Super Bowl 50 Hearing Mission

Starkey Hearing Foundation’s annual Super Bowl Hearing Mission is an incredibly unique event. Each year we go into the hosting community and help many local people in need receive the gift of hearing alongside dozens of professional athletes and celebrities.

Our ninth Super Bowl Hearing Mission took place last Saturday at San Francisco State University. We were joined by many familiar faces including NFL® All-Pros Larry Fitzgerald and Adrian Peterson, and singer Jordin Sparks.

Great friend and Academy Award®-winning actress Marlee Matlin joined us ahead of performing sign language interpretation of the national anthem at the Super Bowl, and Ted Ginn Jr. of the Panthers came to help out just a day before playing in the big game.

We also welcomed a handful of celebrities who are new to Starkey Hearing Foundation, including rapper 50 Cent.

It was incredible to see everyone react to seeing people receive the gift of hearing. They all talked at length about what their hearing means to them and the impact they hope that having better hearing will have on the patients. Of the 134 patients the Foundation helped that day, many of their eyes burst with excitement as when they were fit with their new hearing aids.

It was great that many of the athletes and celebrities also went off the stage to spend time with the waiting patients by signing autographs and taking photos with the crowd. We couldn’t even begin to count the number of selfies taken at the hearing mission.

While it was fantastic to have so much star power join us, the greatest feeling we received came from knowing we were able to connect with so many people, show them caring, and give them something that will make a significant impact in their lives and the lives of those around them.

“The work that they [the Foundation] do is absolutely incredible, so be here today is awesome,” Jordin Sparks said at the event. “Super Bowl 50, we are here, we are helping, we are changing the world one ear at a time.”

/