hear so the world may
I s s u e No. 3 , 2 0 1 3
Starkey Hearing Foundation
President Bush Joins The Team HONDURAS • PAPUA NEW GUINEA • MADAGASCAR • MALAYSIA kenya • TANZANIA • MALAWI • UNITED STATES
RIPPLE Caring, in a time of need. Sharing prosperity, with those who have little. One drop. A moment of kindness, can ignite a movement, a wave of change, moving across borders, around the world, connecting lives, making us all family. One act multiplied by thousands.
Together, we can change the world.
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 12555 Jefferson Boulevard #150 Los Angeles, CA 90066
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Director’s Cut Setting out to inspire a generation.
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Reel A peek at stunning, documentary films of missions and more.
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Engage News and posts from friends worldwide.
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Noteworthy Powering the Gift of Hearing.
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Field Notes Flight of Hope.
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Firsthand Brendan O’Gorman.
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Sounds Good Can you identify this sound?
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Starkey Hearing Foundation is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) public tax-exempt charitable organization.
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Recent Missions 14
Honduras Reflecting love to those who need it most.
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Powerful Support in Dar es Salaam Inspiring the next generation of leaders.
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Papua New Guinea Celebrating the gift of hearing with new friends.
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Crossing Tanzania with the Stars Building lasting partnerships.
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Madagascar Witnessing the miracle of sound.
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Malawi Showing students the path to success.
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Malaysia Working together helps all realize greater potentials.
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Eden Prairie, Minnesota Connecting families.
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Kenya Starting a movement for sustainable change.
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Steven Sawalich: Setting out to inspire a generation.
Director’s Cut Our global work developing sustainable systems of hearing care gives us a unique window into the many challenges facing people around the world. Hearing is our vehicle to improve the lives of individuals, families and communities, and we know we can’t do this alone. In order to create real change, we must harness the power of many and develop a holistic approach to address these challenges. One of our most powerful and underutilized resources is the enthusiasm and energy of our youth. Millennials are the most highly connected and socially conscious generation in history, and they do not want to sit idly by wishing good things for the world—they want to make things happen. However, young people today struggle with developing a clear focus for their energies. They want to volunteer for a worthy cause, but they do not know how they can give back. From the socioeconomic divide to global health problems to lack of access to clean water—the incredibly complex issues facing the world can make it difficult to know where to begin. For an eager millennial looking to make an impact, it can feel paralyzing. Operation Change is attempting to create a consciousness shift that brings people together to meet challenges. The campaign offers a solution by empowering youth to discover their passion and channel it in ways that will improve their communities and ultimately, the world. Through Operation Change we are providing the inspiration to drive engagement and develop a roadmap to create impact. This multimedia campaign incorporates a documentary series, a web platform and social media to incentivize individual philanthropy and tap into the energy of a generation. Rousing viewers to become a part of a movement, the documentary series takes us on a journey around the world to witness the fabric of life through stories of hope and triumph that allow us to see how connected we truly are. It shows us that no matter what region of the world we live in, we all have the same basic needs and wants for our families—education, access to resources and hope for the future. Looking at innovative solutions to sanitation in Haiti, peacemaking in Palestine, health care in South Africa, disability in Malaysia and many more, viewers are given an understanding of the kind of impact that is possible when you care enough to do something. Through the web platform and social media engagement, Operation Change gives motivated young people the tools to create impact by showing them ways to individually improve the world around them through daily actions. Operation Change lets young people know that they do not have to volunteer for a large organization or travel to the other side of the world to make a difference—real change starts with one person. We know the actions of a single person can create a ripple effect that will ignite a movement and change the world. Join us, and be that change.
Become a part of Operation Change. Visit our website www.operationchange.com, and join the conversation on Facebook (facebook.com/operationchng) and Twitter (twitter.com/operationchange).
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Short documentary films await you at starkeyhearingfoundation.org. So head there and let us know what you think.
Reel We round up our latest visual story telling. Using the Power of Partnership The rural and expansive nature of Honduras creates challenges when reaching out to people in need of hearing care. Fortunately, skilled and powerful partners, like Operation Honduras and Starkey Canada, make those challenges much less formidable. Our new short film highlights the incredible work of our long-term, on-theground partners and mission volunteers who dedicate themselves to finding people who need to hear.
Giving Music Back to New Orleans For musicians the gift of hearing holds special meaning. In New Orleans, where musicians are the heart and soul of the city, sound is like air, and music is breathing. Our recent short film follows the team, along with superstar Garth Brooks and NFL players Greg Jennings, Will Witherspoon, Brian de la Puente, Hannibal Navies and others, as they spend Super Bowl weekend giving music back to those in need in the Big Easy.
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Building Sustainable Systems of Hearing Care To truly make an impact, our efforts must be sustainable. Our recent short film highlights our efforts in Rwanda and shows how, by working closely with on-the-ground partners, we bring patients long-term hearing care. The Rwanda program exemplifies how we incorporate a full-circle approach that ensures patients will be connected to the world of sound for years to come.
“Hearing is very important. Without hearing you are separated from everyone else.”
“I have no words… He will have friends. He will go to school. He will say what he feels.”
“There is an immediate impact. Right away these people’s lives are changed.”
Dr. Mukara Batamuliza Kaitesi Rwanda
Mother of a patient in Honduras
Hannibal Navies
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Letters and posts from you—on the web and in the mail.
Engage Social media has been buzzing with Starkey Hearing Foundation.
Follow the conversation @starkeycares
@MarleeMatlin: Please support @starkeycares. They do so much for those unable to afford hearing aids or medical attention. They are truly angels!
@KennedyOdede: Having a good time with @starkeycares team in #Kibera. Can’t wait for the phase one mission tomorrow morning. Go team!
@MichelleNola12: So proud of the Hearing Alliance Members (SHA) who raised $76K to give 7,400+ hearing aids in Mexico & Honduras through @starkeycares.
@DALLASAUSTIN: Hearing is the most important thing in music. Please #ListenCarefully. @starkeycares is the foundation I work with to prevent hearing loss.
@TackleKili: With @starkeycares fitting hearing aids with @raylewis and the @TackleKili team!
@Rayovac_hearing: We’re proud to be partnered with the Starkey Hearing Foundation who provides the gift of hearing around the world!
@Mollylafleur: Today is the big day! Off to Honduras to spend a week with the amazing @starkeycares!
@ssrichards20: Getting ready to change some lives in Africa with @starkeycares!
“@starkeycares very impressive and inspirational. Keep up the good work. God bless you all.” Tweeted by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete (@jmkikwete)
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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.
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. We’re building a global network of care—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.
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Sustaining the gift of hearing.
Noteworthy
Powering the Gift of Hearing Our World Partner Rayovac donates millions of batteries each year, ensuring hearing aid recipients are connected to the world of sound for years to come. Generally, you may not think too much about batteries until your TV remote dies, your cellphone runs out of power or your car won’t start. But when it comes to hearing aids, a battery is the difference between connection and isolation, and without a battery, a hearing aid is just a fancy ear decoration. In the United States and other developed nations hearing aid batteries are easily accessible, but in many of the countries where Starkey Hearing Foundation missions go, hearing aid batteries are either incredibly difficult to find, or if they are available, cost more than most people could possibly afford. These conditions could make ensuring the sustainability of the gift of hearing a challenge, unless, of course, Rayovac, one of the world’s leading battery manufacturers, is your partner. From the moment Starkey Hearing Foundation began conducting international missions, Rayovac was by our side. The battery giant donates millions of batteries each year to keep more than 100,000 hearing aids fit annually up and running. As our program grows, so does Rayovac’s commitment and generosity.
are only as good as our partners, and our work wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of Rayovac. With their help, we are able to reflect sharing and caring into thousands of lives around the world each year through the gift of hearing.” Explaining what the partnership has meant to Rayovac, Omar Asali, president of Harbinger Group Inc., said, “The work Starkey Hearing Foundation is doing to bring the gift of hearing to so many in need is an inspiration. The impact Bill’s team has on people’s lives is profound and moving, and we want to do everything in our power to support their efforts. Harbinger Group Inc., in conjunction with the Rayovac division of Spectrum Brands, is honored to be a part of Starkey Hearing Foundation’s mission to change lives.” Rayovac stepped up to fill a void in countries where hearing aid batteries are economically out of reach and inaccessible. As a result, Rayovac, alongside Starkey Hearing Foundation, has changed an immeasurable number of lives for the better.
In addition to donating an unimaginable amount of batteries, Rayovac and its parent companies, Spectrum Brands and Harbinger Capital, sponsor numerous mission trips each year and are the event sponsors for our annual So the World May Hear Awards Gala. Rayovac employees also donate their time by participating in numerous mission trips year including Tanzania, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, South Africa and Papua New Guinea. Speaking about the role Rayovac has played in the success of the Foundation’s mission, Bill Austin said, “We s ta r ke y he a r in g f o u n dati o n
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Recent Missions
Minnesota
Honduras Malaysia Tanzania
Kenya Malawi Madagascar
We have delivered the gift of hearing to more than
100 countries. In the past year Starkey Hearing Foundation donated
165,000+
hearing aids.
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Current production of hearing aids meets less than
10%
of global need.
Papua New Guinea
Engaging to spread caring and sharing.
engage
verb /in-'gﾄ）/ 1. To pledge oneself 2. To begin and carry on an enterprise or activity 3. To offer as security for a cause Hannalei Lumley, age 21 13 Operation Change
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Mission: la ceiba san pedro sula tegucigalpa
Honduras
Mission team spends Mother’s Day caring for children without families. During our spring mission in Honduras, the team could not have received a warmer welcome. Mother’s Day kicked things off right with a visit to two children’s homes, where the children greeted us with hugs, kisses and blessings. We were excited to spend the day caring for children without families of their own. At our first stop, we met a young man who grew up at the home. Now he has a job and lives on his own, but he returns often to share his experiences with the children and volunteer as a soccer coach. The second home we visited was for children living with HIV/ AIDS. Surrounded by a loving and caring staff, these children were quick to respond with a warm smile and a hug. Our goal was to spend Mother’s Day caring for and encouraging children in need. By the end of the day, the experience we shared changed our own lives forever. Rejuvenated by all the love received at the orphanages, the mission team went on to fit more than 4,000 hearing aids to children and adults in need across Honduras.
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The Goal
Bring hope.
What We Did
Reflected love to those who need it most.
special thanks: Rotary Club of Tocoa, Starkey Hearing Alliance, Starkey Canada, Operation Honduras
May 2013
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Mission: mount hagen
The Goal
Build bridges between people.
goroka
port moresby
Papua New Guinea Tribal leaders bring out the joy in celebration of the gift of hearing. Excited to be returning to the “land that time forgot,� Bill and Tani Austin, along with the mission team, headed to the deepest parts of Papua New Guinea to deliver the gift of hearing. Joined by partners from Rayovac, Spectrum Brands, Harbinger Group and Starkey Australia, the team fit more than 2,300 in need of help. At each stop along the way, the people of Papua New Guinea greeted the team with joyful and colorful celebrations of gratitude. Locals often met the team with wonder and disbelief because they were amazed that anyone would travel halfway around the world to help them hear. They expressed their appreciation through wonderful celebrations filled with local music and dance while donning intricate and gorgeous traditional attire. The team gladly joined in, before getting down to the business of hearing care.
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What We Did
Celebrated the gift of hearing with new friends.
special thanks: Rayovac, Spectrum Brands, Harbinger Group,
Starkey Australia
May 2013
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The Goal
Mission:
Uncover a future of possibility.
antananarivo antsirabe
Madagascar Mission team stands in awe of a miracle. A child’s transformation when first connected to the world of sound is nothing short of miraculous. A life, once limited and isolated, is instantaneously changed—filled with hope. We witness this on a daily basis, but what awaited us in Madagascar was extra special. Two quiet young girls approached Bill and Tani Austin’s fitting stations. The one in Bill’s chair was sweet and compliant, but introverted. On the other hand, the girl in Tani’s chair was fearful and full of fight. The Austin’s worked diligently to calm their fears and provide the care they needed, and as fate would have it, they turned on the girls’ hearing aids at the exact same time. The girls began vocalizing simultaneously as Bill and Tani looked on in wonder. The introverted girl in Bill’s chair came out of her shell, repeating and mimicking any sound he made. The young girl with the fighting spirit in Tani’s chair let go of her fear, and in its place, she found hope and joy. Smiles spread across both of the girls’ faces as they shouted for the whole world to hear.
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What We Did
Witnessed the miracle of sound.
June 2013
special thanks: Naomi Tesfamariam, Rahel Aaron, Rotary International
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Reflecting caring beyond hearing.
Field Notes
Flight of Hope
Bill Austin finds an unexpected mission in Madagascar. Mamilaza, a 49-year-old husband and father of three developed a large aortic aneurysm and was in critical condition in a hospital. Regardless of his location, this was a terrifying fate to stare down. In a developed country, a team of doctors would be monitoring him and prepping him for surgery. However, Mamilaza was in Antananarivo, Madagascar with no access to medical staff trained to treat his condition. He was lying in the hospital, waiting for his aortic aneurysm to rupture and kill him. His only chance for survival lay across the Indian Ocean to the east on Réunion Island. There an experienced surgeon was waiting to save his life. The problem was getting him there. Flying was out of the question. Any commercial airliner that Mamilaza and his family could afford would not be able to maintain cabin pressure in order to prevent his aneurism from rupturing. A boat trip, with jarring waves over an extended period of time, would be certain death. Mamilaza had resigned himself to his fate and was quietly saying goodbye to his loved ones. On May 31, the mission team arrived in Madagascar to fit more than 6,000 hearing aids. Madagascar 20
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Ambassador Zina Andrianarivelo, volunteered to help with the mission. As fate would have it, Andrianarivelo also happened to know Mamilaza and his family. Andrianarivelo explained the urgency of Mamilaza’s situation to Bill Austin, to which Bill replied, “We will do whatever we can to help.” Doctors stabilized Mamilaza and loaded him into an ambulance headed for the airport where Bill Austin’s private plane was waiting. Bill had personally arranged for Mamilaza’s transport and spoke with the experienced flight crew to make sure they flew the plane at a level that would maintain a safe cabin pressure for his condition. Mamilaza’s grateful family all came to the airport parking lot to watch the plane take off, sending with it all of their hope and love. The plane landed gently on Réunion Island where an ambulance was waiting to rush Mamilaza to the hospital. Doctors performed a 12-hour-open-heart surgery, saving his life. When word of the successful surgery reached the team back in Madagascar, we all shared the joy for life with Mamilaza’s family.
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The Goal
Mission:
Create partnerships for a future of hearing.
kota kinabalu penang
Malaysia Knowles Electronics and Best Hearing save the day. Struggling with illness, the mission team arrived in Malaysia nervous about their ability to complete the mission. However, thanks to our incredible partners, Knowles Electronics and Best Hearing, the mission went seamlessly, and the team recovered with renewed energy to continue to give the gift of hearing. With the help of our partners, we fit more than 4,000 hearing aids. The joy and smiling faces of all of the wonderful patients in Malaysia proved to be the perfect medicine for the team. Once fit by Bill Austin, one young boy began to recite the alphabet proudly with very little assistance. A young girl fit with her first set of hearing aids also moved the team. Once we turned her aids on, the girl looked at her parents and called them “mama” and “papa” for the very first time, bringing her parents tears of joy. In addition, we welcomed many patients from our last mission in Malaysia back this time as volunteers. As these remarkable young adults worked with the patients, they exemplified our message that there is no such thing as disability. There is only ability.
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What We Did
Empowered a generation to use their abilities.
June 2013
special thanks: Knowles Electronics, Best Hearing, Pat and Joe Manhart
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Mission:
kibera
Kenya The team takes on collective impact. Walking into Kibera, the largest urban slum in Africa located in Nairobi, Kenya, the mission team was not quite sure what to expect. We were there to conduct fittings, do some Phase 1 preparation for a larger mission and meet with our friend Kennedy Odede. As the community activist and founder of Shining Hope for Communities guided us through the narrow streets, we found enormous inspiration in the ability of the human spirit to triumph over adversity. Kibera is filled with hard-working people who are tirelessly carving a better life for themselves and their children out of the shockingly few resources available to them. Using hearing as our vehicle to create change, we are determined to use the power of our network and the resources available to us to help this community in its transformation. In the coming months you will hear more from us on this exciting development.
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The Goal
Create a brighter future.
What We Did
Started a movement for sustainable change.
special thanks: Kennedy Odede, Shining Hope for Communities, Clinton Global Initiative
July 2013
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The Goal
Mission:
Bring the gift of hearing to Dar es Salaam.
dar es salaam
Powerful support in Dar es Salaam President George W. Bush joins the team. Starkey Hearing Foundation’s mission in Tanzania started off with a very special guest. President George W. Bush personally joined the mission team in Dar es Salaam to help change the lives of people in need. Donning a Foundation blue polo shirt and mission tool belt, President Bush took the time to shake hands with the volunteers before getting down to the business of fitting hearing aids. The former president was completely engaged, wanting to experience every step of the process, and after some training from Bill Austin, he put his glasses on and dove right into giving the gift of hearing. Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete also joined the team and helped with the fittings. He shared laughs with the children and encouraged recipients to use their voices. Moved by such world-class volunteers, Bill Austin said, “Hearing is a powerful gift that brings people together, opens doors and gives individuals the power to seize opportunities and reach their full potential in life. We are incredibly grateful for the support of great leaders like President Bush and President Kikwete.” 26
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July 2013
What We Did
Inspired the next generation of leaders.
Doug Pitt and his son Landon helping to change this young girl’s life.
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete trying his hand at fitting hearing aids.
special thanks: President George W. Bush, Mrs. Laura Bush, George W. Bush Institute, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Tanzanian First Lady Salma Kikwete, Omar Asali, Harbinger Capital
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The Bush Institute’s African First Ladies Summit Our incredible mission to Tanzania with President Bush began with a little inspiration from some of the most influential women in the world. The team was honored to participate in the George W. Bush Institute’s African First Ladies Summit in Dar es Salaam. First ladies from across Africa joined First Lady Michelle Obama and former First Lady Laura Bush to discuss investing in women as a means to create greater stability and prosperity in countries.
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Photos courtesy of George W. Bush Presidential Center.
The Goal
Mission: arusha
Sustainable care.
moshi mtwara
Crossing Tanzania with the stars
NFL star Ray Lewis helps give this new mother a chance to hear her baby laugh.
Ray Lewis brings the spirit of a champion to the mission. Traveling across Tanzania is an adventure of a lifetime, and the company of NFL players Ray Lewis and Tommie Harris, actor Kyle Massey and Goodwill Ambassador to Tanzania Doug Pitt made our visit to this incredible country even better. With an A-list set of volunteers and generous sponsors Harbinger Capital, Pentair, Audibel Hearing Healthcare and Geraci Audibel Hearing Centers, the mission team provided more than 5,900 hearing aids to people across three cities in Tanzania. “It is a humbling and eye-opening experience to see a child speak to his mother for the first time. Being a part of this mission is something I will always remember,” said Lewis. “No matter how successful we are, the greatest impact we have on the world comes from what we do for others. Starkey Hearing Foundation exists to serve others, and you can see its impact in the eyes of the families changed forever by the gift of hearing.” 32
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Entertainer Kyle Massey reflects caring to this young man.
special thanks: Pentair, Harbinger Capital, Audibel Hearing Healthcare, Geraci Audibel Hearing Centers, Sound Seekers, Tanzania Assemblies of God, HearWell Audiology Clinic, Tanzanear, Honorable Jerry Silaa, Mayor Ilala, Municipal Council, Buguruni School for the Deaf, Vinay Choudary
What We Did
Built lasting partnerships.
July 2013
NFL star Tommie Harris is becoming a mission veteran.
special thanks: Dr. Enica Richard, Dr. Willy Sangu, Illala Health Authority, UMIVITA, Lutheran Medical Centre in Arusha, Brenda Msangi, Mansoor Daya, Nidrosy Mlawa, Tanzania Society for the Deaf, YMCA, Ray Lewis, Tommie Harris, Kyle Massey, Doug Pitt
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Mission:
The Goal
Bring hope to Malawi’s youth.
lilongwe
Malawi Mission team spends some time at the beach. The closest any of us will ever see Bill Austin to a beach was at our mission in Malawi. Set up on the shore of beautiful Lake Malawi, this mission almost felt like a vacation. However, the mission team’s method for relaxing at the beach was to fit more than 2,300 hearing aids over three days. Fighting off baboons attempting to steal hearing aids, the mission team worked late into the night to ensure each person who arrived at the mission left with the gift of hearing. Several large school groups were fitted with hearing aids, and among them, Tani Austin identified two hearing ambassadors to help other students with their hearing aids. Secondary school students Ida and Andrew quickly picked up how to change batteries and operate their new hearing aids, and they happily agreed to take on their new responsibilities. Tani spent significant time training them on the additional skills they will need to succeed in helping younger students. The team was amazed to see pride and confidence grow in Ida and Andrew as they realized that they too would be able to give back and contribute in a valuable way to their community.
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What We Did
Showed students the path to success.
special thanks: Leigh Kassner, Clement Maliro, Alex Botha
July 2013
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Mission: eden prairie
Eden Prairie, Minnesota Mission team ends the first half of the year with a homegrown mission. winding down a busy six months of changing lives, the mission team decided to fit in one last mission. This homegrown event brought in patients from across Minnesota and a chartered busload from Indiana. One of the families that made the trip from Indiana was the Findley’s. This was father and daughter team Darrell and Mackenzie’s second time participating in a mission. We first met Mackenzie at our 2012 mission in Indianapolis, where the team fit her with new hearing aids. When her father, Darrell, saw how the new hearing aids improved her grades, he reached out to us for help with his hearing loss. In July, with his daughter by his side, we fit Darrell with his new hearing aids. It was a joy-filled day and a great way to welcome home the mission team.
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The Goal
Share the mission spirit in Minnesota.
July 2013
What We Did
Connected families.
Bill Austin doing the production of hearing aid.
special thanks: J Bowman Hearing Services, Cummins Power Systems, Bartholomew Special Services Cooperative
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Chief of Security Brendan O’Gorman devotes his life to the gift of hearing.
Firsthand
Protecting Hope Starkey Hearing Foundation Chief of Security Brendan O’Gorman devotes his life to the gift of hearing. After 15 years as a military police officer with the Irish Defense Forces and acting as chief of security for Digicel in Haiti, Brendan O’Gorman decided to put his skills to work for the gift of hearing as chief of security for Starkey Hearing Foundation. However, O’Gorman’s connection to hearing loss goes far deeper. What is your role with the mission team? When you go into a country with malaria, you take the anti-malarial prescription Malarone to protect yourself from getting malaria. Security is like that. I’m the Malarone. The mission team hopes that I’m never needed, but I am there just in case. Before the team goes into a country I analyze potential risks and develop a plan. When the team is in a country, in addition to ensuring security, I assist with the crowd and help patients get to fitting stations. Volunteers join us on missions to give back and have an experience of a lifetime. It is important to me that they’re comfortable, secure and don’t have to think about possible risks. I work to make sure our security footprint is as invisible as possible. The security team is there only if needed. That’s what I do. Do you have a personal connection to hearing loss? Growing up, I was surrounded by hearing loss. My mother was deaf and 3 8 s ta r ke y he a r in g fo u n dati o n
two of my brothers had hearing loss. But it never occurred to me to think of hearing loss as a struggle. I never thought of deafness as a handicap. It was just something that was there in my family. The only time I remember thinking of it as a challenge to daily living was when I had to pull my mother away from a moving vehicle. She stepped right in front of the car because she didn’t hear the car honking at her. I was just a young kid, and I dragged her out of the road. I will never forget the experience. How has your work with the Foundation changed your view of hearing loss? Seeing the life-changing impact of the gift of hearing caused me to question what it actually means to have hearing loss and the kind of isolation from families and communities it can cause. It’s similar to when you think about somebody who is blind, trying to tell a person who has never had sight what the color blue is or what a tree looks like - you just aren’t able to. It is something that has to be experienced. The places that Starkey Hearing Foundation missions go to do not have the kind of resources we have in Ireland or the U.S. The resources are not there to invest in education, integration, development of communication skills and economic opportunities for children and adults struggling with hearing loss. Without Starkey, people with hearing loss haven’t got a hope. They haven’t got a chance. What I love about Starkey is that we give these children the opportunity to live their dreams.
Inspired by his family and experiences on hearing missions, Brendan expressed his feelings in poetry.
The Gift
Does the breeze make a sound as it kisses my face Or the grass beneath my feet as I run Is there noise from the bird that sits in the tree Or a child in the park having fun Or my first born’s first words As he shouts out with joy or cries out when he falls on the ground Will he think I don’t care because I’m not really there in his world of dimensional sound Does the rain make a Noise as it falls from the sky and comes down with such force on the land Does the snow have a sound as it drifts from above and melts in the palm of my hand Do I make a noise when I cry in despair in frustration of my silent life Are there sounds in the words to comfort and sooth that comes from the mouth of my wife But what if it happened That impossible dream When all round me my world became clear With the gift of an aid I’m no longer afraid And with a switch I can finally hear Brendan O’Gorman s ta r ke y he a r in g f o u n dati o n
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Sounds Good Can you identify that sound?
The air takes a brisk turn, as nature’s vibrant summer colors turn to peaceful earthy tones. And then it begins… a quivering, followed by a silent snap as towering giants go dormant in preparation for the cold months ahead. Cool breezes catch hold as the final signs of warmth quietly splash to the ground.
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Signaling the cycle of life, each year fall leaves excite the senses with distinct colors and unforgettable smells. Their crunch beneath our feet recalls chilly fall days of raking and jumping in piles of leaves before retreating indoors for a warming cup of hot cocoa. Let’s pull out our cold-weather sweaters, curl up with a good book and enjoy the rejuvenating sounds of fall.
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.
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.
Protect your hearing. Lower the volume.
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.
Join the movement at www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org
learn more
www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org 866.354.3254 info@starkeyfoundation.org
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