Elton John to be Honored at 'So the World May Hear' 2004 Awards Gala

From: PR Newswire (press release) - Jun 2, 2004

Starkey Hearing Foundation Event to Raise $2 million to Help Children Hear

LOS ANGELES, June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fourth consecutive year, the STARKEY HEARING FOUNDATION will sponsor an annual awards gala to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to humanity and who appreciate the importance of helping the world to hear. This year, the "So the World May Hear" 2004 Awards Gala will honor international musician, composer and performer SIR ELTON JOHN, talk show host SHARON OSBOURNE, actor LESLIE NIELSEN and FLOYD "RED CROW" WESTERMAN. Past celebrity honorees include WALTER CRONKITE, ARNOLD PALMER, REVEREND BILLY GRAHAM, MARLEE MATLIN, CAROL CHANNING, GENERAL NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF, and others. Comedian NORM CROSBY will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event, which will take place on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 starting at 5:00 p.m. at the RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minnesota.

"We believe strongly in doing our part to make the world a better place-as do this year's honorees," said WILLIAM AUSTIN, STARKEY HEARING FOUNDATION founder. "It's magical to see children's faces light up when they hear again. Through its worldwide missions, that's just what the Starkey Hearing Foundation does -- it makes magic. Our 'So the World May Hear' Awards Gala serves to recognize all those who make magic in the world with us."

All of the proceeds from the Gala will go to support the STARKEY HEARING FOUNDATION and its mission of promoting hearing health awareness, providing hearing aids for the needy, and supporting hearing research and education. Primarily, monies raised will be spent supporting the Foundation's internationally recognized mission trips and its domestic program, Hear Now, through which the Foundation helps the underprivileged -- especially children -- all over the world to hear. Since 2000, the Foundation has provided more than 100,000 hearing aids to those in need around the world.

This year's Gala, which will draw more than 1,500 attendees from around the world, will feature a performance by SIR ELTON JOHN as well as actress and acclaimed singing sensation NITA WHITAKER and musician GAVIN DEGRAW. Group and corporate sponsorships for this year's Gala are still available. All contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

To learn more about the STARKEY HEARING FOUNDATION go to: www.sotheworldmayhear.org

Source: Warren Cowan Associates on behalf of Starkey Hearing Foundation

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