Selling Some, Giving Others Away: Hearing Aid Manufacturers Give Back
Despite their for-profit status, the world’s largest hearing aid manufacturers are giving back to the communities they serve via aid programs for people who cannot afford hearing aids. Join us in applauding these manufacturers’ exemplary charitable programs.
The Starkey Hearing Foundation
Leading the way in corporate giving is the Starkey Hearing Foundation, founded by Starkey Laboratories President William F. Austin in 1973. Leveraging volunteers and donations, the Starkey Hearing Foundation conducts world-wide mission trips to fit people with hearing aids. The foundation’s domestic program, called Hear Now and launched in 1999, has granted more than 65,000 hearing devices to children and adults in need. Most recently, in September 2005, in a joint effort with Starkey Laboratories, the Starkey Hearing Foundation pledged $40 million in relief for Hurricane Katrina victims. In addition to Starkey’s traditional service of providing hearing instruments, Starkey’s relief efforts will help with employment, new business plans development and office relocation for hurricane victims.
Oticon Foundation
In 1957 William Demant and his wife Ida Emilie donated the Demant family’s Oticon shares to the Oticon Foundation, making the foundation a major shareholder – with approximately 61 percent of Oticon stock. This influential shareholder has, as their slogan says, further compelled Oticon to put “people first.” Oticon Foundation converts its dividends into global support for needy persons with hearing impairment through publications, conferences, cultural activities and social and educational programs. In the past five years, Oticon Foundation has donated more than $670,000.
Widex
The Pediatric Hearing Assistance Program (PHAP) is a relatively new program in Widex’s range of philanthropy activities, which has included materials donations and foreign mission trips. Launched in 2002, PHAP helps children from families with financial limitations benefit from digital hearing aids. This year, $125,000 is designated to purchase advanced digital instruments for needy children in five partner sites: Integris Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City; Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, N.Y.; Medical College of Georgia Medical Center Audiology Clinic, Augusta, Ga.; Columbia Regional Program Audiology Services, Portland, Ore.; and Children’s Hospital & Research Center, Oakland, Calif.
Besides the obvious benefit to the children, what is laudable about this program is the involvement of local audiologists, the program’s large scope and its effect on systemic change. The recipients are selected by clinicians, who then commit to three years of monitoring their young patients’ speech, language and hearing skills. Participating audiologists waive or significantly reduce their fees for these services. The data from the enrolled children is used to better educate insurance providers and government program managers, as well as help them recognize the importance of advanced digital hearing aids and inclusion of these products in their inventory of reimbursable hearing aids.
