The Starkey Hearing Foundation’s mission is “Change the social consciousness of hearing and hearing matters through education and research while providing the gift of hearing to those in need around the world.” The foundation was started in 1984 and is called “So the World May Hear”. They conduct hearing fitting missions with providers who donate their time to the events. The missions are held throughout the world: Africa, Asia, Europe & Middle East, Central & Caribbean, Mexico, South America and the United States. Click here for a complete list of the missions around the globe.
During the month of October, 2011, Jacquie Elcox, CEO of Treasure Valley Hearing & Balance and her husband Joe Cooper, went on one of these missions to Honduras. While there, they and the other volunteer providers fit 1700 patients over the span of 4 days. Each day they had between 8 and 11 providers doing the fittings. While many of the patients were children, plenty were adults as well.
The founder of the foundation, William F. Austin has a special message with regards to the children the foundation helps. “It’s important for us to help the children because they’re the future of the world – and if we neglect the children, we diminish our future. This is a very special thing we do for the children. It is something from which they’ll always remember us. Our reward is in the faces and smiles of each person as we help them hear again. This is the best work we could ever do because it’s helping people… and that’s what life is all about. We truly live through what we give – we live on into the future through our gifts back into our community and to humanity.”
Below are a couple of videos about the trip:
About the Mission: (This link may take a little time to stream, but is worth the wait.)
2011HondurasAudigyVideoEd6.mp4
About the Provider Experience:
Tags: charity, foundation, Honduras, So The World May Hear, Starkey, Starkey Hearing Foundation, underpriveleged
