So The World May Hear Awards Gala

Celebrating the mission of Starkey Hearing Foundation, the 18th annual So The World May Hear Awards Gala held on July 15th, 2018, brought together leaders, philanthropists, celebrities, and notable guests from around the world.

Filling the ballroom of the St. Paul RiverCentre, more than 1,300 guests joined together in raising millions of dollars to support the work of Starkey Hearing Foundation. Through the generosity of donors and supporters, the funds raised will help to support the Foundation’s Community-Based Hearing HealthCare programs around the globe.

In 2018, the Foundation’s international team of leaders came together marking the very first Global Country Coordinators Summit in Dubai, a milestone for Starkey Hearing Foundation. As the hearing missions continue to pursue the simple, sustainable, and scalable model, Starkey Hearing Institute has also continued to play an instrumental role as Country Coordinators are now able to take local ownership of their programs and initiate hearing missions on their own currently in 61 countries.

This year’s Gala honorees included award-winning producer & philanthropist, Shep Gordon; composer, singer, and songwriter, Paul Williams; Dr. Timothy P. Shriver Chairman of Special Olympics, who works to support over 5.6 million Special Olympic athletes and their families worldwide an advocate for people with intellectual disabilities; and Ehsan & Fatema Laya Bayat of the Bayat Foundation. Co-Founder Bill Austin and President Bill Clinton inspired guests with messages about togetherness and the power of caring.

“Starkey Hearing Foundation knows what they’re doing. It’s hard to find someone who has given as much as them. With your support, you can help turn children into blooming flowers in the desert. It’s about making the world less ‘us and them’ and more ‘us’.” -President Bill Clinton

As Master of Ceremonies, stand-up comedian and actor, Sinbad, lead the night which featured a variety of talent with performances from international vocal group, The Tenors; Winner of Season 12 of America’s Got Talent, Darci Lynne Farmer; Grammy award-winning artist, Gloria Gaynor; and an outstanding performance by Alice Cooper, Don Felder and Robby Krieger to end the night. Billy Crystal, Bill Russell, Larry Fitzgerald, Forest Whitaker, Evander Holyfield, and the First Lady of Jamaica, Juliet Holness, were just a few of the many celebrities in attendance.

“We give our profound gratitude on behalf of Starkey Hearing Foundation and thousands of people who will have a better tomorrow because you care.”

-Bill & Tani Austin

Learn more about our past events.