hear so the world may
I S S U E NO. 2 , 2 0 15
Starkey Hearing Foundation
Reflecting Caring Love in Action
MEXICO • UNITED STATES • DOMINICAN REPUBLIC • INDIA NEPAL • MALAYSIA • CAMBODIA • INDONESIA • MAURITANIA
HEAR BETTER. LIVE BETTER. To hear To dream To live my best life possible The strum of a guitar The laughter of my friends The bird’s song A life made better through the gift of hearing To hear better Is to live better
Another Life Changed
Tell us your thoughts: facebook.com/starkeycares
1 Malawi AfterCare Training — January 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 12555 Jefferson Boulevard #150 Los Angeles, CA 90066
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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 Delta Zeta and Starkey Hearing Foundation.
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Noteworthy Listen Carefully Video Contest.
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Firsthand J.R. Martinez.
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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
Cabo San Lucas & Los Mochis, Mexico Bringing the music and the fun.
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Delhi & Jaipur, India AfterCare patients reach their potential with the gift of hearing.
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Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia Ensuring sustainability and understanding.
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Guadalajara & Cuautitlán, Mexico A new future with hearing.
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Bhubaneswar & Varanasi, India The City of Temples.
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Phonm Penh, Cambodia Changing lives.
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Phoenix, Arizona Star-studded teamwork during Super Bowl weekend.
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Nagpur & Mumbai, India Happy Birthday Bill Austin.
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Toluca, Mexico Tears of joy.
Bangalore, India Experiencing sound for the first time.
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Yogyakarta & Jakarta, Indonesia Connecting a family through hearing.
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Santo Domingo & Santiago, Dominican Republic Returning to the Dominican.
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Kathmandu & Pokhara, Nepal A beautiful view of the Himalayas.
Nouakchott, Mauritania Bringing hearing to Mauritania.
Training in Action
Tani Austin and the team make communitybased hearing care viable for the long-term.
T ravel, Education, and Dental Work
An “audiological” twist on increasing awareness around the importance of hearing health care.
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Short documentary films await you at youtube.com/StarkeyHearingFndn. Check them out and let us know what you think.
Reel We round up our latest storytelling.
Together We Can Change the World Without dedicated partners, we cannot succeed. Together, we can change countless lives forever through the gift of hearing. Watch us build a better tomorrow in Uganda and Kenya with the help of our friends. As Bill Austin says, “Alone we can’t do much. Together we can change the world.” Serge Ibaka in the Congo NBA star Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder joined us on a hearing mission in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, and Kinshasa, DRC. A local hero, Serge was an invaluable part of the team and helped us change many lives with the gift of hearing.
“I wish more people around the world understood what Starkey is doing and what they will continue to do, and figure out a way to be part of it.” J.R. MARTINEZ 4
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Stars Come Out in Phoenix The day before the Super Bowl, we gathered friends and supporters in Phoenix to give the gift of hearing to people in need. Thank you to those that made this hearing mission especially memorable for our patients, including Larry Fitzgerald, Maria Menounos, Gavin DeGraw, J.R. Martinez and many more.
“I think the gift of hearing is a miracle. What Starkey Hearing Foundation is doing is changing those kids’ lives.” SERGE IBAKA
“When I tell people about Starkey, I say that they bring together the best people in the world.” BRIDGET HILTON, LSTN HEADPHONES
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. @TheSharkDaymond: Excited to team up with @starkeycares this weekend in #Phoenix to give the gift of hearing! #starkeycares @starkeycares!
@GregJennings: Great time today helping with @StarkeyCares hearing missions! Met a WWII vet and a previous winner of #DWTS!
@MarleeMatlin: So glad to be here in AZ pre Super Bowl for @starkeycares with @katieleclerc and AZ Cardinals WR @LarryFitzgerald!
@BellaTwins: Great afternoon w/ @starkeycares. Love the hope this hearing foundation gives 2 the community #starkeycares #SB49
@DeltaZetaNatl: Delta Zeta is proud to announce a $5 million pledge to @starkeycares over the next 5 years with our Hike for Hearing.
@petewentz: Sorry I can’t join my friends @starkeycares in Phoenix for their #sb49 mission, but proud to support their life-changing work! Follow them!
@mariamenounos: What a great way to spend the afternoon on a mission to help people get their hearing back w/ @starkeycares!
@iamjrmartinez: Many have never known the joy of hearing, so I’m joining @starkeycares in PHX tmrw to help bring that joy to children who need it most.
@KellieWellz: So glad we got to be a part of the @starkeycares Super Bowl mission and even more happy to be a part of the family!
@sergeibaka9: Thanks to my friends from @starkeycares for capturing our hearing mission in Congo and DRC from last summer.
“Last week with @starkeycares in the Dominican Republic has been one of the top moments in my life! Giving the gift of hearing is HUGE!” Tweeted by @DC2forlife (Derrick Coleman)
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Global Impact Starkey Hearing Foundation is the global leader in developing sustainable, community-based systems of hearing health care. 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
Commitment Progress We are more than 50 percent ahead of schedule on our aid 6 hearing S TA R K E Y H E A Rcommitment. I N G FO U N DAT I O N
Year 1
120,000+
Year 2
141,000+
Year 3
165,000+
Year 4
175,000+
Jamaica Haiti Dominican Republic Puerto Rico St. Kitts Nevis Antigua St. Lucia Morocco Grenada Mauritania Trinidad Senegal Sierra Leone Liberia Ivory Coast Ghana British Guyana Venezuela Colombia Ecuador Brazil Peru Bolivia Paraguay Chile Uruguay Argentina
Turkey Kazakhstan Lebanon Israel/Palestine Jordan Iraq Uzbekistan Iran Afghanistan Kyrgyzstan Pakistan Mongolia
Latvia Lithuania Poland Bosnia Ukraine Romania Kosovo Albania Moldova Bulgaria
Egypt Sudan Ethiopia Bangladesh Somalia 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.
Delta Zeta pledges $5 million for the gift of hearing.
Field Notes
Delta Zeta and Starkey Hearing Foundation A historic partnership announcement. Delta Zeta Sorority has been a supporter of speech and hearing philanthropy since the 1940s. They have supported the Foundation for many years, providing generous financial contributions and donating the ever popular Build-a-Bears® for our domestic hearing missions. This year, Delta Zeta is taking their commitment to the next level — pledging $5 million over the next five years to benefit Starkey Hearing Foundation. More than 350 chapter presidents, directors and leaders convened at the Grand Hyatt in Dallas on Valentine’s Day for Delta Zeta’s Presidents Academy, including Cindy Menges, Executive Director; Diane Stecher, National President; and Barb Brotherton, National Philanthropy Chairman. Tani Austin and Brady Forseth represented Starkey Hearing Foundation, along with special guest Derrick Coleman to help kick off the announcement. The theme of the day was purpose, with both Austin and Coleman giving first-hand accounts of their paths to selfdiscovery, and finding their true passions. The message from both speakers was clear: know who you are, and follow your heart. It will lead you where you need to go. Stetcher and Brotherton had accompanied the team to the Dominican Republic just days before the announcement to fit more than 4,000 people. Through 8
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hands-on fitting with Bill Austin, they developed special relationships with the patients they served. One young woman was pregnant with her third child and due to give birth the same day as the fittings. Having lived in silence with her two oldest children, she cried tears of joy knowing that she’d be able to hear her new baby cry. Another patient, 5-year-old Anna, heard for the first time after being fit by Stetcher and Brotheron. By the time they were done, she had already learned how to say her name. “We saw the light in the patients’ faces,” Stecher said of the hearing mission. “The entire experience was truly amazing.” Through experiencing the Foundation’s work first-hand, Stetcher and Brotherton saw the incredible impact that Delta Zeta’s generous donation will have on the future of the Foundation. “We can save hearing lives together,” Tani Austin said. “Delta Zeta can join us in becoming citizens of the world.” With the generous support of Delta Zeta, we are continuing to bring sustainable systems of hearing health care to the world.
2015 Delta Zeta Presidents Academy
Top photo courtesy of H. Dean Clark 2015.
Dominican Republic, February 2015
Eden Prairie, Minnesota, July 2014
New Orleans, Louisiana, February 2013
Los Angeles, California, January 2014
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California students win the first nationwide contest.
Noteworthy
Listen Carefully Video Contest Teen video contest inspires education on noise-induced hearing loss.
One in six American teenagers has permanent hearing loss due to high-volume sounds. That is why Listen Carefully, one of our domestic initiatives, aims to raise awareness about noise-induced hearing loss. To help spread the word, we sponsored a national video contest that attracted more than 3,000 participants from all 50 states. After an exciting public vote which drew over 107,000 website page views, students Ken Nakama, Dan Lesser and Josh Maslaki from Woodbridge High School in Irvine, California took home the grand prize. Grammy-nominated recording artist Aloe Blacc performed a private concert at their school. Their short film “Protect Your Ears” is a call to turn down the volume, and took the team 22 hours to film, edit and produce. To make the video relatable to their peers, they chose to film in their school’s computer lab, a modern space that would help communicate their message. Lesser explained that the team’s hope was for teens to be “conscious of the volume of music they are listening to and the irreversible consequences it holds.” Lesser’s passion for storytelling drew him to the project. “I plan on pursuing film for a living, and sound is over 80
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percent of what makes films impactful. It’s extremely important to me, and I have a huge appreciation for it,” he said. Nakama found the contest to be a great way to contribute to public awareness as well as his own school. “I listen to music every day, so sound is a major part of my life.” Nakama said. He also noted that “although listening to loud music is inevitable at events such as school dances or concerts,” he hopes that his team’s video helps teens recognize the power they have to control the volume. Maslaki knows several people with hearing loss, so this project was personal. As a fellow film student, sound plays a large role in his life, and he hopes teens become more careful about blasting loud music. Aloe Blacc grew up near the winners’ high school, and was excited to host a concert in his hometown to help spread awareness about noise-induced hearing loss. Congratulations to the winning team, and check out their videos on our website! www.listencarefully.org/video-contest
Photos courtesy of Getty Images for Starkey Hearing Foundation 2015.
Aloe Blacc with 1st place winners, Josh Maslaki, Ken Nakama & Dan Lesser
Caroline Sunshine with her family, Thom, Karen & Christopher
Christopher Massey & Kyle Massey
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Recent Missions
Arizona Mexico
Nepal Dominican Republic
India
Mauritania
Cambodia Rwanda
Zambia South Africa
Malawi
Malaysia Indonesia
Lesotho
January to March 2015
We have delivered the gift of hearing to more than
100 countries.
people
One in every three
over the age of 65 — a total of 165 million people worldwide — lives with hearing loss.
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affected 32 million people
by hearing loss are children under the age of 15.
Making an impact.
impact
noun / verb / 'impĂŚct / 1. The impression made by an idea, cultural movement or social group. 2. The power of an event, idea, etc. to produce changes or move the feelings. 3. The effect or influence of one person, thing, or action, on another. 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: 119.58 million
Languages: Spanish
los mochis cabo san lucas
Cabo San Lucas & Los Mochis, Mexico Bringing the music and the fun. TO KICK OFF OUR FIRST MISSION RUN OF 2015, we headed south to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Located at the most southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, Cabo has become a popular tourist destination due to its beautiful blue waters, great beaches and the famous Arch of Cabo San Lucas. Sadly, Hurricane Odile hit the region in September 2014, causing devastation to many homes and the critical tourism industry. We knew bringing hope and joy to Cabo was the perfect way to start the New Year.
Sammy Hagar
We were fortunate to have special guests join us, including the legendary Sammy Hagar and actress Kate Hudson. We also had the help of sponsors Audigy Group, Harbaugh Foundation and Auction.com, along with our partners from Starkey Mexico and the Lions Club of Cabo San Lucas. The team came together and worked hard to bring the joy of sound to hundreds in need. Hagar played guitar for the children, with many of them clapping and dancing along. Some were hearing music for the first time. After celebrating a successful mission with a private concert by Hagar, we traveled across the Gulf of California to the beautiful beach town of Los Mochis. There we changed even more lives — starting the year off on a high note. Kate Hudson
Pam & Joe Balla
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special thanks: Audigy : Brandon Dawson, Ricardo Rodriguez, Chris Cox, Michael Brown, Charity Leitz, Mary Ann Gilbert, Jacquie Elcox, Joe Cooper, Linda Farrow, Sunni McBride, Kelly Turner, Barbara Paulin
January 2015
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Brandon Dawson fits a patient with Sammy Hagar
Michael Brown
Sunni McBride
Barbara Paulin
Brandon Sawalich
Chris McCormick
Linda Farrow, Dave Fabry & Kelly Turner
Charity Leitz & Mary Ann Gilbert
Chris Cox
Robert Friedman & Fon Ballard
special thanks: Starkey Mexico; Harbaugh Foundation : Joe, Pam and Anjie Balla; Auction.com : Rob Friedman, Fon Ballard; Sammy Hagar; Kate Hudson
Jacquie Elcox & Joe Cooper
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Mission:
guadalajara cuautitlán
Guadalajara & Cuautitlán, Mexico
Antonio
A new future with hearing. OUR NEXT STOP WAS GUADALAJARA, a western-pacific metropolis. Joining us were sponsors Mike DeYarmin from NuEar and the Audibel team: Stacy DuBois, Bob West, Brenda Haugen, Matt Taylor, and Randy Fore. On our second day in Guadalajara, we met 5-yearold Antonio and his parents — all three of whom had severe hearing loss. We had only planned to fit Antonio, but we couldn’t let this family leave the site until all three were connected through hearing. Little Antonio came alive over the course of the fitting. He mimicked the noises around him and ran through the fitting site, testing out his vocal abilities. He even got his first taste of music when two young girls played the violin for him. Happy and exhausted, Antonio fell asleep in his father’s arms as the family completed counseling and prepared for their new future with hearing. From Guadalajara, the team traveled east to Cuautitlán, which translates to “Your Home Between the Trees.” We felt very much at home due to the warmth and energy from the patients, many of whom cheered us on throughout the fittings. We fit nearly a thousand people in total, reflecting caring to each and every one. 16
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Antonio sleeps in his father's arms
January 2015
Dr. Earl Harford
Destiny Clifford
Brian Teresi Randy Fore
Stacy DuBois
Bob West
Jennifer Fox
Damien Fogg
Brenda Haugen
Matt Taylor
Mike DeYarmin
special thanks: Starkey Mexico; Audibel : Stacy DuBois, Bob West, Brenda Haugen, Matt Taylor, Randy Fore; NuEar : Mike DeYarman, Damien Fogg; Dr. Earl Harford; Jennifer Fox
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Super Bowl Facts
Mission:
First team to ever win the Super Bowl was the Green Bay Packers in 1967.
With 114.4 million viewers per minute, NBC's 2015 Super Bowl broadcast was the most watched event in American TV history.
phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Larry Fitzgerald helps fit Larry Crane
Star-studded teamwork during Super Bowl weekend. WE TRAVELED TO PHOENIX during Super Bowl weekend to give the gift of hearing to more than 75 people in need. Fortunately, we had a local friend to show us the ropes. Arizona Cardinals’ wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was the first to arrive to lend a hand.
Derrick Coleman
Even the unusually rainy weather at Phoenix Municipal Stadium couldn’t keep away our dedicated volunteers, sponsors and celebrity supporters. Foundation friends Marlee Matlin, Derrick Coleman, Greg Jennings, J.R. Martinez, Daymond John and Kyle Rudolph — among many others — joined Fitzgerald to help fit patients with brand-new hearing aids customized to their hearing loss. New friends were introduced to the Foundation’s work as well, including musicians Gavin DeGraw and Steve Aoki, actress Maria Menounos, and WWE Divas Nikki and Brie Bella. The day was especially memorable for 15-year-old Larry Crain, who had struggled with hearing loss since birth. When he arrived at the fitting site, Crain was excited to receive his new hearing aids, but he had no idea what else we had in store for him! Much to Crain’s surprise, his idol Larry Fitzgerald was there to help Bill Austin with the fitting. It was a day the younger Larry won’t soon forget, and as Fitzgerald said, “This is what really matters in life, and to be able to share this experience with Starkey in the city that I play in is really special.” As the sun began to set, Bill Austin reflected on the incredible day: “This is one team — everyone who came out today,” he said. “The more people that can come together to do good things, the brighter our light will become.” 18
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Maria Menunous & Gavin DeGraw
Marlee Matlin & Katie Leclerc
special thanks: Vikings : Lenny Wilf; On Semiconductor : Bob Klosteboer, Keith
Jackson, Kevin Gillen, Tony Robio; Delta Zeta Sorority : Barb Brotherton, Cindy Menges, Diane Stecher; Audibel : Mike Wheeler and Charlene Boyd; Sandi Young; Paul Goldenberg
January 2015
The Super Bowl Trophy is made of 6.7 pounds of Tiffany & Co. sterling sliver.
Brie & Nikki Bella
Charlene Boyd, Mike Wheeler, Quinton Aaron & J.R. Martinez
Kelly Smith & James Hallman
Richard Davila & Connor Barwin
Steve Aoki, Danielle Vasinova, Daymond John, Robert Herjavec & Andrew Cohn
Bill Austin helps Azura Balkan, age 4, hear for the first time as J.R. Martinez, Kellie Wells, Jasper Brinkley and Cindy Menges look on.
special thanks: Kelly Smith; James Hallman; Ben Hopps; Dr. Earl & Jennifer Harford;
Brian Emory & staff; Doug Haws & staff; Joel Bryant; Maria Menunous; Nikki & Brie Bella; Chris Doleman; Connor Barwin; Daymond John; Derrick Brooks; Derrick Coleman; Eric Martinez
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Cindy Menges & Barb Brotherton
Prince Amukamara
Greg Jennings
Brady Forseth & Lenny Wilf
Tommie Harris
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special thanks: Frank Catalanotto, Gavin DeGraw, Greg Jennings, Hannibal Navies, Jasper Brinkley; Jonathan Stewart; J.R. Martinez; Katie Leclerc; Kyle Rudolph; Larry Fitzgerald; Marlee Matlin; Patrick Peterson; Prince Amukamara
Bridget Hilton & Joe Huff
Jonathan Stewart
Patrick Peterson & Derrick Brooks
Chris Doleman & Kyle Rudolph
special thanks: Quinton Aaron; Robert Herjavec; Sam Moore; Steve Aoki; Tommie Harris; Will Witherspoon; Jimmy Walker; Bill Horn; LSTN Headphones : Joe Huff & Bridget Hilton; Richard Davila; Paster Calvin Simmons; Kellie Wells
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Mission:
Toluca, Mexico toluca
Tears of joy. AFTER A GREAT MISSION IN PHOENIX, the team traveled back to Mexico to bring the gift of hearing to Toluca. The city is known for its beautiful landmark volcano, El Navado de Toluca — the largest volcano in Mexico. Langston and Stephanie Rogers from Audibel, and the Knowles Electronics team were on hand to help us change lives. While we saw many incredible patients during the four days of fittings in Toluca, one story in particular stayed with us. Raul, 36, had never heard before when he sat down in Stephanie Loccisano’s fitting chair. Raul’s mother was with him, and the two were clearly very close. Stephanie worked diligently to find the perfect fit for Raul, and what followed was a touching moment. Raul’s mother started speaking to him, and tears of joy filled both of their eyes as mother and son heard each other for the first time. It was a powerful moment of connection through hearing, and we know it’s only the beginning of a better life for Raul.
Stephanie Loccisano with Raul and his mother
John Rodack
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Stephanie Rogers
special thanks: Starkey Mexico; Audibel : Langston and Stephanie
Rogers; Knowles Electronics : John Rodack, Kathryn Haas, Chris Maret, Emily Wigley, Erik Wiederholtz, Randy Sparks
February 2015
Liz Shobel & Eva Hecht
Steve Olson
Chalene Roase
Erik Widerholtz
Emily Wigley & Kathryn Haas
Langston Rogers
Lucy Cashin
Chris Maret
special thanks: Audiology Student Volunteers: Liz Shobel, Eva Hecht, Ashley Foots, Carrie Raz, Ashlynn Hargrave, Samantha Vrooman
Randy Sparks
Ashley Foots & Ashlynn Hargrave
Samantha Vrooman & Carrie Raz
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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Mission: santiago santo domingo
Population: 10.4 Million
Language: Spanish
Dominican Republic Returning to the Dominican. LOCATED IN THE CARIBBEAN, the island nation of the Dominican Republic is dotted with palm trees and surrounded by picturesque blue-green waters. The team was highly anticipating our return to the Dominican Republic because we had many friends and sponsors traveling with us to lend a hand. Among the excited group were Delta Zeta’s Diane Stecher and Barb Brotherton, Seattle Seahawks’ Derrick Coleman, and Academy Awardwinning actress Marlee Matlin. The team started in Santo Domingo, where our dedicated partners Antonio Estaban and Samantha Canals had worked with the Dominican Navy to secure a fitting site. The grounds were bustling with excited energy as we fit thousands of patients over four days including many children from local schools. Coleman and Matlin were favorites among our young patients, showing off their own hearing aids to children who were scared or anxious — and of course giving countless hugs and high fives! On the third day of fitting, we met the radiant 106-yearold Estabania, who had suffered from severe hearing loss for over two decades. After she was successfully fit with her new hearing aids, Estabania had one very important question: would she need to take off her hearing aids to go out dancing? Of course not, Estabania. You dance! After fitting nearly 2,000 patients in Santo Domingo, we traveled by bus to the mountainous city of Santiago for a successful hearing mission at the mayor’s office. After a full week of fittings, the team left the Dominican Republic knowing we’d changed countless lives and looking forward to our next visit.
Derrick Coleman
Marlee Matlin
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Elisa Becker-Herby & Deborah Berecz with Estabania
special thanks: FedEx ; Audibel : Mike Wheeler and Juliet Wheeler;
Hearing Solutions : Lowell Scott, Jacob Weldon, Hamilton Scott; Warburg Pincus : Mark Colodny, Suzanne Moller Colodny, Ali Jeronimo
Religion:
February 2015
Catholic
Diane Stecher & Barb Brotherton
Juliet Wheeler
Suzanne Moller Colodny & Mark Colodny
Carlos Gomez
Lowell Scott
Lizzy Weiss
special thanks: Bereca & Associates : Deborah Berecz; Jennifer Johnson; Delta Zeta Sorority : Barbara Brotherton, Diane Stecher; Hybrid Shop : Matt Curry; Marlee Matlin; Jack Jason; Lizzy Weiss; Derrick Coleman
Mike Wheeler
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Kirk Richards
Teri Austin
Engel BeltrĂŠ & Juan Francisco
Aaron Alpert
Antonio Esteban
Jacob Weldon
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Renee Olson
Matt Curry
Jennifer Johnson
Taylor Joseph
Dr. Jane O'Brien
Kevin Quinlivan
John Sheehan
special thanks: Aaron Alpert; Carlos Gomez; Steve Friess; Engel Beltré; Juan Francisco; Dr. Jane O’Brien; Antonio Estaban; Samantha Canals
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Mission:
INDIA
Population: More than 1.2 billion
Language: Hindi, English
delhi jaipur
Delhi & Jaipur, India AfterCare patients reach their potential with the gift of hearing. OUR FIRST STOP IN INDIA WAS THE CAPITAL, Delhi. With the support of Starkey India, the Delhi mission would kick off nearly a month of fittings in India. The energy of the team was palpable as busloads of students arrived from local schools. This would become a very familiar sight over the course of our time in India, due to the strong relationships we’ve built with many schools in the country.
Dave Nygaard
From Delhi, we traveled southwest to Jaipur — a unique city with a rich history. According to local legend, in 1876 it was painted pink to welcome King Edward VII for a royal visit. Since then, Jaipur has been lovingly called “the pink city,” with many buildings maintaining the unique rosy pink hue. We witnessed a reflection of the city’s unique coloring in the rosy dispositions of the patients we saw over the three days of fittings held adjacent to Jaipur’s famous Jawahar Circle gardens. We were excited to see a longtime patient of Bill Austin’s, Neha. She received AfterCare services, and has seen Bill five times. Over the years, Neha has gotten married and had a baby with her husband, Achin. During this visit, we found out Achin struggled with hearing loss, so Bill fit him as well. We love seeing our AfterCare patients grow and reach their potential with the gift of hearing! 28
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Bill Austin with Neha and Achin
Religion: Hinduism
Rohit Misra
special thanks: Starkey India; Commonwealth Games Sports Village Complex; Entertainment Paradise
February 2015
Rob Morrison
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Mission: varanasi
bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar & Varanasi, India The City of Temples. NICKNAMED “CITY OF TEMPLES,” Bhubaneswar is a historic city, rich with ancient culture. Home to more than a thousand historic Hindu and Buddhist temples, Bhubaneswar is one of three cities that makes up the spiritual Golden Triangle. On this visit, one little patient stole our hearts. Bhaswati, 12, lost his hearing when he was a toddler and was believed to have severe hearing loss. Once we started the fitting process, the team realized that Bhaswati only had minor hearing loss that was easily restored with hearing aids. His mother was overjoyed by this news, and promptly gave her son a big, wet kiss. He lovingly swatted her away, explaining that he’s “a big man now” and no longer needs so many kisses from his mom. It was our joy to connect Bhaswati and his mother through the gift of hearing! From Bhubaneswar, we flew north to Varanasi, a spiritual city located on the banks of the Ganges River. Our fitting site was the Gateway Hotel, where our friend Goldie Hawn was coincidentally staying. A supporter of our work, Hawn surprised us at the mission site to help fit patients. With the assistance of Bill Austin, Hawn helped fit a young boy who spontaneously burst into song once his hearing aids were turned on. On our last day in Varanasi, we met 16-year-old friends Utkash and Sawzabh. Accustomed to communicating solely through sign language, the friends laughed awkwardly as they tried to speak to one another. Not only were they hearing their own voices for the first time, but they were finally hearing each other as well. It was a touching moment that we were honored to witness!
Goldie Hawn
16-year-old friends Sawzabh and Utkash
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February 2015
Colleen Edwards
The team takes in a local traditional festival in Varanasi, from a boat on the Ganges River.
special thanks: Starkey India; Neoteric Hearing and Speech Center; Trident Hotel Bhubaneswar; Goldie Hawn; The Gateway Hotel Ganges Varanasi
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Mission: nagpur
mumbai
Nagpur & Mumbai, India Happy Birthday Bill Austin. NAGPUR MARKED A SPECIAL MILESTONE during this mission run: Bill Austin’s 73rd birthday! To honor Bill’s work giving the gift of hearing to so many, local artist Pralhad C. Thak surprised him with a large one-of-a-kind grain rangoli — traditional artwork made from more than 20 types of grains native to Indian cuisine. The portrait of Bill and partner Sanjeev Bafna took six hours to create, and was a great tribute to both local culture and Bill’s continued work in India. The celebration continued into the evening, with the Starkey India team throwing a party complete with streamers, cake and sparklers. While there was plenty to celebrate, our main focus was on the work of changing lives. We had the special honor of helping local volunteer Pooja give her family the gift of hearing. While both Pooja and her sister have normal hearing, parents Deepak and Priya have been living with severe hearing loss for decades. According to Pooja, Deepak and Priya have been isolated from family activities due to their hearing — often sitting off to the sidelines during weddings and celebrations. It was an emotional day as Tani Austin fit both, connecting Pooja’s family through sound. Pooja showed off her volunteer skills and assisted with her parent’s counseling. It was an emotional day, with both Deepak and Priya hearing their daughters’ voices for the first time.
Our partners celebrate Bill Austin's birthday
Pralhad C. Thak's 20-grain traditional artwork
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From Nagpur, we traveled west to the coastal city of Mumbai. Here, Bill Austin received a special birthday gift from two patients. Vijay, 16, and Raju, 14, are talented, self-taught artists. As a sign of special thanks for the work Bill and the Foundation have done, the two friends created hand drawn portraits of him. It was a touching moment of gratitude, and the perfect way to commemorate the successful mission.
Tani Austin with Deepak, Priya, Ketki and Pooja
February 2015
Vijay and Raju with their drawn portraits of Bill Austin
Amy Chadwick
special thanks: Starkey India; TATA Motors; Sanjeev Bafna and family; YCP
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Mission:
bangalore
Bangalore, India
Brandon Hoffman & Derrick Coleman
Experiencing sound for the first time. THE SOUTHERN CITY OF BANGALORE is India’s third most populous city, housing more than 8.5 million residents. Often referred to as the “Silicon Valley of India,” Bangalore is the nation’s largest exporter of information technology services. However, dramatic economic growth has led Bangalore to suffer from the side effects of a quickly growing city, with prevalent slums and a growing gap between the rich and the poor. The team had been looking forward to our mission in Bangalore as we welcomed many special guests to the team. Derrick Coleman joined us once again, along with his friend Brandon Hoffman. We also welcomed Operation Change contest winner Natalie Phillips and her guest, D’Anne Rudden to their first hearing mission.
Celebrating Holi festivities
Although there were many amazing moments during the four days of fittings at the Lalit Ashok Hotel, one moment in particular stood out. Raksha, 10, had been deaf since birth, but with assistance of Phillips and Rudden, we were able to open the world of sound to her for the first time. Raksha surprised everyone when she approached Bill Austin for a hug, saying, “I love you” — her first-ever spoken words. It was a touching moment that showed the instant impact hearing has on our patients’ lives. After the last mission day concluded, the team took the opportunity to join in on local Holi festivities. Holi is a traditional Hindu festival famous for imagery of crowds covered in bright-colored dye. The team had a great time getting messy with the rest of the city to celebrate the arrival of spring. It was the perfect way to close out 17 days of changing more than 13,000 lives in India. 34
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Bill Austin with Raksha
special thanks: Starkey India; Derrick Coleman, Brandon Hoffman; Opportunity International : Muffy MacMillan, Quenton Marty, Lori Olson, Geralyn Sheehan
March 2015
Kate Johnson
Natalie Phillips
Molly LaFleur
Laura Skala
D'Anne Rudden
Lori Olson & Muffy MacMillan
special thanks: Operation Change contest winners : Natalie Phillips,
Geralyn Sheehan
D’Anne Rudden; The Boy and Girl Scouts of India ; Indian Red Cross — Bangalore
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NEPAL
Mission: pokhara kathmandu
Population: Approximately 27 million
Language: Napali
Kathmandu & Pokhara, Nepal A beautiful view of the Himalayas. AFTER ALMOST A MONTH IN INDIA, the team traveled to neighboring Nepal. Just days prior to our scheduled arrival into Kathmandu, a Turkish Airlines plane had skidded off the runway, closing the airport and cutting off Nepal from the rest of the world for several days. Luckily, no one was injured and after a slight delay we arrived in Nepal to change lives through the gift of hearing. The team worked late into the night in Kathmandu to ensure all received the best care.
Flying into Nepal, we were surrounded by the Himalayas
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Next, we traveled to the mountain town of Pokhara. Bordered by the breathtaking Himalayas, the city is a popular basecamp destination for climbers who seek the thrills of the famous Annapurna Circuit. But for some, the majestic mountains represent a different journey. In the early 1960s, Tibetan refugees fled to Nepal due to the Tibetan Uprising and the exile of the Dalai Lama. Now, Pokhara is home to an estimated 13,500 of these refugees who braved the mountain pass. Led by a Tibetan monk from the Pema Ts’al Sakya Monastic Institute, nearly 100 refugees came to receive the gift of hearing. Complicated laws require them to live in designated camps and bar them from working, resulting in a high level of poverty among the community. We fit them with hearing aids, reminding them that they are not alone and giving them an opportunity to reach their full potential through hearing.
Religion:
Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Sikhism, Bon, Ancestor worship and Animism
special thanks: Starkey India
March 2015
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MALAYSIA
Mission:
Population: More than 28 million
Language: Malaysian
kuala terengganu
Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia Ensuring sustainability and understanding. FROM NEPAL WE TRAVELED EAST to Kuala Terengganu, located on the east coast of Malaysia. The mission would not have been possible without the help of Richard Low, Joyce Chuah and the Best Hearing Aid Centre team, who made sure everything ran smoothly. We were also joined by special guest and Operation Change winner Patrick Morrison, along with his wife Roseanne. Longtime supporter Knowles Electronics sponsored the mission. We kicked off events with group trainings for our new partners and volunteers. These trainings are essential to ensuring sustainability and understanding, and help set our partners up for success. During the training we reviewed and practiced our methods hands-on. Once training was complete, we were ready to fit nearly 1,500 people.
Muhammad & Ramabhanie
Bill and Tani Austin changes this young girl's life with Richard Low
While we were able to help many people in Malaysia, two little ones struck a special chord with the team — brother and sister, Muhammad and Ramabhanie. Neither of them had heard before, and their response to sound was instantaneous. The siblings began to interact with one another, testing out their vocal abilities with yells, giggles and “ba ba ba’s.” It was rewarding to see the instant impact of our work. Even better, we got it on film! Watch the adorable Muhammad and Ramabhanie in action at www.youtube.com/StarkeyHearingFndn. 38
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Joyce Chuah
special thanks: Knowles Electronics : Josephine Tan, Bee Bee See, Raymond Chua, Wei Ling Lum, Chee Teong Lim
March 2015
Religion: Islam
Josephine Tan & Wei Ling Lum
Jeff Hawthorne
Nick Fabel
Bee Bee See
Raymond Chua
Mollie Fabel
Lee Elder
April Guillaume
special thanks: Operation Change contest winners : Patrick and Roseanne Morrison; Best Hearing Aid Centre : Richard Low, Davis Chuah, Joyce Chuah
Roseanne & Patrick Morrison
Chee Teong Lim
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CAMBODIA
Mission:
Population: More than 15 million
Language: Khmer
Phonm Penh, Cambodia
phnom penh
Changing lives. NEXT, THE TEAM CONTINUED EAST to Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. We were excited to change lives with the help of sponsor Rasvir Mustan with his sons Keriden and Kershwin, representing Fight Night, and longtime friends Marlee Matlin and Jack Jason. The Cambodian Red Cross, HOPE Cambodia and All Ears International were incredible partners who helped the mission run smoothly. During the hearing mission, we had the pleasure of meeting many “Grannies” — elderly Cambodian women who use storytelling to verbally pass on elements of history that were lost during the tragic genocides. These women are single-handedly keeping aspects of Cambodian culture alive for future generations. Many were suffering from hearing loss and losing their ability to tell these critical stories. We were able to restore their hearing, helping ensure the tradition continues for years to come. The last time we visited Cambodia, we shared a story about Sang — a young girl fit by Tani Austin, and with whom she made an instant connection. Sang and her mother came to see us in Phnom Penh, and to our delight she has blossomed with hearing. Previously a quiet, reserved girl, now she was full of laughter and smiles. Her mother reports that Sang is doing great in school and that the gift of hearing has changed their lives forever. Tani Austin with Sang
Marlee Matlin
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"Grannies" excited to receive the gift of hearing
special thanks: Cambodian Red Cross — Phnom Penh ; HOPE Cambodia : Freddy Kuan; All Ears International : Glyn Vaughn, Seya and Hannah; Marlee Matlin, Jack Jason
March 2015
Religion: Buddhism
Steven Sawalich
Rasvir Mustan
Jack Jason
Sarah Lively & Rachel Pomycala
Cassandra Feltner
Jillian Barney
Kasheen Schultz & Bridget Meehan
special thanks: Yank Barry/Fight Night : Rasvir, Keirden and Kershwin
Mustan; Gallaudet University Students : Cassandra Feltner, Bridget Meehan, Jillian Barney, Kasheen Schultz, Mary Garvert, Rachel Pomycala, Sarah Lively
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INDONESIA
Mission: jakarta
Population: More than 250 million
Language: Indonesian
Yogyakarta & Jakarta, Indonesia
yogyakarta
Connecting a family through hearing.
Tani and Bill Austin with Anri, Nani and their two children
THE TEAM WAS EXCITED TO ARRIVE in Yogyakarta to bring the gift of hearing to Indonesia for the first time. The country consists of more than 100 islands and is the world’s fourth mostpopulous nation. Despite its large number of inhabitants, the rainforest-dense islands are also home to vast biodiversity, as well as rich culture and religious landmarks. Our dedicated partners Manfred and Kiky Stoifl from the Hearing Solution Group worked tirelessly to make the mission a reality, even temporarily closing their practice to focus on the mission. Many staff members from Hearing Solution Group came to lend a hand. We also had assistance from sponsors Doug and Beth McMillin from Indiana Hearing. Indonesia is home to more than half of the world’s Scouts, and local troops provided great assistance during the mission. Bill Austin was even made an honorary Scout!
Manfred Stoifl
Kiky Stoifl
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In Jakarta, we added more special guests to our group: the Lyons Family — Mark, Barbara and Charlotte — and Zoya Biglary from LSTN Headphones. During our second day of fittings in Jakarta, we met Anri and Nani, a husband and wife who both had hearing loss. The couple is also parents to 7-year-old Nayla and 6-month-old Jajwa, both of whom have normal hearing. The family had lived with this unique dynamic for years, but the parents yearned to hear their children laugh. The team was dedicated to making their wish come true, and both Anri and Nani had their hearing restored. The joyful couple heard their children laugh and cry, and little Nayla was thrilled to speak to her parents for the first time. It was a joy to connect this family with hearing!
March 2015
Religion: Islam
Doug McMillin
Beth McMillin
Charlotte Lyons
Charlie Burns
Erik Miles
Dave Dollahan
Barbara Lyons
Dr. Robert Dean
Mark Lyons
special thanks: Indiana Hearing : Doug & Beth McMillin; Hearing Solution
Zoya Biglary
Group : Manfred and Kiky Stoif l; Dr. Robert Dean; Providence Academy Fundraiser Winners : Mark, Barbara and Charlotte Lyons; LSTN Headphones : Zoya Biglary
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Mission:
MAURITANIA
Population: Nearly 4 million
Languages: Arabic
nouakchott
Nouakchott, Mauritania Bringing hearing to Mauritania. THE LAST MISSION OF THIS RUN marked another first for the team, as we traveled to Mauritania in the Maghreb region of Northern Africa. Nouakchott is the capital of the desert nation, and is home to nearly 2 million citizens, many of who live a nomadic lifestyle due to poverty and lack of sufficient infrastructure. Assisting with the mission was Dr. Mohamed Bouria from The Bin Bayyah Foundation, who generously hosted the mission at their headquarters. We received great assistance from Tarik Abasalah from Audio Morocco, and students from the University of Nouakchott also lent a hand. Dr. Bouria and team surprised us by unveiling a dedicated Starkey Hearing Foundation office in the Bin Bayyah Foundation building — a space fully equipped to host AfterCare appointments and ensure the future success of hearing health care in Mauritania. Our first visit to Mauritania was a wonderful experience for the team, and we gave the gift of hearing to nearly a thousand patients. This may have been our first mission to the Saharan nation, but it certainly won’t be the last. With strong partnerships in place, we’re looking forward to bringing hearing to the people of Mauritania for years to come.
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special thanks: The Bin Bayyah Foundation : Dr. Mohamed Bouria;
Audio Morocco : Tarik Abasalah; Dr. Malick Diop; Dr. Doyneck; Diop Samb
Religions: Islam
March 2015
special thanks: Abdus Salaam Husamadeen Ibn Uthman; Nar Seck; Ndeye
Mareme Ndoye; Dr. Theodore Randrianarisoa; Toky Andriantsoa; Jean Pierre Manirafasha; Samuel Ndibwirende
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TRAINING IN ACTION Tani Austin and the team make community-based hearing care viable for the long-term. Training local community leaders is a pivotal piece of our commitment to bring community-based hearing health care to the world. Having knowledgeable partners helps to ensure the sustainability of our efforts, and has been the primary focus for Tani Austin. To kick off 2015, Austin assembled an expert team and departed for Africa to put our training model into action in new ways. The expanded model aims to train partners for all three phases of our work, with personalization to each groups’ specific needs. Partners and volunteers alike are trained and prepared for all pieces of our process, including hearing screenings, the WFA™ Fitting Method and AfterCare services. Perhaps most importantly, trainees learn the background behind each piece of the process. “You can see a light bulb go on,” said Austin. “They really start to understand why we do what we do for each step of the process. They can see the big picture of our work.” While traditional classroom-style training was a piece of the trainings throughout the trip, the most integral part of each session was hands-on practicum. Every trainee had the opportunity to participate in an actual phase one, two or three. The newly learned methods and skills 46
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were immediately put into action to ensure retention, understanding and sustainability. The trip was also an opportunity to enhance our systems of support within the local communities. In Rwanda, nurses from the 11 provincial hospitals attended our training sessions. These hospitals are the pinnacle of the Rwandan health care system and are responsible for training other hospitals and clinics throughout the country. “This really shows buy-in and that the model is working,” said Austin. “They see that our methods are worth teaching, and the government wants them incorporated into the health care system nationwide.” Take a look at the map to see highlights of this training mission run and the team’s daily activities. With Austin at the helm, we will continue to scale our training model to expand access to hearing health care around the world. To learn more about Austin’s trip, check out our Training Local Communities film on the Starkey Hearing Foundation YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/StarkeyHearingFndn
DAY 3
DAY 1
Rwanda Phase 1 Mission
Arrival
The team arrives in Kigali, Rwanda and preps for the upcoming training events.
DAY 5
DAY 4
Malawi Training
The team holds a classroomRwanda Genocide Health care workers were able to style training to teach local Museum utilize their skills from the previous health care workers Phase Two The team tours the Rwanda day’s training to screen patients and activities, including fitting take earmolds. Among the patients Genocide Museum in an effort to hearing aids and providing better understand the culture of were a group of Rwandan counseling services. the country. From the museum, genocide prisoners, wearing the team departs for Malawi Rwanda Training their orange and pink to prepare for the next jumpsuits. Health care workers from set of trainings. across Africa arrive. The Malawi team hosts a classroom-style Phase 2 Mission training, focusing on Phase Even torrential downpours One activities, such as ear Training in couldn’t stop the team from impressions and general setting up the mission site! Zambia Malawi Training hearing health. The trainees use their newly The team holds training sessions Training attendees learn learned skills to bring the for partners who are new to our Phase Three skills to help gift of hearing to more model. The trainings encompass the health care coordinators than 100 people. all three phases of our continuous prepare to serve their local action model, with special Zambia communities once they emphasis on fitting hearing Phase 2 Mission return home. aids during Phase Two The new trainees get a handsmissions. on experience fitting hearing
DAY 2
DAY 6
DAY 9
DAY 7
DAY 10
aids during a 100-patient Phase Two mission. They also learn how to fit stock earmolds for walk-in patients when custom molds are unavailable.
DAY 14
Training Local Teachers
Because teachers are often instrumental for helping students adapt to and utilize their hearing aids, the team holds a special Travel to Lesotho training for local educators The team arrives in Lesotho on using, fitting and just as the sun begins to troubleshooting set. After enjoying a group hearing aids. dinner, the team sets off to prepare for the next day’s activities.
DAY 13
DAY 11
Zambia AfterCare Practicum
In Zambia, trainees learn how to fix and troubleshoot hearing aid issues that patients may experience in their home countries.
DAY 15
DAY 16
DAY 17
AfterCare in South Africa
Lesotho Phase 2 Mission
The dedicated teachers put their training into action Travel to during a Phase Two mission, South Africa, helping to fit hearing aids Local Facility Tour and give the gift of After arriving in South Africa, hearing. the team takes a trip to visit local facility being built for children with HIV.
The team assists with AfterCare for patients that we’ve seen on previous hearing missions.
Rwanda
Zambia
DAY 18
South Africa
Departures
The team departs. Some members return home to Minnesota, while others join up with Bill Austin and team in India to give the gift of hearing.
Malawi
Lesotho
TRAVEL, EDUCATION AND DENTAL WORK
An “audiological” twist on increasing awareness around the importance of hearing health care. by Dave Fabry, Ph.D.
I was raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin and never left the state until I was 16 years old. The following summer, I left to begin college at the University of Minnesota, and it feels like I have been “on the road” ever since, hitting “plutonium” status on Delta Air Lines last year. As the first in my family to attend college, my parents were also quite proud to see me receive my undergraduate degree in 1981. Little did they know, it was just the beginning of a wonderful educational journey at the University of Minnesota that culminated in my receiving both my master’s and doctoral degrees in audiology. Time flies, and I have spent the better part of 35 years with “hearing as my concern,” and so it seemed a perfect marriage when my career path led me to Starkey Hearing Technologies and Starkey Hearing Foundation six years ago. We have a saying in my family that money is never wasted on travel, education or dental work. Given that we have devoted a significant amount to each endeavor, I firmly believe that travel and education are inexplicably intertwined, and there is no better example than the opportunity I have had to travel with Starkey Hearing Foundation during the past three years. In addition, I have fractured teeth twice on missions, most recently in Mexico this January, and I am grateful for excellent health care insurance! Prior to 2012, I had never set foot on the continent of Africa. Since then, I have made countless trips to many African nations, and still I feel I have only scratched the 48
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surface of my understanding of hearing health care there. While it is a well-known fact that throughout Africa, the ratio of people-to-hearing health care practitioners is in excess of one million to one, it is not a homogeneous number across all countries. Furthermore, it does not reflect a futile situation, due to the community-based hearing health care model established by Starkey Hearing Foundation. By working collaboratively with the Foundation team, volunteers, students, donors, local audiologists, physicians, and government agencies, Tani and Bill Austin have developed a global network of individuals who are passionate about one simple vision: “So The World May Hear.” By materializing, mobilizing and maximizing our resources, we will achieve Starkey Hearing Foundation’s goal of providing 1 million hearing aids to individuals in need during the coming decade. My focus will be to report on the education and insights gained during my travels with the team to bring some of those stories to life through interviews, overviews and a little bit of data as well. With this column, I will provide an “audiological” twist on some of the challenges, opportunities and victories of building a sustainable, scalable path towards increasing awareness of hearing as our most valuable sense for communicating and connecting with others.
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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J.R. MARTINEZ shows his support at the 2015 Super Bowl Mission.
Firsthand
J.R. Martinez One moment can change a life forever. Few people know this better than J.R. Martinez, for whom a series of moments have brought him to where he is today. While deployed in Iraq in 2003, Martinez’s vehicle hit a roadside bomb. It was a moment that left Martinez changed — both inside and out. It was a moment that inspired Martinez to become an advocate for burn survivors and fellow veterans, a philanthropist and a motivational speaker. He went on to become an actor and inspired the nation when he was named a Dancing with the Stars champion.
Martinez joined the team in Phoenix for our Super Bowl weekend hearing mission, where he witnessed the life-changing impact of the gift of hearing. What was it like to be a part of Starkey Hearing Foundation’s annual Super Bowl weekend hearing mission? It’s moving; it’s truly remarkable to see the moment where someone hears for the first time. They can hear the noises around them and hear that they’re not alone. Through my own adversity in my life, I’ve learned that it’s important for people to feel that they’re not alone. When the hearing aids are fit and the volume is just right, every single one of those individuals understands that they’re not alone. How was it experiencing four-year-old Azura hearing for the first time? That little girl really choked me up. She’s only four years old and was so shy. Seeing that smile on her face after being fit … it makes me wish more people understood what Starkey Hearing Foundation is doing. To think about this little girl learning about the world as a four-year-old and not being able to connect to it until today is truly amazing. 5 0 S TA R K E Y H E A R I N G FO U N DAT I O N
How has it been seeing so many people come out to support Starkey Hearing Foundation? It was great to see so many athletes taking time out of their schedules and all the Super Bowl festivities to come and show their support. You get to see how nice all these guys are and how much they care about Starkey. As a public figure, you have a platform to create awareness [about Starkey Hearing Foundation] not only for the general public but also for people that may be hearing impaired and need help. What is your biggest takeaway from today’s mission? It’s amazing how many simple things in life we all take for granted, like hearing my daughter say “Daddy” or “I love you.” I can’t imagine what it would be like to not be able to hear your loved ones tell you they love you. Being out here and having the opportunity to be part of someone hearing for the first time really chokes you up. I hear a lot of beautiful sounds every day, and a lot of these people have lived a long time without having the opportunity to hear. This is an experience I will never forget. What message would you give people about Starkey Hearing Foundation? I think it’s great what Starkey Hearing Foundation is doing, and more people need to get involved — whatever shape or form that may take. I think it’s a misconception that if you’re a youth in today’s society you don’t have the money or resources to do anything, but that’s wrong. Our nation’s youth has a powerful voice and can do a lot just by learning about Starkey Hearing Foundation and spreading the word. You can — and will — make a difference in a lot of people’s lives by doing so.
“ Through my own adversity in my life, I’ve learned that it’s important for people to feel that they’re not alone. When the hearing aids are fit and the volume is just right, every single one of those individuals understands that they’re not alone.” 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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5 2 S TA R K E Y H E A R I N G FO U N DAT I O N Delhi, India February 2015
One in six American teens has noise-induced hearing loss due to loud sounds.
.org
SAVE THE DATE
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