philanthropist Dikembe Mutombo understands all too well the struggles the socioeconomically disadvantaged face in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He was born and raised in a small village on the outskirts of the capital, Kinshasa. His father supported his wife and their 10 children on a schoolteacher’s salary of $38 a month. His parents modeled living a life that valued education and helping others, lessons that Mutombo took to heart. After a successful career in the NBA, he started the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the health, education and quality of life for people in the DRC. Then, in Kinshasa, he opened the $30 million, 150-bed Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital, which was named for his late mother. However, with limited access to specialized medical professionals, Mutombo’s hospital, the best in the nation, was unable to provide access to hearing care. Mutombo watched as patients suffering hearing loss from years of civil war, malaria, meningitis and ear infections received lifesaving treatment but lost their connection to the world around them. “They cannot be a part of society,” said Mutombo. “There are very few schools for them and no treatment.” A member of the Clinton Global Initiative, Mutombo was introduced to Bill Austin at the annual meeting in 2011. He was impressed and saw an opportunity for his country. “I could see the love, passion and desire Bill and Tani have for helping people,” said Mutombo. “They are saving and transforming lives – giving people hope. I wanted to bring that to the Congo.”
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Austin agreed that partnering with Mutombo was a wonderful opportunity to open up with world of sound to people in the DRC. The two spent the next three years talking and planning. Finally, in December 2013, we were ready and scheduled a phase-one hearing mission at Mutombo’s hospital to screen patients and take impressions for earmolds. Going into a country for the first time always fills the hearing mission team with excitement and anxiety. We are excited for all the patients who will now have access to the hearing care they so desperately need, but the anxiety is for all the unknowns: Will we be able to get our equipment into the country to the people who need it? Will our local team of volunteers have the skill set we require? Will the patients understand why we have come? With Mutombo’s organization taking the lead on planning in Kinshasa, things could not have run smoother. All the equipment and materials needed for the phase-one hearing mission made it intact and on time, and we were met with a skilled team of doctors and nurses and given full access to the hospital. With considerable help from Mutombo’s team, we were able to screen more than 1,600 patients and take impressions for nearly 1,000. The team will return this summer for phase two to fit hearing aids, giving the gift of hearing and working to build an AfterCare program. Speaking from the heart, Mutombo expressed his gratitude, saying, “Starkey Hearing Foundation is something that the people in the Congo have never seen before. Its impact will be immeasurable.”
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Starkey Hearing Foundation at the International Consumer Electronics Show and the Hearing Innovation Expo.
Noteworthy
Inspiring the Innovators
President Bill Clinton, President George W. Bush, Rayovac and musician Dave Matthews show the power of the gift of hearing.
January marked a short break from hearing missions for Starkey Hearing Foundation, but the team was by no means resting. With the success of our AfterCare programs around the world and the upcoming launch of our system for advanced data collection, we have ensured the long-term success of our patients. So, we decided to head back out on the road to share the life-changing impact of our efforts. Dave Matthews Rocks the International Consumer Electronics Show Each year the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) takes over Las Vegas with technological advancements, futuristic new products and the opportunity to network with some of the most innovative minds in the world. This year for the first time, our partner Rayovac had its own booth to highlight some of its new products and its work with Starkey Hearing Foundation. World-famous musician Dave Matthews, usually averse to doing performances for corporate events, was so inspired by Rayovac’s commitment to the gift of hearing and the work of the Foundation that he made an exception to perform for a riveted crowd at Rayovac’s CES celebration. In response, Rayovac donated $100,000 in Matthews’ name to help open up the world of sound to people in need. 12
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Two Presidents Join Forces at the Hearing Innovation Expo More than 3,400 hearing care professionals from 36 countries gathered at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for one of the largest events ever held in the history of the hearing care industry. This three-day event offered the perfect platform for Starkey Hearing Foundation to showcase our AfterCare program and efforts to develop sustainable systems of hearing care around the world. President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush put their considerable support behind the work of the Foundation throughout their keynote speeches. Speaking about his recent experience helping the Foundation give the gift of hearing in Tanzania, President Bush said, “A mother’s reaction to watching her child hear for the first time is priceless.” Bill Austin, moved by the Expo participants’ overwhelming support for the Foundation’s work, said, “Somebody has to do something, and it is our good fortune that it can be us.” Planning is underway for the next Hearing Innovation Expo, which is scheduled for January 20–24, 2016, in Las Vegas. Starkey Hearing Foundation will once again be on hand to showcase our impact around the globe.
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Recent Missions
New York
California Mexico Haiti
Dominican Republic
Liberia
Senegal Ghana Rwanda
Uganda Kenya Malawi
We have delivered the gift of hearing to more than
100 countries. Chronic ear infections are a
leading cause
of hearing loss.
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50%
of hearing loss is preventable through public health actions.
Become an inspiration.
inspiration
noun \ĭn'sp -rā�sh n\ e
e
1. A person, place or experience that makes someone want to do or create something 2. A force or influence 3. The action or power of moving the intellect or emotions 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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The Goal
Mission:
Connect families through sound.
los angeles
Los Angeles Grammy Foundation partners to open up the world of music. GRAMMY WEEK IN LOS ANGELES is a time when the world comes together to celebrate the most creative and inspiring efforts of top musicians over the last year. This year, the Grammy Foundation and Audigy Group decided to also help give children and adults in need the opportunity to enjoy music like never before by partnering with us to give them the gift of hearing. A star-studded group of volunteers, including skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, musicians Jessica Sanchez, Michael Johns and Dallas Austin, actors Chris and Kyle Massey and Shannon Elizabeth and many more helped us fit Los Angeles residents with brand-new hearing aids customized to their hearing loss. Among those excited for the gift of hearing was Irit Streett and her three daughters, 7-year-old Alma, 5-year-old Zohar and 3-month-old Mila. After Irit, Alma and Zohar were fit due to hereditary hearing loss, we gave young Mila her very first hearing test. She passed with flying colors! It was wonderful to give our friends in Los Angeles the vital connection to life, sound and music that the gift of hearing brings.
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special thanks: Grammy Foundation, Audigy Group, Tony Hawk, Paige
Hemmis, No Limits, Dallas Austin, Cassie Ventura, Kyle Massey, Chris Massey, Jessica Sanchez, Shannon Elizabeth, Keaton Simons, Michael Johns
What We Did
Inspired new partnerships and friends.
January 2014
special thanks: Delta Zeta, Billy Morrison, Marcus Martin, Craig Robert Young, LSTN, David Lucado, CA Endowment, Green Dot Schools
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The Goal
Mission:
Bring joy through sound.
santiago santo domingo
Dominican Republic Twins great Paul Molitor joins the team. EXCITED TO BE BACK IN THE LAND OF MERENGUE, the team went directly to work opening up the world of sound, music and dance to children and adults in a culture defined by rhythm. Baseball Hall of Famer Paul Molitor and dedicated partner FedEx joined the team to help give the gift of hearing to more than 1,700 people. Baseball is a national obsession in the Dominican Republic, and Molitor gave one Minnesota Twins fan the thrill of a lifetime when he personally fit him with new hearing aids. The young man could not wait to go to a game to hear the roar of the crowd and the crack of the bat. Daughter of longtime Foundation supporter Mike Wheeler, Juliet, has joined us in the Dominican Republic for the past three years. During each trip, she helped to fit the same twin brothers who have understandably grown attached to her. This year, as soon as the twins saw her, they came running to greet her, knowing that she would make sure they remained connected to the world of sound.
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What We Did
Let baseball fans hear the sounds of the game.
January 2014
special thanks: FedEx, Paul and Destini Molitor, Mike Wheeler, the Arscotts, Antonio and Samantha Esteban, Jane Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien, WCCO, Tracy Perlman
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Mission:
The Goal
Give students new opportunities.
port-au-prince
Haiti The team brings hope and opportunity to students. DECIMATED BY A CATASTROPHIC magnitude 7.0 earthquake in 2010, Haiti has struggled to rebuild its infrastructure and economy, which was already the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. Even with all the humanitarian aid that has poured into the country, the need across all of society has made it difficult to reach those living with hearing loss. Focusing specifically on schools for the deaf, the team, joined by partners Clinton Global Initiative and Hope to Haiti and volunteer Tony Sanneh, a former Los Angeles Galaxy player, gave the gift of hearing to students. Fanatical about the sport of soccer, the people of Haiti warmly welcomed Sanneh, who returned the favor by spending quality time with the children he helped fit with new hearing aids. At each school, Sanneh worked alongside Bill and Tani Austin to ensure the students would have a deeper connection to the world.
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What We Did
Built a foundation for the future.
January 2014
special thanks: Clinton Foundation, Bernard Mevs Hospital, Montfort
Institute St-Marc School, Hope to Haiti, Sanneh Foundation, Tony Sanneh, Jane Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien, Dr. Robert Dean, World Wide Village
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The Goal
Mission:
Support a community.
new york city
New York A champion shows his fans what it means to be a hero. SEATTLE SEAHAWK DERRICK COLEMAN JR. took time the day before the Super Bowl to fit New Yorkers in need with hearing aids. Coleman, along with Garth Brooks, Joe Girardi, Larry Fitzgerald Jr., A.J. Green, Tommie Harris, Andre Roberts, Daymond John, Barbara Bush and a host of other celebrities and pro athletes, attended our annual Super Bowl hearing mission, hosted this year by the New York Yankees. After receiving a hero’s welcome from children inspired by his story, the running back helped give patients the gift of hearing. Excited to help Coleman prepare for the biggest game of his life, the team made sure his Starkey hearing aids were in perfect working order to help lead him to victory. “I went through all the pain, and I know that other people have too. The fact that I’m here and I didn’t make any excuses — that my parents didn’t let me — is a blessing,” said Coleman. “That’s why I like talking to kids and meeting them — to let them know I’ve been through it too.” It was a testament to the power of the gift of hearing to witness all the incredible volunteers who took time during a busy weekend to help open up the world of sound to more than 100 people. 22
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special thanks: New York Yankees, Garth Brooks, Derrick Coleman Jr.,
Joe Girardi, Super ProCamps, the Wilf family, Larry Fitzgerald Jr., A.J. Green
What We Did Inspired those who need it most.
February 2014
special thanks: Mike Wheeler, Andre Roberts, Daymond John, Barbara Bush, LSTN, the Kovalcik family, Lindsey Berg, John Saunders
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special thanks: Carl Eller, Jack Brewer, Fatou, Will Witherspoon,
Jermichael Finley, Sarodj Bertin, Alan Kalter, Jay Feely, Mickey Rivers, Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, Tommie Harris
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Mission:
The Goal
Give patients hope for a better future.
accra
Ghana An inspiration joins the hearing mission. THE ROAD WE TRAVEL is always filled with friends, and during our hearing mission in Ghana we were thrilled to welcome the support of so many. From age 1 to 81, patients arrived with hopeful eyes as the team and our local partners gave more than 1,900 children and adults a new connection to life. One of the volunteers joining the team was 12-year-old Jack McConnell, who was born with hearing loss. Rather than letting it hold him back, he views his hearing loss as a gift that pushes him to help open up the world of sound to others through his organization 2020 Hearing. He brought this passion with him to Ghana in 2013 to help our team identify patients and take impressions in preparation for this hearing mission. Jack returned with us to finish the job. With dedicated supporters like him and the determined spirit of the Ghanaian people, we are excited to see our program grow.
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special thanks: Fann Hospital, Ghana National Association of the Deaf, Dr. Robert Dean, the McConnell family, National Council on Persons with Disability (Ghana), Ghana Ministry of Gender, Emperor Gaza Foundation
What We Did Showed the path to success.
February 2014
special thanks: Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching
Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Max Vardon, Hon. Nana Oye Lithur, Dr. Opoku, Ghana State Protocol Department, Ghana National Security Secretariat
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Mission: dakar
Senegal The team brings music to Senegal. THE GIFT OF HEARING GAVE NEW LIFE to Senegalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s explosive colors and brilliant smiles during this hearing mission in Dakar. Famous Senegalese musician Wally Ballago Seck welcomed patients to the world of sound as the team fit them with hearing aids. Working late into the night, the team found energy in the inspirational stories of each patient. Bill Austin fit a 70-year-old retired school headmaster who was frustrated by how his hearing loss was separating him from the world. During the fitting, Bill communicated with the headmaster through a translator. However, when this same man returned for AfterCare in the following weeks, he informed the team proudly in English that he had taught history, grammar and English. The gift of hearing gave him the courage to once again use the skills and knowledge he had spent his life imparting to his students.
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The Goal
Connect across cultures.
What We Did
Gave voice to knowledge.
February 2014
special thanks: Doug McMillin, Utah State University, Wally Ballago Seck, Dr. Robert Dean, Dr. Malick Diop
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Mission: zwedru monrovia
Liberia President of Liberia shows her support for the gift of hearing. THE FIRST FEMALE HEAD OF STATE IN AFRICA and Nobel Prize winner Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf joined the team in Monrovia to highlight the importance of hearing care. We worked diligently late into the night by headlight to ensure all in need were given connection to the world of sound. Katie Meyler, founder of More Than Me, an organization that gets girls off the streets of one of Liberiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poorest slums and into schools, also joined the team. Katie understands the struggles many children with hearing loss face, because she has struggled with it as well. Bill Austin fit her with hearing aids in the United States, and she joined us to give that gift to others.
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The Goal
Connect to new partners.
What We Did Returned sound with dignity.
special thanks: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Tiyatien Health, Paâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hat Foundation, More Than Me, Dr. Robert Dean
February 2014
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The Goal
Mission:
Build support.
la paz
Touching the Soul in Mexico A family finds their calling with the mission team. WHILE THE BEAUTY OF THE HIGH CLIFFS, sandy beaches and abundant wildlife along the Sea of Cortez was breathtaking, it was not the focus of the team and our incredible group of volunteers. With the help of the Argyros Family Foundation and the entire Argyros family, our focus was opening up the world of sound to people in need. Philanthropists George, Julia and Stephanie Argyros, along with several generations of their big-hearted and inspiring family, worked to build personal connections to each person they met. However, it was a young boy who formed a special bond with Julia that touched us all. He experienced the world of sound for the first time. He walked up to Juliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fitting station quiet and timid, but by the time she worked her magic on him, he was blowing her kisses and dancing. It was clear that he felt like a star filled with hope for a better future.
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special thanks: George, Julia and Stephanie Argyros, Lauren, Ashley
and Gunnar Gehl, Bennet Ward, John and Helena Roseman, Terri Watkins
What We Did Created lasting friendships.
February 2014
special thanks: Joe Koontz, John Griffin, Rob Martin, Maureen Daley, Club de Leones Los Cabos, Club de Leones La Paz Kalimeji, Utah State University
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Mission: monterrey
reynosa matamoros
Teamwork Across Mexico The team gives patients a lifetime of hearing. FROM PATIENT OUTREACH AND IMPRESSION taking to logistical coordination to AfterCare, Starkey Matamoros are powerful partners along with the D.I.F. and Rotary District 4130. Patients in Reynosa, Matamoros and Monterrey will benefit from the gift of hearing for years to come because of the dedication of this amazing team.
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special thanks: Dora Morales and Starkey Matamoros, Guadalupe
Hernandez, Club Rotario Reynosa, Club Rotario Matamoros Industrial, Club Rotario Del Valle Monterrey, Utah State University
Mission:
cuautitlรกn
Translating Love Old friends help make a big impact. LONGTIME FRIEND AND PARTNER FERNANDO Torres brought his entire family to volunteer and help open up the world of sound to people in need. These enthusiastic translators and logistical coordinators made sure each patient received the highest quality care and the best possible fit.
special thanks: Fernando Torres, Fundacion Tu Casa Entre Los Arboles,
Enrique Malpica and Starkey Mexico, Dr. Robert Dean, Utah State University
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Mission: san luis potosi
A Celebration of Life Bill Austin’s birthday takes on special meaning in Mexico. BILL AUSTIN HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE to the gift of hearing and helping people connect with their families and the world around them. For his birthday, the team surprised him and that day’s patients with a Mariachi band. Among the crowd of revelers were a passionate group of volunteers from California who brought their considerable skills to help us change lives. Several of the volunteers spoke Spanish and were able to help a young father and his three sons, all struggling with hereditary hearing loss. The day was even more special for them because it marked the first time this family all heard each other’s voices. The team, our incredible volunteers and patients new to the world of sound danced and sang in celebration of Bill and the gift of hearing.
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special thanks: Carolyn Powers, Joe and Pamela Balla, Strategic Assets Group, Inc., Jim Kilkowski, Jason Post, Post Investment Group, Kent Seton, JD Montgomery, Noah and Debbie McMahon, Dr. Robert Dean, Club Rotario San Luis Potosi Tangamanga, Utah State University
Mission: mazatlan
Lions of Mexico A powerful partnership changes lives. THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, LIONS CLUBS devote themselves to improving their communities by tackling challenging issues together. In Mexico, those issues include developing sustainable systems of hearing care. With the help of Club de Leones Mazatlan Pacifico, we are connecting families, communities and building a better tomorrow for Mazatlan.
special thanks: Aureliano Jauregui, Club de Leones Mazatlan Pacifico,
Dora Morales and Starkey Matamoros, Dr. Robert Dean, Utah State University
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Mission:
The Goal
Renew our commitment.
mzuzu lilongwe
Malawi Presidential help gives the gift of hearing a boost. WORKING FROM EARLY IN THE MORNING until late into the evening, the team was excited to be back in beautiful Malawi. Malawi President Joyce Banda showed her support and joined us as we worked to provide thousands of hearing aids to adults and children in need. Malaria and meningitis are common in Malawi, and both diseases, along with their required life-saving treatment, can often result in hearing loss. Many of the older patients had lost their hearing this way, including a husband and wife who had been unable to communicate fully with each other for more than 20 years. The 72-year-old husband had developed hearing loss after a bad bout of malaria and had spent years struggling to hear his family, which over the years had grown from children to grandchildren. Once he was fit, the entire family began dancing and hugging, overjoyed to have their patriarch back.
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What We Did
Connected generations.
March 2014
special thanks: Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda, Jack Brewer, Rajiv Kacholia, Brian Williams, Ramses Barden, Greg Secker, Natalie Bowen, MediFix
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Mission: gulu kampala
The Goal
Strengthen ties.
Uganda Forest Whitaker joins the team. THE TEAM WAS THRILLED TO WELCOME a group of powerful and passionate volunteers in Uganda. Academy Award winner and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace Forest Whitaker, former child soldier Okello Sam, and current and former NFL players Robert Quinn, Tommie Harris, Will Witherspoon and Jack Brewer joined the team, ready and excited to help give the gift of hearing. Whitaker’s dedication to the people of Uganda found roots in his work on the film “The Last King of Scotland,” for which he won an Academy Award for portraying former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. Throughout filming, Whitaker immersed himself in the history and culture of Uganda and formed a powerful friendship with Sam, founder of Hope North, an organization dedicated to educating and healing the young victims of Uganda’s civil war. Whitaker’s passion for improving the lives of others and deep empathy for the young boys and men forced to fight in Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army showed through during our hearing mission. During our time in Gulu, Hope North brought a group of 60 former soldiers who had all lost their hearing while forced to fight. Whitaker took his time with the soldiers, making sure to hear their stories and understand the impact of hearing loss on their lives. Once a connection was developed, he worked with the team to give back hearing.
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special thanks: Forest Whitaker, Pros for Africa, Bill Horn,
Robert and Christina Quinn, Tommie Harris, Will Witherspoon
What We Did Channeled the passion of a star.
special thanks: Mark and Jennifer Adams, Jack Brewer, Lowell and Michelle Scott, LSTN, Jonathan Severn, Ret Templet
March 2014
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The Goal
Mission: kisumu mara
Share our passion.
eldoret kibera
Kenya NFL players put their muscle behind the gift of hearing. CURRENT AND FORMER NFL PLAYERS Robert Quinn, Tommie Harris, Jack Brewer and Will Witherspoon brought their hearts and skills to help the team provide hearing aids to thousands of Kenyans. We also once again partnered with Shining Hope for Communities in Africa’s largest slum, Kibera. One 12-year-old boy had never heard before and was never taught any other form of communication. His mother brought him to the hearing mission hoping for a miracle, and in return, we gave her son the gift of hearing. In addition to hearing his mother say, “I love you,” for the first time, he walked away with a new and powerful confidence, knowing that his dreams might be within reach.
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special thanks: Robert and Christina Quinn, Tommie Harris, Will
Witherspoon, Sandi Young, LSTN, Pros for Africa, Bill Horn, Jack Brewer
What We Did Gave hope for a better tomorrow.
March 2014
special thanks: Mark and Jennifer Adams, Lowell and Michelle Scott, the Morang family, Neil Aiello, Jonathan Severn, Ret Templet
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Mission: musanze butare
The Goal
Expand reach.
Rwanda A special delivery from the UN changes lives. WHILE OUR TIME IN RWANDA WAS SHORT, it was filled with meaningful moments and amazing, lifechanging stories. Longtime Foundation supporter and NFL superstar Larry Fitzgerald Jr. joined the team to help open up the world of sound to more than 1,300 people. The hearing mission began with a special delivery. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) arrived with a large group of refugees hoping for hearing care. Once we had fit all the UNHCR patients, our local team brought Marie to our attention. In addition to fighting illness, Marie had been struggling with hearing loss and was unable to communicate with her family. In the hospital and on oxygen, she could not travel to our hearing mission, so we brought the hearing mission to her. Bill Austin came to her bedside to give her back the gift of hearing.
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What We Did Developed new partnerships.
special thanks: Larry Fitzgerald Jr., Sandi Young, Neil Aiello, Naomi Tesfamariam, Rahel Aron, KK Gross, Celeste Longo
March 2014
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TEAM OF ANGELS
NFL players embrace the gift of hearing. It all began in 2009 at a So the World May Hear Awards Gala weekend house party hosted by Bill and Tani Austin. It was a big event and required lots of space for parked cars. Bill and Tani, grateful for their understanding neighbors, invited them all. Unknown to the Austins, one of their neighbors was Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald Jr. who walked over to check out all the fun. What he found would change his life and the lives of many NFL players and people in need. Prior to meeting Fitzgerald, the Foundation had partnered with the NFL Alumni Association for several Super Bowl weekend hearing missions. However, when Fitzgerald joined the Foundation on a mission in India, it marked the first time an active player joined the team. During the hearing mission, he experienced what it felt like to change a person’s life. He listened and took in Bill’s philosophy: “Alone we can’t do much. Together we can change the world.” He brought all this home to his fellow players and teammates, singing the praises of our work. They listened. During the following year’s off-season, Fitzgerald joined the team once again, but this time Pros For Africa also partnered with us in Uganda, bringing Adrian Peterson, Roy Williams, Vontae Davis, Vernon Davis and Tommie Harris. Witnessing the life-changing gift of hearing had such a profound effect on each player that they talked and even more players listened. The growing word of mouth snowballed and more and more players wanted to be involved. Today our team of NFL hearing angels has become more of an army. They are passionate about giving back, dedicated to the gift of hearing and proud to share the work of the Foundation with anyone who will listen. 50
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THE TEAM
Larry Fitzgerald Jr., Greg Jennings, Adrian Peterson, Tommie Harris, Ray Lewis, Derrick Coleman Jr., Ramses Barden, Lem Barney, Matt Blair, NaVorro Bowman, Jack Brewer, Stevie Brown, Ronnie Cameron, Quinton Carter, Greg Childs, Dallas Clark, Mark Clayton, Chase Daniel, Vernon Davis, Vontae Davis, Brian de la Puente, Joe DeLamielleure, Chris Doleman, Carl Eller, Jay Feely, Jermichael Finley, Chuck Foreman, Matt Forte, Josh Freeman, Dwight Freeney, Ted Ginn Jr., A.J. Green, Santonio Holmes, Steve Hutchinson, Mark Ingram, Michael Irvin, Jim Kleinsasser, Paul Krause, Brandon LaFell, Ben Leber, Andy Levire, Curtis Lofton, Bob Lurtsema, Ryan Mallett, Deuce McAllister, Kyle McCarthy, Gerald McCoy, Randle McDaniel, Jerome McDougle, Stockar McDougle, Bryant McKinnie, Jim McMahon, Derrick Morgan, Hannibal Navies, Nelson Peterson, Robert Quinn, John Randle, Andre Roberts, Zac Robinson, Kyle Rudolph, Jerome Simpson, Chris Smith, Darren Sproles, John Sullivan, Kraig Urbik, Kurt Warner, Roy Williams, Brian Williams, Will Witherspoon, Eric Wood, Rickey Young, Jack Youngblood
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HEARING ANGEL MVPs From the football field to the hearing mission field, these remarkable NFL players know what it takes to make a powerful impact. Their support for the gift of hearing has been instrumental in both raising awareness of the importance of hearing care and providing inspiration to patients who need it most. We are honored to call them friends.
5 2 SSTA TARRKKEEYY HHEEAARRI INNGG FO FOUUNNDAT DATI O I ONN
ADRIAN PETERSON s ON know PETERS ve li ly u ADRIAN tr eans to what it m potential. His ur o y to up ering the n to bett o h ti a ic d e d es throug thers shin ives the lives of o g atient he to each p f hearing. gift o
A a and US a, Rwand s: Ugand re, ie ta tr u n B u , o lu C pala, Gu alem, Kam Cities: S olis ap e n in Dallas, M ed fit: aids help Hearing 0 0 5,0 More than
LARRY FITZGERALD JR.
LARRY FITZGERALD JR. is by far one of the gift of hearingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most fervent supporters. He has crisscrossed the globe with the Foundation because he believes the connecting power of hearing can transform lives and communities.
RAY LEWIS
RAY LEW ISâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; succe field pale s s in comp s on the arison to ability to his inspire o thers off He believ of it. es that k indness h the powe as r to chan ge the w and bring orld s this ph iloso the heari ng missio phy to n team.
Countrie s: Tanzan ia Cities: A rusha Hearing aid More than s helped fit: 2,500
Countries: India, Nepal, Tanzania, Uganda, Malaysia, Philippines, Rwanda, USA Cities: Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Kathmandu, Arusha, Mwanza, Kampala, Gulu, Penang, Manila, Butare, Miami, Minneapolis, Indianapolis Hearing aids helped fit: More than 25,000
GREG JENNINGS
GREG JENNINGS kno ws that with great privilege com es great responsibility, and he lives every day looking for ways he can contribute and give bac k. As a result, he has helped change thousands of lives aro und the world by introducing them to the world of sound.
Countries: Tanzania, USA Cities: Arusha, New Orl eans, Minneapolis Hearing aids helped fit: More than 2,500
TOMMIE HARRIS
On the field , TOMMIE H ARRIS was a force to be reckon ed with, but off the field he has a heart of go ld. He is alw ays willing to dr op everything open up the to world of soun d to someone in need.
Countries: USA, Uganda , Tanzania, Kenya, Rwan da Cities: New Orleans, Min neapolis, Kampala, Gu lu, Arusha, Ki bera, Eldore Kisumu, Buta t, re Hearing aids helped fit: More than 22 ,000
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UNCOMMON HEROES Derrick Coleman Jr. inspires a new generation of role models.
Dressed in blue jeans and a Seattle Seahawks jersey inscribed with “Coleman 40” across the back, 9-year-old Riley Kovalcik saunters up to her father, Jake, at our New York hearing mission held over Super Bowl weekend. Her confidence shines through her tomboy persona as she boldly asks her father, “Why are those kids moving their hands like that?” Jake replies matter-of-factly, “Those kids have hearing loss, like you, but they use their hands to communicate.” “Oh,” she says, puzzled, before running off to join her twin sister, Erin, attempting to take down their hero, Seattle Seahawk fullback Derrick Coleman Jr., with a full-on tackle. The special relationship between Coleman and the Kovalcik family has been well documented. Both Erin and Riley were born with genetic hearing loss, as was Coleman. The twins are huge football fans and idolize Coleman for all he has been able to overcome and accomplish. In January, Riley decided to write Coleman a letter telling him about the positive impact he has had on her young life. Jake was so moved by his daughter’s words that he took a photo of the letter and tweeted it to Coleman. To everyone’s surprise, the fullback responded, and it went viral. Since then, Erin and Riley have had the opportunity to spend some quality time with Coleman, including 54
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recently during our hearing mission in New York. The girls joined Coleman as he worked side-by-side with our team to help give the gift of hearing to children and adults in need. In addition, they watched as Jake, inspired by his daughters’ bravery, decided to address his own hearing loss and be fit with hearing aids for the first time. While looking fondly at the twins, Coleman said, “I just hope to inspire people, especially children, to achieve their dreams.” Erin and Riley took in every word of inspiration Coleman had for them, but even more meaningful was that they experienced for the first time what it meant to be someone’s hero. Multiple news channels had picked up Erin and Riley’s story, and many of the children being fit recognized them. Children with new hearing aids approached the twins in admiration because they knew that these young ladies had overcome their own challenges to live their dreams. While Erin and Riley did not fully understand what was happening around them, it was not lost on their father. Speaking about the experience, Jake said, “What we saw and experienced was life changing. You’ve given us so much hope for what is possible, and I don’t want my family to lose that. I want my girls to help others.” They have some NFL-player-sized shoes to fill, but Erin and Riley are well on their way.
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â&#x20AC;&#x153; My story is not unique. I share the same challenges with every child and adult working to overcome hearing loss. I went through all the same challenges they face every day, and I know what it means to live my dreams.â&#x20AC;?
DERRICK COLEMAN JR. unleashes a new brand of inspiration.
Firsthand
Living with No Excuses Seattle Seahawk Derrick Coleman Jr. uses the gift of hearing to show the world how to dream big. Throughout Super Bowl XLVIII, all supporters of the gift of hearing had their eyes on the Seattle Seahawks No. 40. Like his teammates, Derrick Coleman Jr. had spent his young life practicing discipline and training for this day. Unlike his teammates, however, he had done it all while also working to overcome his hearing loss. Coleman was born with a genetic form of hearing loss that caused him to lose the majority of his hearing in his left ear and progressively lose the hearing in his right ear by the age of 3. He taught himself to read lips and started wearing hearing aids at a young age. Refusing to let his hearing loss hold him back, he became a high school football star, played for UCLA and is now a Super Bowl champion. When did you first hear about Starkey Hearing Foundation? I currently wear Starkey hearing aids, but I heard about the work of the Foundation before I was ever fit. I was inspired by how they traveled the world changing people’s lives with hearing aids, and I wanted to be a part of that. Then when I was with the Minnesota Vikings, I got the opportunity to meet Bill Austin. He fit me with hearing aids that improved my hearing by 60%, all while telling me about helping kids in Africa hear. Now that I have the opportunity to be a part of this work, I feel very blessed. How did your hearing loss help prepare you for the NFL? Every challenge I had, overcoming it didn’t come easy. I had to be persistent, and my family raised me to never use my hearing aids as an excuse. That
mentality bled into other aspects of my life, training and performance. When a player makes it to the NFL, we have to prove ourselves. I went out there with the talent God blessed me with and gave it everything I had with confidence, and that just made my bond with my teammates stronger. Does your hearing loss give you any advantages on the field? Absolutely. I can rely on reading lips. If the quarterback changes the play at the last minute, all he has to do is mouth it to me, and I know what to do. Also, when the stadium gets loud, it doesn’t hurt my ears as much as everyone else, but I know it’s loud. I love hearing the fans cheer. What was it like to assist in fitting hearing aids during our New York hearing mission Super Bowl weekend? It is different being on the other side. I am usually the one sitting down and being tested and fit. But when you are giving hearing aids to someone else, it is amazing to know how much it is going to help them. Just like it helped me. How does it feel to be an inspiration to so many? My story is not unique. I share the same challenges with every child and adult working to overcome hearing loss. I went through all the same challenges they face every day, and I know what it means to live my dreams. I want them to understand that at a deep level. I want them to believe in their dreams and do everything they can to get there. I want them to push beyond their challenges because what is on the other side is worth it. I am honored to be able to use my profession and my platform to be an example and get this message out to those who need to hear it.
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Sounds Good Can you identify that sound? It starts
with an act of triumph, witnessed by those invested in the outcome. Then there is a gasp, followed by a rapid release of air, energy and jubilance. A swift rumble ripples through, growing broader, stronger and louder, reaching thousands. The roar of a crowd at a sports stadium is the rallying call of all die-hard fans. It 5 8 S TA R K E Y H E A R I N G FO U N DAT I O N
brings us together to act as one, standing in solidarity behind our modern-day warriors. However, our drive to show support for the colors we bleed can do untold harm to our hearing. The sounds of a stadium can reach in excess of 137 decibels, more than 57 decibels over safe levels. The next time you head out to cheer on your favorite team, remember to bring your hearing protection and Listen Carefully.
1AMERICAN in 8
TEENS
HAS PERMANENT HEARING LOSS The majority of it is preventable.
listen carefully. Find out more â&#x20AC;&#x201C; visit www.listencarefully.org
SAVE THE DATE
July 20, 2014 Please join us to celebrate the spirit of giving and help us reflect caring around the world!
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