Starkey Hearing Foundation wrapped up its hearing mission in Penang, Malaysia last month with the help of Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, who assisted in fitting more than 2,600 children and adults with hearing aids throughout the course of the mission.
This marks Fitzgerald’s 10th mission with the Foundation.
Over five days, Starkey Hearing Foundation delivered the gift of hearing to patients with the help of the Foundation’s team of audiologists and staff, fitting each of the recipients with their own custom-made, hearing device.
“Starkey Hearing Foundation has promoted hearing care awareness through its support of research, education and the distribution of hearings aids to those in need all over the world, and it’s been our good fortune to have the loyal support of committed, Hearing Angels like Larry Fitzgerald, who helped us change lives in Malaysia by reconnecting people to their families and communities through the gift of hearing.” stated Bill Austin, Founder, Starkey Hearing Foundation.
Starkey Hearing Foundation’s Malaysia hearing mission is one of dozens of missions conducted each year by the Foundation both domestically and internationally. Hearing missions are the primary way Starkey Hearing Foundation realizes its goal – So the World May Hear. In turn, the Foundation fit more than 110,000 hearing aids to individuals in need in 2011 alone, and as a member of President Clinton's Global Initiative, it has pledge to fit 1 million by the end of this decade.
According to Starkey Hearing Foundation, hearing loss is pervasive, affecting 34 million Americans – or one in 10. Yet, with the help of a hearing device, hearing loss can often be corrected in a majority cases, giving an individual the opportunity to better connect with their family, the community, and the world around them.
