MINNEAPOLIS, July 27, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Starkey Hearing Foundation is pleased to announce that the 15th annual So the World May Hear Awards Gala helped raise more than $9 million to support hearing health programs and initiatives around the world. The gala, which honored George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States, Delta Zeta Sorority, No Limits, and other humanitarians for their continued dedication and commitment to changing the world, was held on Sunday, July 26 at Saint Paul RiverCentre in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Fresh from the cover of TIME magazine, President George W. Bush, and President Bill Clinton joined top singer, songwriter and actress Katy Perry and more than 1,600 guests for a glittering evening with many memorable moments. The star-studded gala featured a performance by Perry and rock legend Gene Simmons, who kicked off his performance with a $250,000 gift to Starkey Hearing Foundation. The evening also included performances by Portia Clark, Jessica Sanchez, Matt Nathanson, and 2CELLOS, and a celebrity red carpet event and a live auction.
"The 15th annual So the World May Hear Awards Gala was the most exciting gala in our history," says William F. Austin, founder of Starkey Hearing Foundation and global humanitarian. "We are incredibly grateful for the extraordinary outpouring of support, which will help us care for more people around the world. Every hearing aid we are able to provide is a life-changing gift that opens up a whole new world of opportunity, allowing individuals to reach their full potential in life."
To learn more, visit starkeyhearingfoundation.org/gala.
About Starkey Hearing Foundation
Starkey Hearing Foundation uses hearing as a vehicle to reflect caring and change lives around the world. Disabling hearing loss affects more than 360 million people, including 32 million children, worldwide, yet many do not have access to the hearing devices that can help them. As a member of Clinton Global Initiative, Starkey Hearing Foundation has pledged to provide more than one million hearing aids to people in need this decade and currently gives more than 175,000 hearing aids annually. In addition to giving the gift of hearing through worldwide hearing missions, Starkey Hearing Foundation promotes hearing health awareness and education through the Listen Carefully campaign and provides hearing instruments to low-income Americans through the Hear Now program. Started as the philanthropic effort of Starkey Hearing Technologies, Starkey Hearing Foundation was founded by William F. Austin in 1984. For more information on Starkey Hearing Foundation follow them on Facebook and Twitter, or visit www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org.
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