Hearing-Impaired Victims of Hurricane Katrina to Receive Free Hearing Aids

From: PR Newswire (press release), NY - Sep 7, 2005

Joint Effort Between Starkey Laboratories and Starkey Hearing Foundation Makes $40 Million in Relief Available

HOUSTON, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Starkey, America's leading hearing aid company, has pledged $25 million for its Help America Hear Project, a business recovery program designed to help with employment, new business plans and office relocation for hurricane victims. In addition, the Starkey Hearing Foundation has committed to making $15 million in hearing care services available through expanding its Hear Now project to include hearing aids for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Two teams of audiologists and Doctors are being sent to Houston and Austin, Texas to assist victims. Specific plans and details as to how people will be assisted will be released shortly.

"Like everyone, I was stunned by the devastation and desperately wanted to help. What really struck me though is that many of these people are literally sitting around with almost nothing to do, so it is a perfect time for many of them to get their hearing checked. I am please to donate hearing aids, and to be able to give each person a chance to hear again," said William Austin, head of the Starkey Hearing Foundation. "Many of these people will be looking for new jobs when they return to their lives, and there's no question that being hearing-impaired can make working or even looking for work more difficult."

(Note: Since the year 2000, the Starkey Hearing Foundation has given over 130,000 hearing aids to impoverished individuals throughout the world. For more information: http://www.sotheworldmayhear.org)

Press contact: Warren Cowan/Monique Moss/Daniel Bernstein 310-275-0777

SOURCE Starkey Laboratories
Web Site: http://www.sotheworldmayhear.org