TheFamilyHearingCenter: MeetingOurCommunity'sHearingNeeds
For thousands in our community, hearing loss isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a barrier to connection, education, and opportunity. Yet, hearing aids remain out of reach for many due to high costs and lack of insurance coverage.
That’s where we step in. Help Others Hear provides high-quality, advanced hearing aids—tailored to individual needs—at no cost.
The need is greater than ever:
Over 1.2 million Marylanders are deaf or hard of hearing, yet many go without proper treatment. [1]
Hearing loss affects 1 in 5 adults, but cost remains the number one reason people don’t seek help. [2]
Medicare and most private insurance plans offer little to no coverage for hearing aids, leaving many struggling in silence. [3]
WHY HelpOthersHear?
Imagine being a student struggling to hear your teacher in class, an employee relying on lip reading in meetings, or a grandparent missing the sound of your grandchildren’s laughter.
At TLC’s Family Hearing Center, we understand that hearing is a necessity, not a luxury. In 2008, we created Help Others Hear to provide new hearing aids to people who could not otherwise afford them. Hearing aids are not covered by insurance like other critically needed medical devices. Medicare does not cover the cost of hearing aids, and most private insurance companies provide minimal, if any, coverage.
How Can I Make a Difference?
Because TLC is a registered 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit organization, all gifts are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law.
There are several easy ways you can give:
Online with a credit card at www.ttlc.org/donate/help-others-hear.
Become a GEM (Give Every Month) by checking the "Make this a monthly gift" box when giving online. Choose any gift amount and change your commitment at any time.
Write a check made out to The Family Hearing Center in the Payee line and HOH in the Memo, and mail your gift to TLC.
Speak with Turk Lewis, Director of Development, about creative ways to maximize your impact and reduce taxable income by creating a planned gift or giving through a Donor Advised Fund (it's as easy as donating with a credit card!). Check with your tax advisor. EIN# 52-0607924.
HelpOthersHear NumbersandImpact
At TLC’s Family Hearing Center, every number tells a story of transformation. With the generosity of our community, we’re breaking down barriers and bringing the gift of hearing to those in need.
Behind each number is a story—a grandparent hearing their grandchild’s giggle, a child excelling in school without struggling to hear, a working professional confidently participating in meetings. Help Others Hear brings these stories to life.
NEW PATIENTS SERVED 191
NEW HEARING AIDS PROVIDED 377 GIFTS RECEIVED
1,000+ ANNUAL MATCHING GRANTS 2 DONATED OVER$550,000
InTheirOwnWords... DatovechFamilyStory
My name is Patrice Datovech, and I’m proud to share my connection with TLC and their impactful Help Others Hear program.
My family’s journey with TLC began in 1980 when our son, Matthew, was born prematurely at 26 weeks. Due to complications, he is blind, hearing impaired, and has Cerebral Palsy, Autism, and cognitive delays. When Matthew was just 9 months old, we turned to The Family Hearing Center at TLC for his first hearing aids, and he has been a client ever since.
Years later, I also experienced hearing loss and chose The Family Hearing Center for my own care. Today, I wear hearing aids full-time and am grateful for the support we’ve received from their dedicated team.
One of the most meaningful programs at TLC is Help Others Hear, which provides hearing aids to individuals who cannot afford them. A few years ago, we learned that Matthew, who lives in a group home and has limited financial resources, qualified to receive hearing aids
through this program. This has been an incredible blessing for him and our family, and we are so grateful for the generosity that makes this possible.
As a member of TLC’s Consumer Advisory Council, I’m proud to support Help Others Hear and to advocate for a program that changes lives by giving the gift of hearing. The compassion and care of The Family Hearing Center continue to inspire me every day.
InTheirOwnWords... HelpOthersHearProgramRecipients
the hearing aids prescribed were not financially possible for me. I am so overjoyed to finally hear —my daughters’ voices, grandchildren’s laughter, birds singing outside. My daughters and I hugged and cried this afternoon for the wonderful gift of hearing you have given me. You have given me one of the greatest gifts a person can give to another person hearing.”
“Thanks to generous donors – I can hear again.The new technology is amazing.The hearing aids help me keep my balance because I can hear my surroundings. I can hear my greatgrandkids giggle and call me grandma. Hearing is a gift and thank you for giving me that precious gift.”
Change Makers
Bob and Barbara Evans FOUNDERS ($100,000+)
CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation
CATALYSTS ($25,000-$49,999)
Samuel Burtoff Foundation
Dr David L Katz and Dr Thu N Tran
Bill and Ginny McDonald
BENEFACTORS
($10,000-$24,999)
Sam and Ellen Chilcote
Rosemary W. Colston
Laurence and Barbara Levitan
Warren Montouri
Henry and Joyce Morton
Think Tank, Inc
Robert Ward
CHAMPIONS
($5,000-$9,999)
Nelson and Michele Carbonell
John and Linda Derrick
Help Us Help Others Foundation
Montgomery Village Rotary Club Foundation, Inc.
Dr Patricia A Ritter and Mr Gary C Ritter
Joan D Ward
J Richard and Laura Ward
($2,500-$4,999)
Anonymous
Conrad and Lois Aschenbach
Edward and Joyce Burlas
Harinder Bawa
Jim and Patrice Datovech
Ryan and Jaimee Wibberley
Joshua Zimmerberg and Teresa Jones
TLCisverygratefultoourdonorswhomakeit possibletoprovidethegiftofhearing.Attheheart ofHOHistheJimandCarolTrawickFoundation whosegenerosityprovidedthesparkwithannual matchinggrantsthathaveincentivizednew donorstojoinandregulardonorstodoublethe impactoftheirgiving.BobandBarbaraEvans joinedthismatchinggranteffortandwerejoined thepasttwoyearswithleadershipgrantsupport fromtheSamuelBurtoffFoundation.Weinvite youtocontactustodiscusshowyoucanhelpthe FamilyHearingCenterprovidethegiftofhearing toallofitspatientsunabletoaffordthecostof hearingaidsandpersonalizedcarethatHOH provides.Thereismoreworktobedone.
“Fortwodecades,ourFoundationhasbeen inspiredbyhearingtherecipients’storiesofhow theirliveswerechangedthroughtheHelpOthers Hearprogram.Listeningtojustonestorywill motivateyoutosupporttheprogram.”
-CarolTrawick
Change Makers
SUPPORTERS
($1,000-$2,499)
Dorothy Ballenberger
Julianne Beall
Julie and Michael Bobrow
Lois Brodsky
Doris Criswell
Larry and Kathryn Fisher
Richard Gambaro
Randall and Linnette Garber
John Hagner
M. Carol Herndon
Richard Kearney
Anne Kline
Delia Lang
Leslie S Levine
Laverne Lewis
Roger McGary and Nancy Cohen
Charles L. Morse
Stephen Murchake
Robert and Hannah November
Raymond Panczyk
David and Terry Pogue
Stephen and Susan Porter
William E. and Donna Roberts
Eugene Rotberg
Rubenstein and Cogan
Wallace and Rita Rubin
Barry and Olga Scher
Virginia Thornburgh
Opal Whitt
Susan Yaffe-Oziel
PATRONS
($500-$999)
Bryan Arling
Leslie Becker
Chazin and Company
James and Diane Curry
Eugene and Bettie Delmar
Dr. Patricia A. Dinndorf
Barbara Etkind
Cary Feldman
Dr Edward and Maureen Feroli
Carolyn Levy Figoten
Lisa Finkelstein
Kevin Fosko
Carol S Fried
Marilee Giebel
Barry E Jacobs
Robert and Wendy Klecker
Michael and Mimi Kress
Fay O. Lohmann
M E Margolis
Andrew Mitz
Herb Parsons
Hershel Shanks
Dr. William and Leah Steinberg
Sternburg Communications
Robert B Thomas
