Video Clip from Entertainment Tonight (WMV, 6.9 MB)

Along with the support of dozens of well-known and highly respected celebrities, the Starkey Hearing Foundation raised a record breaking $4.5 million at its seventh annual “So the World May Hear” Awards Gala, held on Saturday, June 23 at the RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minn.

The star-studded cast of performers included Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts Band, Jaime Thietten, special guest star Glenn Frey, and Kenny Loggins, who closed the show with a crowd-cheering get-on-your-feet rendition of Footloose.

Academy Award-winning actress Goldie Hawn, one of the honorees at the event spoke on behalf of the potential partnership of her foundation, the “Goldie Hawn Institute” with Starkey Hearing Foundation. She expressed how upon meeting Bill and Tani and learning about their mission, she was struck with how perfectly the two organizations were aligned to inspire better learning and retention processes. Through her institute’s “Mindful Awareness” curriculum in schools and Starkey’s improved hearing for children in need, “together, we can make a difference in the lives of children and I consider it our investment in the future,” Goldie stated.

The Foundation gala honored four additional individuals who have each made a significant contribution to humanity, including: – Philanthropist Al Annexstad, Chairman, President-CEO of Minnesota-based Federated Insurance Companies, and his wife Cathy, – Former United States Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, – Baseball Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda.

“I offer my heartfelt thanks to everyone who was a part of this year’s gala and who, through their generosity of time and money, helped make the world a better place for so many children,” said Bill Austin following the reports of the record breaking support of the event.

Additional celebrities attending the event included Buzz Aldrin, Peter Alexander, Scott Carpenter, Norm Crosby, Robert Culp, Lou Ferrigno, Peter Marshall, Marlee Matlin, Sam Moore, Leslie Nielsen, Arnold Palmer, Mickey Rooney, Jane Seymour, Barbara Sinatra, Kevin Sorbo, Robert Wagner, Paul Williams and many others.

The Starkey Hearing Foundation is known for traveling the world and donating hearing aids to underprivileged children. Thanks to funds raised during this annual event, the Foundation has been able to donate an estimated 200,000 hearing aids in the past seven years alone in an effort to give the gift of hearing to those in need.

This year’s gala event sponsors new missions in Africa, India, Mexico, and Turkey and would not have been possible without the continued generous support of our sponsors and contributors. We also want to recognize the dedication and hard work that our volunteers contributed. We could not have done it without you!

Photos

Sporting Events View photos from the Cadillac Golf Invitational and the Sporting Clays Showcase presented by NRA Sports here.

Pre-Gala Festivities View photos from the So the World May Hear VIP Appreciation Party here.

Awards Ceremony View photos from the 2007 So the World May Hear Awards Gala here.