About Us
Starkey Hearing Foundation focuses on the training, educating and capacity building of the next generation of hearing care professionals in the developing world, who then give the gift of hearing to people in need. We believe hearing is a vehicle to reflect caring and to improve the lives of individuals, their families, and communities.
Our Story
As a young man, William F. Austin, founder of Starkey Hearing Foundation, realized his true calling in life was helping people hear, and that by doing so, he could have a lasting impact on the world.
For more than 50 years, Austin has been providing the gift of hearing to people in need. To formalize the philanthropic efforts of Starkey Hearing Technologies, he officially founded Starkey Hearing Foundation in 1984. He had a simple premise:
"Alone we can't do much. Together we can change the world."
Our Vision
So the World May Hear. With the help of thousands of volunteers and supporters over the last three decades, Starkey Hearing Foundation has expanded our reach from Minnesota across the United States and around the world.
Our Mission
Starkey Hearing Foundation’s mission is to give the gift of hearing to those in need, empowering them to achieve their potential.
Our Focus
By focusing on education and capacity building, and by collaborating with governments, nongovernment organizations, and health leaders, our goal is to make hearing healthcare services more accessible for people around the world.
In 2016, the first Starkey Hearing Institute, a program of Starkey Hearing Foundation, was founded in Lusaka, Zambia, to help address the dire shortage of hearing healthcare professionals in Africa.
By focusing on education and capacity building, and by collaborating with governments, nongovernment organizations, and health leaders, our goal is to make hearing healthcare services more accessible for people around the world.
For many years, the Foundation delivered care through international missions to more than 100 countries including Zambia, El Salvador, the Philippines, Madagascar, Uganda, and many more. We have trained and educated volunteers around the globe, who continue today to help those in need in their communities.
