hear so the world may
I S S U E NO. 3 , 2 0 15
Starkey Hearing Foundation
Gala 2015
Together We Can Change The World MEXICO • PHILIPPINES • INDIA • KENYA • RWANDA • UGANDA • MALAWI • MADAGASCAR • MOZAMBIQUE HONDURAS • EL SALVADOR • NICARAGUA • CONGO • DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO • MINNESOTA
THE GIFT OF HEARING Give the gift of Hearing Build trust through Hearing Connect the world with Hearing Experience life by Hearing Create understanding through Hearing Empower others with Hearing Garden peace by Hearing
Change the world together
Tell us your thoughts: facebook.com/starkeycares 3
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Nairobi, 1Kenya May 2015
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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
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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 Hearing Heartbeats for Christmas.
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Noteworthy Special Olympics and Starkey Hearing Foundation.
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Firsthand Janet Froetscher, Special Olympics CEO.
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The Internal Revenue Service recognizes Starkey Hearing Foundation as a Section 501(c)(3) public charity. Donations are taxdeductible as allowed by law.
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Recent Missions 14 18
San Luis Potosi, Madero, Matamoros, Reynosa & Monterrey, Mexico An enchanting smile. Philippines and India Hands-on training.
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Lilongwe, Malawi Showing support.
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Antananarivo, Antsirabe & Tamatave, Madagascar A big surprise.
Managua, Nicaragua Friends come together to give the blessed gift of hearing.
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Nairobi Training First day of school.
Brazzaville, Congo The team meets a real-life hearing hero.
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Maputo & Quelimane, Mozambique A special trip.
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Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo The team heads to the music capital of Africa.
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Eden Prairie, Minnesota Gala mission.
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Clinton Global Initiative Commitment in action.
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Kisumu & Mombasa, Kenya An answered prayer.
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Cyangugu & Kigali, Rwanda Building lasting relationships.
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Soroti, Jinja & Kampala, Uganda A precious gift.
San Pedro Sula & Tegucigalpa, Honduras Record numbers is Honduras.
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San Salvador, El Salvador Returning to El Salvador.
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P artners in Hearing
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A Night for Fireworks
An “audiological� twist on increasing awareness around the importance of hearing healthcare. 2015 So the World May Hear Awards Gala.
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Short documentary films await you on YouTube. Check them out and let us know what you think.
Reel We round up our latest storytelling.
President Clinton Joins the Team in Nairobi President Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton joined Starkey Hearing Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya to give the gift of hearing and witness the progress on our CGI Commitment to Action.
“[Starkey Hearing Foundation] built a model that other people who are trying to do a lot of good in a healthcare area would be well-advised to learn from.” PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON 4
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Hearing for the First Time Brings a Smile Want to start you day with a guaranteed smile? We’ve combined many of our favorite moments giving the gift of hearing around the world — with many patients hearing for the very first time — into one powerful video.
Sammy Hagar and Starkey Hearing Foundation Join Forces in Cabo Grammy Award-winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sammy Hagar joined us for an incredible hearing mission in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
“Everyone is important. No matter what their age, no matter what their condition, they’re part of life. They are part of our human family.”
“What Starkey is doing on this grand of a scale is bigger than anything I’ve ever had a part in … it’s really rewarding.”
BILL AUSTIN
SAMMY HAGAR
Social media posts from you.
Engage
@KISSOnline: #KISS' @genesimmons & @katyperry taking a selfie at @starkeycares Gala.
Social media has been buzzing with Starkey Hearing Foundation.
Follow the conversation @starkeycares. @holyfield: With President George W. Bush at the @starkeycares Starkey Hearing Foundation Gala – “So the World May Hear”. #GWBush
@Rayovac_hearing: The 15th Annual 'So the World May Hear Gala' was a huge success. Thank you @starkeycares! We are proud to be your official battery partner.
@Terrellowens: Here @ #StarkeyGala with 2 visionaries in Bill & Tani Austin. Thanks for inviting me. @starkeycares #hearingaids
@DeltaZetaNatl: Delta Zeta is getting all dressed up for the #StarkeyGala tonight
@JessicaESanchez: Looking forward to singing and joining @katyperry @billclinton @genesimmons at the @starkeycares gala on Sunday!
@KFAN1003: And we're LIVE from The Wilds Golf Club for @starkeycares So The World May Hear Awards Gala 2015 Golf Tournament!
@lauramarano: Thank you @starkeycares for such an amazing weekend! The #StarkeyGala last night was INCREDIBLE
@katyperry: 42, 43, 46?!
@ShelsDash: #StarkeyGala An honor to be here to support an amazing cause. @starkeyHearCEO @starkeycares
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Global Impact Starkey Hearing Foundation is the global leader in developing sustainable, community-based systems of hearing healthcare. As a member of the Clinton Global Initiative, we have pledged to fit more than 100,000 hearing aids to people in need each year and are committed to providing 1 million this decade.
Canada
United States
Mexico Belize Guatemala Honduras El Salvador Nicaragua Costa Rica Panama
Jamaica Haiti Dominican Republic Puerto Rico St. Kitts Nevis Antigua St. Lucia Morocco Grenada Mauritania Trinidad Senegal Sierra Leone Liberia Ivory Coast Ghana Venezuela Colombia Ecuador Brazil Peru Bolivia Paraguay Chile Uruguay Argentina
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Turkey Kazakhstan Lebanon Israel/Palestine Jordan Iraq Uzbekistan Iran Afghanistan Kyrgyzstan Pakistan Mongolia
Latvia Lithuania Poland Bosnia Ukraine Romania Kosovo Albania Moldova Bulgaria
Bhutan Egypt Sudan Bangladesh Ethiopia Nepal Uganda Sri Lanka Kenya Rwanda India Burundi Zanzibar Tanzania Malawi Madagascar Mauritius Mozambique Zimbabwe Lesotho Zambia Democratic Republic of the Congo Botswana South Africa Republic of the Congo Nigeria
South Korea China Taiwan Vietnam Laos Philippines Thailand Cambodia Bohol Malaysia Marshall Islands Singapore Indonesia Papua New Guinea
Countries with direct Starkey S TA R K E Y Hearing H E A R I N G FFoundation O U N DAT I O N 7 contact and impacted by reflecting caring.
Christmas in the Philippines.
Field Notes
Hearing Heartbeats for Christmas Gabby’s Story. Christmas in the Philippines is joyous, a time when family comes first and a warm energy permeates the soul of the city. It is a time for laughter and music, and it is also a time for giving. For one little girl and her family, Christmas would be extra special. In November 2014, a father carried his 6-year-old daughter through the crowd of waiting patients at our hearing mission in General Santos. The girl, Gabriel, shyly smiled from her father’s arms, but despite her smile, she looked tired, lacking the youthful exuberance of a typical 6-year-old. Her father approached Bill and Tani Austin and asked, “Is it possible to give her hearing aids? It would mean a lot to us all if she can hear this Christmas, because it might be her last one with us.” Concerned, Bill asked why it would be her last Christmas. Her father explained that Gabriel suffered from a heart condition and desperately needed openheart surgery to survive. Her parents had tried to provide her with all the care she needed, but they didn’t have the money to pay for the surgery. 8
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After hearing this story, the Austins knew they had to help. They immediately offered to pay for Gabby’s operation, including hospital costs and flights. Her father was stunned and could not believe the miraculous gift the Austins had just given their family. Bill Austin simply smiled and replied, “When we come back again, we will see her strong and that will be our reward.” Shortly after the hearing mission, Gabby had her aortic valve repaired during a two-hour, open-heart operation. The operation was extremely risky, but everything went very well and Gabby was smiling soon after. Over the last several months, Gabby has continued to recover and grow stronger. Her smile has also gotten brighter! She started school in June for the very first time, and we are so pleased she will hear the sounds of her classmates, her family, and of Christmas, for years to come.
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PARTNERS IN HEARING
An “audiological” twist on increasing awareness around the importance of hearing healthcare. by Dave Fabry, Ph.D.
The World Health Organization (WHO, 2012), estimates, nearly 10 percent of the world’s population suffers from measurable hearing loss. Furthermore, hearing impairment is the world’s most prevalent chronic disability, with over 360 million impacted by losses in excess of 40 dB HL, with two-thirds in developing countries. Nearly 80 percent of those suffering live in an area where they have no access to hearing healthcare professionals (ENT physicians, audiologists, speech therapists, or technicians). While hearing aid penetration in the U.S. has recently grown to 30 percent, less than one in 40 people who need hearing aids in developing countries receive them, due to cost, resources, and lack of awareness for the importance of hearing health. That said, there are often great disparities across countries within the same region. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the continent of Africa, where the ratio of audiologists to people may exceed 1-to-1 million in some countries, while others have a more developed hearing healthcare system. The “emerging” countries depend on the strength of pioneers, like Alfred Mwamba, Au.D. from Zambia. Dr. Mwamba serves as the first audiologist in a country of 15 million people, where he resides with his wife Sheeba, and their two children in the capital city of Lusaka. He received his master’s (Purdue University) and doctoral degrees (Salus University) in the United States, and returned to Zambia committed to raise awareness for the importance of hearing health in a country with an estimated population of between 600,000 and 900,000 persons with disabling hearing loss (in excess of 40 dB HL). Nearly one-half of these losses are preventable, but with HIV/AIDS affecting more than 14 percent of 10
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the population, and malaria impacting 30 percent of all outpatient hospital visits, priority is often given to other issues. Alfred Mwamba is quick to point out, however, that with literacy rates at 61 percent, and with over 28,000 deaf/hard-of-hearing children in grades 1-9, the impact of assessing and treating children with hearing loss will provide immediate and long-lasting societal benefits. The challenge, however, relates to personnel shortages. On average, a clinical audiologic consultation may take up to one hour. Based on these numbers, it would take Alfred approximately 14 years working full-time (8 hours/day, 250 work days/year) to provide the 28,000 hours of evaluation required just to meet the needs of Zambian schoolchildren! Clearly, this is not a sustainable model for the population of children, not to mention the adults who also suffer from hearing loss. The global demand and need for audiology services will require a multi-pronged approach to provide solutions, including the development of community-based hearing healthcare training programs, aftercare programs, and more efficient hearing aid assessment and fitting models that can help provide solutions to a greater percentage of the population in need. Starkey Hearing Foundation’s mission — So The World May Hear — is entirely consistent with Dr. Mwamba’s goals for Zambia. We are pleased to have him as a partner on our mutually consistent journey to raise awareness for the importance of hearing loss as a global health issue, and to provide an infrastructure that is scalable, sustainable and attainable.
About the Author Dave Fabry, Ph.D., is the Vice President of Audiology & Professional Relations at Starkey Hearing Technologies and a frequent volunteer on Starkey Hearing Foundation hearing missions. He holds a Ph.D. in audiology from the University of Minnesota. His professional experience includes positions as a Research Audiologist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Chief of Audiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and Chief of Audiology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Fabry is a prolific writer, having served as an Associate Editor for Ear and Hearing, Editor of American Journal of Audiology, Associate Editor for Audiology Online and Editor of Audiology Today. He has published more than 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals. Fabry has presented widely in the U.S. and internationally and has served as a board member and president of the American Academy of Audiology, from which he received the Distinguished Service Award in 2009. 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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Recent Missions
Minnesota
Mexico El Salvador
India
Honduras Nicaragua
Uganda Kenya Democratic Rwanda Republic of Congo Malawi Madagascar Mozambique Congo
Philippines
April to July 2015
We have delivered the gift of hearing to more than
100 countries.
20 percent About
of adults in the United States, 48 million, report some degree of hearing loss.
Source: Hearing loss Association of America
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50 percent A mild hearing loss can cause a child to miss as much as
of classroom discussion.
Source: Center for Hearing and Communication
Partnerships for the future.
partnership
noun / pärt'n r-shÄp'/ 1. A relationship between individuals or groups that is characterized by mutual cooperation, responsibility or achievement of a specified goal. e
2. An association of two or more people to conduct a business. 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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MEXICO
Mission:
Population: 123 million+
Languages: Spanish
reynosa monterrey
san luis potosi
matamoros ciudad madero
Mexico An enchanting smile. THE TEAM RETURNED to the United States for a short break over the Easter holiday before hitting the road for a multi-city tour through Mexico. Our hearing missions in Mexico have become well-oiled machines thanks to our dedicated partners at Starkey Mexico and Rotary International. Joining the team to sponsor the gift of hearing were Delta Zeta Executive Director Cindy Menges and Martin and Val Elbin from NuEar. In Matamoros, we met 103-year-old Ramon who charmed the fitting team with his enchanting smile. He was joined by a very special guest for his fitting — his great-greatgranddaughter, who was just four months old. The two may be separated by more than a century in age, but with Ramon’s new hearing aids they are no longer separated by hearing loss. It was a special day for Ramon’s family as they were joined together through sound.
103-year-old Ramon
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Cindy Menges
Martin Elbin
April 2015
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Val Elbin
Alexandra Pike
Colleen Seisler
special thanks: Starkey Mexico ; Delta Zeta Sorority : Cindy Menges; NuEar : Martin and Val Elbin; Rotary : Chacho Hernandez
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MEXICO
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San Luis Potosi, Ciudad Madero, Matamoros, Reynosa, Monterrey
April 2015
Greg and Teri Austin
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Mission:
Philippines & India
delhi mumbai manila
Hands-on training. WHILE BILL AUSTIN AND MANY OTHERS were changing lives in Mexico, Tani Austin and a specialized team headed to the Philippines and India for training and AfterCare services. The trip kicked off in Manila, where we held the Starkey Hearing Foundation Asia Regional Training for Community-Based Hearing HealthCare. We had 47 Community-Based Hearing HealthCare coordinators from the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, India and Sri Lanka join us for the fourday practicum. Attendees took a deep dive into the ins and outs of our work — the strategies and models, as well as hands-on mission work. This included performing ear screenings, taking ear impressions, fitting hearing aids and providing counseling and AfterCare services. Once the Manila training was complete, attendees left prepped with important knowledge and skills to bring home to their local communities. We weren’t headed home, however. From Manila, the team traveled to India to the cities of Delhi and Mumbai for AfterCare services and additional training sessions. Graciously assisted by our partners from Starkey India, Austin and team visited local schools to follow up with students who we’d fit earlier in the year. It was wonderful to see the students adjusting well to their hearing aids, and to hear about their successes. In a precious moment at the Asha School in Delhi, students passed around their schoolbooks, collecting “autographs” from the team. We were happy to comply!
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April 2015
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Mission:
nairobi
KENYA
Population: 45 million+
Languages: English, Kiswahili
Clinton Global Initiative Commitment in action. AFTER MEETING WITH PRESIDENT Bill Clinton in 2010, Bill Austin made a Clinton Global Initiative commitment to action to provide 100,000 hearing aids annually to people in need — 1 million this decade. Since then, we have quadrupled our efforts. We are more than 50 percent ahead of schedule, and have expanded our model of Community-Based Hearing HealthCare around the world. In May, President Clinton and Chelsea Clinton once again joined the team to lend their support and see our commitment progress in Nairobi. They worked hand-in-hand with our team to provide hundreds of hearing aids to people in need, including Richard Mwendwa Kiilu, 63. Two years ago, Richard was robbed and beaten. The assailants stole his money, but they also took his hearing. The attack left him struggling to connect to friends and family, but we changed that and were thrilled to see his smile as we gave the gift of hearing back to him. Reflecting on his experience, President Clinton said, “They do something that nobody else is doing, and they’ve built a model that other people, who try to do a lot of good in a healthcare area for a lot of people, would be well-advised to learn from.”
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Religion: Christian
special thanks: President Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Clinton Foundation Delegates
May 2015
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Mission:
kisumu mombasa
Kisumu & Mombasa, Kenya An answered prayer. ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES in Kenya, Kisumu is located on the eastern bank of Lake Victoria. Its name is derived from the city’s rich trading history, which still impacts its livelihood today. With the expert help of our East Africa team coupled with local community partners, we were set up for success from the start. We fit many incredible patients in Kisumu, but a trio of siblings pulled at the team’s heartstrings. Wicklif, 12, Daniel, 10, and Catherine, 8 — all of whom have hearing loss — were tragically orphaned as young children. Their adoptive mother brought them to the hearing mission in hopes that we could be the answer to her prayers. We were able to fit all three siblings, who were visibly overjoyed by experiencing the world of sound. Wicklif, Daniel and Catherine are looking forward to furthering their educations and reaching their dreams of becoming doctors, football stars or even future government leaders. With hearing, the sky is the limit! Next we traveled to Mombasa, the second largest city in Kenya. Although there were many amazing patients in Mombasa, one group of friends particularly stood out. Thor, 20, Nicholas, 16, and Wilson, 20, captured our hearts with their friendship and laughter. All three received the gift of hearing and were able to hear each other’s voices for the first time. We watched them laugh at the sounds, and they told us that they want to study media and communication in Nairobi together. It was a powerful moment of connection through hearing, and we know it’s only the beginning of a brighter future for all three. 22
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Siblings Daniel, Catherine & Wicklif
June 2015
Dennis Van Vliet
special thanks: Professor Isaac Macharia; Serah Ndegwe
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RWANDA
Mission:
cyangugu
kigali
Population: 12 million+
Languages: Kinyarwanda, English, French
Cyangugu & Kigali, Rwanda Building lasting relationships. THE TEAM HEADED TO RWANDA, hosting hearing missions in the cities of Cyangugu and Kigali. We have worked tirelessly to build lasting relationships with individuals and within the healthcare system in Rwanda, strengthening our ties to the nation and building sustainability. Earlier this year, Tani Austin and the team held trainings in Rwanda for the local CommunityBased Hearing HealthCare coordinators. During the trainings, a Phase 1 mission was held as a practicum for the trainees and to take ear impressions for the Phase 2 missions. Returning to Kigali, we had the opportunity to fit these Phase 1 patients with muchanticipated hearing aids. Among these return patients were more than 50 prisoners who had been convicted of crimes related to the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. Wearing their pink and orange jumpsuits, we stayed true to belief of using hearing as a vehicle to reflect caring to all — regardless of their backgrounds. We fit the prisoners with hearing aids, encouraging them to turn their lives around and in turn show caring to others.
Isaimbi during Phase 1 in January getting her ear impression taken
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Isaimbi receiving her hearing aids
Religion:
Roman Catholic
special thanks: Professor Isaac Macharia; Serah Ndegwe
May 2015
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UGANDA
Mission:
kampala
Population: 39 million+
Language:
English, Swahili
soroti jinja
Uganda A precious gift. WE TRAVELED BACK TO THE BANKS of Lake Victoria, this time to the Ugandan cities of Jinja, Soroti and Kampala. Uganda holds a special place in the hearts of our team, and we visit the country frequently. The people of Uganda have faced numerous hardships and conflicts in recent decades, and the gift of hearing brings hope to many who have persisted through war and poverty. In Kampala, Bill Austin and the Foundation received a very special certificate of appreciation from our partners at Connect People with Disability for our continued dedication to the people of Uganda. It was a great honor, and we are committed to connecting Ugandans to the world of sound for many years to come. We celebrated Mother’s Day in the town of Soroti, helping to reconnect many mothers with their children through the gift of hearing. However, it was Bill Austin who made a special connection with a patient that day. Denis, 21, had a bright smile that could light up a room. As he was fit with his hearing aids, he couldn’t believe all of the voices he was hearing around him! His smile grew even bigger, and Denis wholeheartedly thanked the team for his new “precious gift.” The moment was precious to us as well, and we are glad that we could change Denis’ life for the better.
Denis after receiving his "precious gift"
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Religion:
Roman Catholic
special thanks: Professor Isaac Macharia; Serah Ndegwe
May 2015
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Mission:
MALAWI
lilongwe
Lilongwe, Malawi Showing support. FROM UGANDA, WE TRAVELED SOUTH to Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi and the country’s largest city. Malawi is one of the smallest countries in Africa by land mass, as nearly a third of the nation’s area is covered by Lake Malawi. Our fitting site was located at the beautiful Peak Gardens Center, just off the banks of the Lilongwe River. Our dedicated East African team, as well as many local volunteers from Lilongwe and surrounding towns, helped ensure a successful hearing mission. A special guest also joined our first day of fittings — Patricia Kaliati, the Malawi Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare. Kaliati gave a great speech to the crowd at the mission site, showing her support and appreciation for the Foundation’s work in her home country. In addition to our Phase 2 fittings, we spent a day at the Mua School for the Deaf to administer AfterCare services. Located an hour and a half outside of Lilongwe, the school was bustling with energy as we reunited with students we’d fit during previous visits. The team ensured that all the students were wearing their hearing aids, caring for them properly, and addressed any issues that may have arisen through counseling services. 28
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Patricia Kaliati
Population: 17 million+
Language: English
Religion: Christian
May 2015
Heather Jensen
Jeff Larsen
special thanks: Center for Advance Hindsight, Duke University : Mariel Beasley, Jamie Foehl; AuD Clinical Professors, Utah State University : Heather Jensen, Jeff Larsen
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MADAGASCAR
Mission:
Population: 24 million+
Language: Malagasy, French
Madagascar
tamatave antananarivo antsirabe
A big surprise. LOCATED OFF THE EASTERN COAST OF AFRICA, the island nation of Madagascar is considered a biodiversity hotspot. More than 90 percent of its plants and animals are found nowhere else in the world. Our time in Madagascar would take us to three cities and allow us to help more than 1,200 people in need of hearing assistance. We received a big surprise when we arrived in the capital city of Antananarivo. Unbeknownst to the team, former NFL wide receiver Sidney Rice had booked a plane ticket to Madagascar and was waiting for us at the airport! A longtime supporter of our work, Rice heard we were headed to Madagascar and wanted to lend a hand. We were thrilled to have him! In addition to Rice, we were joined by sponsors Belinda and Marissa Gonzales from NuSound Hearing Center, along with our local Madagascar team and Rotary International.
Sidney Rice
Brady Forseth fitting Raymond
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In Antananarivo, nicknamed “Tana” by locals, we met 15-year-old Raymond. An energetic teenager, he was anxious to receive his hearing aids. Taken by the boy’s smile and spirit, our executive director Brady Forseth had an idea to make the moment extra special. Brady pulled out his phone and began to play music as he was finishing the fitting. Raymond was elated, taking the phone from Brady’s hand to listen closer. We were so happy that we could introduce Raymond and many others in Madagascar to the world of sound.
May 2015
Religion: Christian
Belinda Gonzales
Marissa Gonzales
Mike Poppen
John Sheehan
special thanks: Sidney Rice; NuSound Hearing Center : Belinda Gonzales, Marissa Gonzales; First Lady’s Special Counselor : Clara Ravoavshy
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Mission:
nairobi
Nairobi Training First day of school. ONCE AGAIN, THE TEAM SPLIT OUR EFFORTS in order to maximize the impact of our work. While Bill Austin and team were fitting patients in Madagascar, Tani Austin took a team to Kenya for additional trainings and Phase 1, 2 and 3 missions. Community-Based Hearing HealthCare coordinators from six countries joined us in Nairobi for three days of training and hearing missions, all aiming to increase their expertise in our “think global, act local” approach to Community-Based Hearing HealthCare. Our dedicated East African Team once again led the charge for the trainings and hearing missions, helping to coordinate with our partners in Nairobi. Also joining the team were Michelle Christie and Jack Adams of No Limits and Anne Mugambi of the National Fund for Disabled Kenya. Kenya program advisor Professor Isaac Macharia and Operation Ear Drop Kenya’s Serah Ndegwa helped ensure success along the way. While the team met many special patients during our time in Nairobi, 7-year-old Lucy stole the show during the Phase 2 fittings. As soon as she was fit, Lucy immediately gave her mother a big, wet kiss in celebration. After many minutes of laughter and smiles, we asked Lucy’s mother what hearing would do for her child. She replied, “First thing tomorrow, she’s going to school!” Lucy had previously been unable to enroll at her local school due to her hearing loss. With hearing, Lucy will be able to begin her education and pursue her full potential in life. 32
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special thanks: No Limits : Michelle Christie, Jack Adams; AuD Clinical Professors, Utah State University : Heather Jensen, Jeff Larsen; Long Island AuD Consortium : Ianthe DunnMurad; Center for Advanced Hindsight, Duke University : Mariel Beasley, Jamie Foehl
May 2015
special thanks: AuD Giants Hearing Centre : Evah Mwangi, Jayshree Chohan; National
Fund for Disabled Kenya : Anne Mugambi; EARC : Bakari Yeri, Paul Awora, Pauline Njogu, David Mbegeli, Madam Zuhura; Rodgers Cheruiyout; Professor Isaac Macharia; Operation Ear Drop Kenya : Serah Ndegwa
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Mission:
quelimane maputo
Maputo & Quelimane, Mozambique A special trip. FROM MADAGASCAR, THE TEAM CROSSED the Mozambique Channel and arrived in Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique. This would be a special trip to the coastal nation, as the team would hold Phase 2 missions as well as Community-Based Hearing HealthCare trainings for 21 government healthcare workers. Longtime friends of the Foundation, Leigh, Lisa and Roger Kassner and Leia Knight, helped lead the mission. In addition, we welcomed Operation Change contest winners Jennifer and Joseph Perez to the team to help us change lives. We worked late into the night, using the headlights of parked cars to complete the work. After trainings and fittings in Maputo, the team headed northeast to the seaport city of Quelimane to give the gift of hearing. The fitting site was full of energy as we fit patients, particularly the children! After fitting a group, they started dancing in the lobby, exploring their new connection to the world of sound. 34
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MOZAMBIQUE
Population: 24 million+
Language: Portuguese
May 2015
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Allison Brown
Bill Austin & Lisa Kassner
Joseph & Jennifer Perez
Leigh Kassner & Roger Kassner
Leia Knight
Dan Quall
John Sheehan
special thanks: Operation Change Winners : Jennifer Perez, Joseph Perez
Matt Davis
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HONDURAS
Mission:
Population: 8.5 million+
Language: Spanish
san pedro sula tegucigalpa
San Pedro Sula & Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Sandi Young
Record numbers in Honduras. WE KICKED OFF OUR TIME in Honduras with a birthday celebration for our photographer, Mark. In true Foundation fashion, Mark celebrated his birthday in four countries in one day as the team made their way from Kenya to Honduras! The team fit nearly 2,000 patients during the hearing missions in San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, making it our largest hearing mission in Honduras to date. Our partners from Operation Honduras helped make it possible by ensuring everything was prepared for our arrival. Wonderful sponsors lent a hand, including Sandi Young, Michael Rosengart, John Bachman and Sheri Libby of Economy Hearing Aid Centers, Gary and Julie Hammers of Hammers Hearing and J.B. Robillard from Robillard Hearing. Hearing loss can occur for many reasons, but some are more common than others. In Tegucigalpa we met Constantino, 80, who lost his hearing when lightening struck his home. The lightening bolt destroyed the house, as well as Constantino’s hearing. Luckily, we were able to restore his hearing — and he assured us that his house is back in working order as well. 36
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Birthday boy Mark McCarthy celebrates with Bill Austin
Constantino
special thanks: Operation Honduras : Jim Davenport, Todd Davenport, Matt Petlock, Angela Ardon; Sandi Young; Michael Rosengart
June 2015
Religion:
Roman Catholic
J.B. Robillard
John Bachman
Julie Hammers
Gary Hammers
Michael Rosengart
Mary Wagner
Sheri Libby
special thanks: Economy Hearing Aid Centers : John Bachman and Sheri Libby; Hammers Hearing : Gary and Julie Hammers; Robillard Hearing : J.B. Robillard
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HONDURAS
San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa
Rich Bedgood
Holli Reppe
Katty Herrera
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EL SALVADOR
Mission:
Population: 6.3 million+
Language: Spanish
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San Salvador, El Salvador
Francesca, Frederic & Carla Rondeau
Returning to El Salvador. WE HELD OUR VERY FIRST HEARING mission in El Salvador in 1997, and the team was excited to return to celebrate 18 years of giving the gift of hearing. It was a nostalgic trip back to the capital city of San Salvador as we reconnected with old friends and connected with many new ones. We were especially excited to see our friends and partners Frederic and Carla Rondeau, who have been with the Foundation team since the very beginning. Together, they have worked tirelessly to support our global efforts and are instrumental to our work in Central America. We were joined once again by Sandi Young and passionate sponsors from Audibel, including Keith and JoHannah Stroud, Kat Mercer, Brandy Percle, Richard and Shelby Geraci, along with Scott and Mary Simpson from Simpson Hearing Center. During the hearing mission, we were fortunate to reunite with patients from former missions in San Salvador, including Juan Carlo. Austin fit Juan Carlo when he was just three years old. Since then, he graduated high school at the top of his class and has been successful in the professional world. It is such a gift to see patients reaching their full potential through hearing! 40
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Juan Carlo talking to new patients about their hearing aids
special thanks: Oido Center Clinic : Frederic & Carla Rondeau; Sandi Young; Simpson Hearing Center : Scott and Mary Simpson; Mayor Nayib Bukele
June 2015
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Sandi Young
Keith Stroud
JoHannah Stroud
Brandy Percle & Kat Mercer
Nayib Bukele, Mayor of San Salvador
Scott Simpson & Richard Geraci
Mary Simpson & Shelby Geraci
Julio Muneton
special thanks: Audibel Hearing Healthcare : Keith & JoHannah Stroud, Kat Mercer, Brandy Percle, Richard Geraci, Shelby Geraci
Kate Simek
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NICARAGUA
Mission:
Population: 6 million+
Language: Spanish
Managua, Nicaragua
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Friends come together to give the blessed gift of hearing. NEXT WE HEADED TO MANAGUA, Nicaragua’s breath-taking capital located on the southwest shore of Lake Managua. It’s a blooming cultural centre, with diverse foods from diverse people, many of whom are of Spanish, Italian, French, German, Russian or Turkish descent. Our friend Jack McConnell, 15, and his mother Tanya, joined our team once again. Jack has been on several missions with the team and has hearing loss. Bill Austin gave him the gift of hearing as a child and inspired him to start his own Foundation and give back to others. In Managua, we were able to impact the lives of so many beautiful people, including Edvardo Aguirre. Born in 1905, he is now 110 years old! He had been struggling with hearing loss, and we were excited to be able to reconnect him to the world so he can bestow his wisdom upon future generations. Tanya & Jack McConnell
Dr. Matt Taylor & Dr. Michael Steer
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We also gave the gift of hearing to three nuns, the Mother Superior was so happy and delighted that she blessed Bill Austin and all the work he is doing!
Bill receiving a blessing
special thanks: Barry & Christine Lydon; Taylor Hearing Centers : Dr. Mathew Taylor, Tricia Taylor, Betsy Mull, Randy Fore, Dr. Michael Steer, Cynthia Popoff
June 2015
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Caroline & Timothy Aland
Bill with Edvardo Aguirre
Tricia Taylor & Betsy Mull
Barry Lydon
Dr. Rudi Untenthiner
Randy Fore
Steve & Jennifer Olson
Cynthia Popoff & Anne Erickson
Christine Lydon
Viviana Soto
special thanks: Chesapeake Hearing Centers Inc. : Timothy & Caroline Aland; Dr. Rudi & Lynda Unterthiner; Tanya McConnell, Jack McConnell
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CONGO
Mission:
Population: 4 million+
Language: French
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Brazzaville, Congo
Serge Ibaka
The team meets a real-life hearing hero. BRAZZAVILLE IS THE DENSELY-POPULATED capital of Republic of Congo with over 4 million inhabitants. It lies north of the Congo River, and we were excited to return once again to give the gift of hearing. We were joined by many friends, including Oklahoma City Thunder’s Serge Ibaka, actor Patrick Warburton, Aly Sambaly, Whitney and Jeff Swander, Jill True, Jonathan Severn, Bill Horn and Brian and Judy Davis. All were eager to help us expand our program and connect the many patients who came to see us to the world of sound.
Dr. Whitney Swander
All also agreed one little girl was the true star of the mission. During our first day of fittings, a 9-year-old girl captured our hearts. She walked her younger brother alone from their home to the hearing mission so she could make sure he would be fitted with hearing aids. We were moved to see someone so young understand the impact the gift of hearing would have in her brother’s life and take such initiative. She is further proof that no matter how old you are, you can make a difference in the world. We did not disappoint! We gave her brother the gift of hearing and made sure the two got home safely. 44
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Sister and brother connected through the gift of hearing
special thanks: Patrick Warburton; Serge Ibaka; Pros for Africa : Bill Horn; OKC
Thunder Communications : Brian and Judy Davis; Lions Club, Brazzaville : Bel-Gaza Beyina, Solange Gatera, Jean Louis Portella; Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital : Dr. Hugo Mosha
July 2015
Religion: Christianity
Patrick Warburton
Jeff Swander
Aly Samabaly
Jill True
Greg Carlen
special thanks: Hearing Healthcare Centers : Dr. Whitney Swander, Jeff Swander, Jill
True; Applied Merchant Systems : Jonathan Severn; Be Own Sports : Aly Samabaly; Maisara Murekatete, Samuel Ndibwirende, Olga Humuza, Jean Pierre Manirafasha; Dr. Malick Diop
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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Mission:
Population: 69 million+
Language: French
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Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Dikembe Mutombo
Cindy McCain
The team heads to the music capital of Africa. FROM BRAZZAVILLE WE DEPARTED ON A FERRY across the Congo River to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Kinshasa is the third largest city on the African continent and is often called the music capital of Africa for it’s popular music, ‘Ndombolo.’ Yet despite its musically-infused culture and rich abundance of natural resources, the Congolese civil wars left the city lacking in infrastructure and development. Our Kinshasa mission mainly took place at the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital, which was founded by former NBA All-Star and Foundation friend Dikembe Mutombo, who was born in the DRC. In addition to Mutombo, Cindy McCain also joined us. She helped us fit 77-year old Regine who immediately started dancing when her hearing aids were turned on. On our fourth day, we visited Kibondo orphanage located just outside Kinshasa. Kibonodo was founded 33 years ago by Mama Koko, now 93, who has made it her mission to give orphans a home. With more than 800 children, the orphanage also includes an exclusive department for children with special needs, it’s own school, a hospital and nursery. We spent the day fitting and engaging with the kids, relishing the smiles of those who heard for the first time! 46
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Jonathan Severn
Tani with children from Kibondo orphanage
special thanks: Patrick Warburton; Serge Ibaka; Pros for Africa : Bill Horn; OKC
Thunder Communications : Brian and Judy Davis; Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, Inc. : Dikembe Mutombo; Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital : Dr. Hugo Mosha
July 2015
Religion: Christianity
Serge Ibaka
Dr. Whitney Swander
Patrick Warburton
Rose Mutombo
George Christ
special thanks: Hearing Healthcare Centers : Dr. Whitney Swander, Jeff Swander, Jill
True; Applied Merchant Systems : Jonathan Severn; Be Own Sports : Aly Samabaly; Maisara Murekatete, Samuel Ndibwirende, Jean Pierre Manirafasha; Dr. Malick Diop; Cindy McCain
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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Jeff Swander
Aly Samabaly
Jill True
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Kinshasa, Kibondo orphanage
July 2015
Greg Carlen
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Mission: eden prairie
Kyle Rudolph, Charles Johnson, Greg Jennings, Diane Stecher & Carl Eller
Eden Prairie, Minnesota Gala Mission. TWO TABLES SIT IN THE HALL ACROSS from the Center of Excellence fitting area, their tops hidden by over 20 Build-A-Bear bears of varying colors. The bears are each dressed in a unique outfit, but all of them wear hearing aids, symbolic of the children eagerly waiting in the room down the hall. This year’s Gala week kicked off with the annual Starkey Hearing Foundation Gala hearing mission, graciously sponsored by Delta Zeta Sorority. Members of Delta Zeta were on hand to help many people in need with hearing aids, along with some friends from the NFL including Greg Jennings, Charles Johnson, Kyle Rudolph and Hall-ofFamer Carl Eller. Jennings and Eller got into the spirit early on, helping us provide 11-year-old Cameron with hearing aids. The mission was a huge success, with children smiling and hugging their bears as they heard new sounds through their hearing aids. But, one special little girl, Kiley, 6, and her mom Shannon captured our hearts. Shannon had brought Kiley to the mission all the way from Nashville. Kiley was so excited about her new hearing aids and showed her bear’s matching hearing aids to Viking’s wide receiver Charles Johnson. Towards the end of the mission, Shannon asked to look inside an ear, and Bill Austin happily volunteered. 50
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special thanks: Delta Zeta Sorority : Diane Stecher; Kyle Rudolph; Charles Johnson; Greg Jennings; Carl Eller
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A NIGHT FOR FIREWORKS World leaders, celebrities, athletes and musicians from around the world gathered in St. Paul to support the gift of hearing at the 2015 So the World May Hear Awards Gala. Overwhelming and heartwarming kindness moved through the attendees of this inspiring and memorable three-day celebration, motivating all to make this the most successful Gala yet.
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VIEW FROM RED CARPET
SO THE WORLD MAY HEAR AWARDS GALA Sunday, July 26 Saint Paul RiverCentre St. Paul, Minnesota
Excitement from the midafternoon silent auction transformed into anticipation and awe as more than 1,600 people filled the Saint Paul RiverCentre ready to celebrate the gift of hearing and raise a record-breaking $9 million to support Starkey Hearing Foundation’s work around the world. This year’s honorees included, President George W. Bush, Delta Zeta Sorority and No Limits. The audience enjoyed incredible performances from Matt Nathanson, 2CELLOS, Portia Clark, Jessica Sanchez, Gene Simmons and Katy Perry. Bill Austin and President Bill Clinton inspired guests with motivating speeches about the power of caring. Verne Troyer, Quinton Aaron and Lou Ferrigno, Evander Holyfield, Derrick Coleman, Greg Jennings, Serge Ibaka, Dascha Polanco and Terrell Owens were just a few of the dozens of celebrities in attendance. Executive Director of Delta Zeta Sorority Cindy Menges spoke about the importance of the partnership between Delta Zeta and the Foundation and discussed their pledge to donate $5 million to the Foundation over the next five years. President Bush was honored for the philanthropic work of the Bush Institute and shared about his experience giving the gift of hearing in Tanzania. Michelle Christie, executive director of No Limits, spoke about the new partnership with Starkey Hearing Foundation to bring speech therapy to children in need in Kenya and around the world. Gene Simmons kicked off the live auction by pledging $250,000 to support the Foundation’s work, helping push us to a record-breaking year. Adding to the inspiration, President Clinton spoke about the importance of making a better tomorrow and praised Bill Austin for empowering people around the world to achieve their full potential. Ending the evening with a bang was pop superstar Katy Perry who performed five songs and brought the crowd to their feet. It was an amazing night, showcasing the power of reflected caring.
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Bill Austin recognized George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States, for the work of the Bush Institute and his humanitarian efforts against HIV/AIDS, malaria and cancer throughout Africa.
Tani Austin embraced Cindy Menges, executive director of Delta Zeta Sorority. Delta Zeta was honored for their commitment to changing lives and pledged $5 million to Starkey Hearing Foundation.
Katy Perry closed out the night with an amazing performance. She dedicated her song "Roar" to Bill and Tani Austin for the work they do around the world.
event sponsor:
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entertainment sponsor:
dinner sponsor:
Brad & Janet Anderson
President Bill Clinton and Steven Sawalich shared a laugh as Pres. Clinton took the stage. He attended the Gala for the fifth time and spoke about his experiences witnessing the impact of our work.
Rock legend and KISS frontman Gene Simmons got the packed house to its feet, and everyone ready to "Rock and Roll All Nite," with an epic performance.
Jessica Sanchez kicked off the evening with a powerful rendition of "God Bless America" as a bald eagle soared through the ballroom.
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Starkey Hearing Techologies' Brandon Sawalich thanked all in attendance and recognized dozens of celebrities and sponsors.
Senator Beth Mugo of Kenya addressed the crowd and talked about the Foundation's work in her country. Honoree Michelle Christie, executive director of No Limits, discussed the work of her organization and the pilot program we are doing together in Kenya to help children with hearing loss develop speech.
NFL star Greg Jennings charmed the crowd as he introduced Bill Austin, pointing out that July 26, 2015 was officially William F. Austin Day in Saint Paul.
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Steven Sawalich and the Gala production team hard at work, ensuring the 15th Annual Gala was the best one yet.
Matt Nathanson entertained the audience with his hits and moved them with stories of his experience giving the gift of hearing in Peru.
Principal Grace Murimi discussed the partnership between Starkey Hearing Foundation and the Kerugoya School for the Deaf.
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Bill Austin thanked the audience for their incredible support and shared a message on the power of reflecting caring and sharing to others around the world.
2CELLOS tested the limits of their instruments and blew the crowd away with an incredible performance.
Sponsors Eric and Marina Worre celebrated the spirit of giving and generosity after their winning bid in the live auction.
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$250,000! Gene Simmons started the live auction off with a bang. The generous sponsorship helped ensure our most successful Gala yet!
Rob Hamilton of Starkey Canada confirmed their winning bid during the live auction.
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CELEBRATING SUCCESS — AFTER PARTY Sunday, July 26 Saint Paul RiverCentre St. Paul, MN
Starkey Hearing Foundation supporters celebrated the unprecedented $9 million raised for global hearing health initiatives and programs with a night of fun at the Gala After Party. Invigorating music from the Robert Lee Kobb Band filled the house as we capped off a successful weekend that will better tens of thousands of lives around the world.
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FRIDAY NIGHT PARTY Friday, July 24 Foundation Appreciation Party Eden Prairie, MN
Honoring the global efforts of the Foundation, supporters gathered together at Bill and Tani Austin’s home to celebrate the gift of hearing. A tribute to those who selflessly give their support, this evening helped kick off the Gala festivities.
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SATURDAY NIGHT PARTY Saturday, July 25 Sponsor Party Eden Prairie, MN
Sponsors, celebrities and athletes gathered in support of the spirit of giving at the home of Bill and Tani Austin at a party honoring their unwavering support. Hundreds of guests danced to Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band, including Derrick Coleman, Gene Simmons, Ralph Sampson, Jessica Sanchez, Vanessa and Laura Marano and Dascha Polanco.
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TEE OFF FOR BETTER HEARING Friday, July 24 The Wilds Golf Club Prior Lake, MN
Sponsors teamed up with celebrities to hit the links for a good cause at our annual golf tournament. Hundreds teed off for a day of fun in the sun and the chance to win our 18-hole scramble, hosted by Starkey Hearing Technologies.
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5K FUN RUN Saturday, July 25 Purgatory Creek Park Eden Prairie, MN
Starkey Hearing Technologies also hosted a 5K Fun Run at Purgatory Creek Park in support of the gift of hearing, with more than 550 participants. Starkey Hearing Technologies’ Brandon Sawalich, the Foundation’s Brady Forseth and five-time heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield kicked off the race and led the way at the starting line.
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FOSTERING PARTNERSHIPS Saturday, July 25 Founders’ Circle Luncheon 2015 Eden Prairie, MN
It has been a year of tremendous growth for the Foundation, so supporters gathered on Saturday morning to mingle and learn about the progress we have made over the last year. Tani Austin and many others on the Foundation team spoke about our efforts to build Community-Based Hearing HealthCare around the world.
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Empowering others to reach their full potential.
Noteworthy
Special Olympics and Starkey Hearing Foundation A healthy hearing partnership. At Starkey Hearing Foundation we ascribe to Bill Austin’s philosophy, “There is no such thing as disability, only ability.” We believe that everyone has the power to make an impact on the world, and that is why we work tirelessly to reflect caring and empower others to reach their full potential. That is also why partnering with Special Olympics was a perfect fit. Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports, every day around the world. They empower people with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, leading to a more respectful and inclusive society for all. Starkey Hearing Foundation became their official Healthy Hearing partner for the 2015 World Summer Games in Los Angeles, with more than 6,500 hundred athletes from 165 countries competing. Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program works to provide health services and information to millions of people in need in more than 130 countries. Healthy Hearing is one of seven disciplines, and this was our first year to partner together. “We are proud to partner with an organization like Starkey Hearing Foundation,” said Special Olympics CEO Janet Froetscher. “We use the transformative power of sports to instill confidence, improve health and connect our athletes into their communities. Having the ability to hear gives our athletes the confidence they need to succeed in competition and their communities.” 72
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Jessica Sanchez helped us kick off the festivities by running the torch relay in Los Angeles, and Chris and Kyle Massey represented the Foundation in the Unified Sports soccer game. Over the week we screened thousands of athletes and provided free hearing aids to all who needed them. We also received help from some additional famous friends, including Patrick Warburton, Lauren Potter, Doc Rivers, Jason Collins and Terrell Owens. We met so many amazing athletes and made wonderful memories. Ruoia received the gift of hearing on Monday, and she came back later in the week for a check up and to show us her table tennis bronze! Abdul, from India, heard for the first time and then got a selfie with Terrell Owens to commemorate the life-changing moment. We were able to present Team Pakistan with basketball silver medals after fitting them with hearing aids — there were so many incredible moments. One highlight stood out above the rest, however, and embodied the amazing spirit of the Special Olympics and this partnership. Team Paraguay was scheduled to leave Los Angeles, but many of them were in need of hearing aids. Not to worry! We put them up an extra day, took their ear impressions and overnighted custom molds, so they could return home connected to the world of sound. In return, they gave us an honorary gold medal! special thanks: Jason Collins; Lauren Potter; Patrick
Warburton; Terrell Owens; Doc Rivers; Dave Fabry; Dennis Van Vliet; Michelle Hicks; Michele Hurley; Lindsay Olson; Lyn Kirsch; Stephen Kirsch; Linda Daily; Michelle Crisp; Carole Maa; Kim Ortega; Lori Hallet; Linda Farrow; Janell Reid; Yaov Shalev; Mimi Shalev; Sneha Hinduja; Sunni McBride; Ret Templet; Christoffer Berntsen
Chris & Kyle Massey
Photos courtesy of Getty Images for Starkey Hearing Foundation 2015.
Jessica Sanchez
Terrell Owens
Lauren Potter
Doc Rivers & Richard Brown
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Patrick Warburton & Ret Templet
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Keith Becker & Jason Collins
JANET FROETSCHER discusses our partnership with Special Olympics.
Firsthand
Janet Froetscher Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics We went one-on-one with Special Olympics CEO Janet Froetscher to learn more about our Healthy Hearing Partnership. What is the purpose of the Special Olympics? Our mission is full inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). People with ID are one of the most marginalized populations in the world. Every day, Special Olympics is fighting the stigma that people with intellectual disabilities experience by opening hearts and minds to the power, inspiration and talent of people with intellectual disabilities through sport. What is the Healthy Athletes program? How does Healthy Hearing fit in? For athletes to perform at their best … they must have their health. The Healthy Athletes program works to provide health services and information to millions of people in need in more than 130 countries. Special Olympics Healthy Hearing is one of seven disciplines within the program. Healthy Hearing has provided free hearing exams in more than 80 countries and has distributed more than 2,000 hearing aids worldwide. Everywhere in the world, people with intellectual disabilities face enormous disparities in access to quality healthcare. This is due to a number of factors, first among them is the view that they are not worth the investment in healthcare. Special Olympics athletes and others with intellectual disabilities experience chronic forms of neglect because limited or no resources exist for them to develop into fully-fledged contributing members of their communities and nations. How did Special Olympics get involved with Starkey Hearing Foundation? Why are the two organizations a good match? Special Olympics Minnesota and Starkey Hearing Foundation have shared a relationship since 2010, and have together implemented state-specific initiatives designed to support the hearing needs of Special Olympics Minnesota athletes. Special Olympics, Inc. and Starkey Hearing Foundation were introduced to each other at the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative, where we began to explore mutual areas of interest. It was through this encounter that we realized that both organizations have a shared, and global, commitment to providing high-quality hearing health to those across the world that need it most. We recognized that Special Olympics and Starkey Hearing 74 S TA R K E Y H E A R I N G FO U N DAT I O N
Foundation would make a dynamic team in addressing the unmet hearing health needs of our athletes. What was your most memorable Healthy Hearing moment at the 2015 World Summer Games? There was one moment that particularly stood out for me that brought me to tears. Of the 10 athletes on the Nigerian basketball team, eight of them have a hearing disability and several are profoundly deaf. Thanks to the program, six of the athletes heard sound for the first time. I learned from their coach that one of the athletes — 19-year-old Chidalu Onwunze, was told as a young girl that nothing could be done, and she would never be able to hear. Seeing her all smiles because she can hear sounds was one of the most memorable moments of the Games for me. Where do you hope to see this partnership go in the future? What happened in partnership with the Starkey Hearing Foundation at the Special Olympics 2015 World Games was remarkable. Given that we have over 91,000 competitions in 170 countries every year, we have the opportunity to take the hearing model we used in Los Angeles and bring these life-changing services to athletes all across the world during their local competitions. But even more importantly, our goal is full inclusion in healthcare for people with ID — that is our hope. We engage key influencers from government, business and NGO’s to catalyze them to open up health systems to make them inclusive of people with ID — a model we call Healthy Communities. It is our intention to create 100 Healthy Communities and use them to serve as a catalyst to create a world where all people with ID have the same access to quality healthcare. Starkey Hearing Foundation plays a critical role in this work. The world of Special Olympics has seen, firsthand, the power and passion that comes from Starkey Hearing Foundation, and the incredible and sustained impact that hearing instruments can bring to an athlete’s life. We are therefore committed to working closely with Starkey Hearing Foundation to see how best to bring this collaboration, this impact, to more athletes, more professionals, more communities and to use it to catalyze key influencers in the most powerful ways. That’s our hope as we move into the future in partnership.
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Thank you for helping us change lives!
SAVE THE DATE
July 17, 2016
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