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“So the World May Hear” continues legacy of support for Foundation

2009; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 62; Issue: 9 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/01.hj.0000360850.02326.cb

2333-6218

Brande Victorian,

Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering

Figure: Elton John performs at the gala for the second time.“Better today, than yesterday. Better tomorrow, than today. Because we can. So the world may hear.” Those were the words of Bill Austin heard in a video presentation celebrating the work of the Starkey Hearing Foundation at its ninth annual “So the World May Hear” awards gala held July 12 in St. Paul. More than 1400 supporters of the foundation's mission to provide the gift of hearing to people around the world gathered at the RiverCentre to celebrate the organization's past successes, honor its contributors, and raise funds to continue the foundation's work. This year's gala raised more than $5 million to provide hearing aids for an estimated 50,000 adults and children in need. “My only question is do I make you proud?” said Austin, Starkey Laboratories' founder and CEO, as he took the stage to urge the audience's continued support. “What is a life if we can't share it?” he added. DO I HEAR $250,000? One of the highlights of the night was the live auction in which attendees bid on mission trips to several countries. The highest bid was a $250,000 donation from Marilyn Carlson Nelson and Dr. Glen Nelson, noted philanthropists in the Twin Cities, to support a trip to Kenya to fit 5000 people with hearing aids. Additional mission destinations included Egypt, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, Panama City, Turkey, Vietnam, and Guatemala, which received a bid of $100,000 from Rayovac, a long-time Starkey Foundation supporter and one of the gala's honorees. Other items that went up for bids were a trip to the Grammys; memorabilia of movie stars Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe, and Paul Newman; and a baseball signed by Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth, which the comedian Billy Crystal, emcee of the gala and an ardent Yankee fan, purchased for $50,000. STAR POWER Crystal was just one of many stars present at this year's event. Ethan Bortnick, an 8-year-old pianist and composer, played a mix of Beethoven and original pieces, while Gladys Knight (and one Pip) and Tony Bennett performed their most famous hits, including Midnight Train to Georgia and I Left My Heart in San Francisco. Sir Elton John was the main attraction, taking the stage following a tearful introduction from Tani Austin, his long-time friend and Starkey Hearing Foundation co-founder. Accompanying himself on the piano, John gave a powerful 1-hour solo performance, singing such classic ballads as Daniel, Rocket Man, Your Song, and Circle of Life. This was his second performance at the gala, and he promised that he would be there every year for the Austins, whom he called the most generous people in his life. Other stars included TV personalities Alan Kaltar and Paige Hemmis; actors Lou Ferrigno, Verne Troyer, Sean Pyfrom, and Robert Culp; singers JC Chasez and Sam Moore; astronaut Buzz Aldrin; and golf legend Arnold Palmer. Other notable participants included June Jones, head football coach at Southern Methodist University; the songwriter Paul Williams; Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty; the Minnesota Vikings' head coach, Brad Childress, and their trainer, Eric Sugarman; and Tubby Smith, head coach of the University of Minnesota basketball team.Figure: Bill and Tani Austin are joined on the red carpet by other gala participants, including the 2009 Starkey Poster Children.HONORS FOR SUPPORTERS In addition to Rayovac, which has donated over 1 million batteries to the Starkey Hearing Foundation, several other supporters were honored, including the Nelsons, comedian Norm Crosby, and the 1961 World Champion New York Yankees, who were represented by Moose Skowron, Whitey Ford, Ralph Terry, Bob Turley, and Mickey Mantle's son David. “When a lot of things are wrong in the world, at least we did something right. And when it comes to people who stand up and do something right, there is someone who has been here with us from the beginning who we are honoring tonight,” Austin said in presenting an award to Crosby. He said that Crosby was the person who really encouraged him and his wife to ask for support from the community to fund their foundation. The Nelsons received the humanitarian award for their many contributions to local causes, including the Mayo Clinic and the Starkey Foundation. Marilyn is chairman of Carlson Companies, and Nelson is a former vice-chairman of Medtronic, Inc. In presenting the award, Governor Pawlenty said of the Nelsons, “Their inclusive leadership style has a multiplier effect because it provides that spark that inspires others to believe and to serve and to lead and to want to make a difference.” Also recognized were the 2009 Starkey poster children, whom Austin invited to the stage with him. Among them were a young boy who has raised over $10,000 for the foundation by hosting garage sales and a girl who gives up her birthday gifts each year in favor of donations to the foundation. Citing the children's contributions as examples, Austin said, “We can all do something.” He continued, “You can be proud of your gift tonight and you can be proud of what you've done to be a part of something good. No one can do much alone, but together we are changing the world.”