Celebrities to Gather to Support the Ninth Annual Starkey Hearing Foundation 'So...

Celebrities to Gather to Support the Ninth Annual Starkey Hearing Foundation
'So the World May Hear' Awards Gala

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- For the ninth consecutive year,
internationally acclaimed celebrities will come together to help Starkey
Hearing Foundation (http://starkeyhearingfoundation.org),
the global leader in delivering the gift of hearing, raise money to support
its mission of providing hearing instruments to underprivileged children and
promoting hearing health research and education. The celebrities will gather
for the Foundation's annual "So the World May Hear" Awards Gala, taking place
on Sunday, July 12 at the RiverCentre, located at 175 Kellogg Blvd. W. in St.
Paul.

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The spectacular evening, which will include a taste of Hollywood with a
celebrity red carpet, live and silent auctions and star-studded entertainment,
will include performances by multiple Grammy-winning superstar Elton John,
funny man Billy Crystal and recording legends Gladys Knight and Tony Bennett.

Some of the celebrity guests attending the red carpet and Gala will include
performers JC Chasez and Sam Moore; actors Lou Ferrigno and Robert Culp; TV
personalities Alan Kalter and Paige Hemmis; astronaut Buzz Aldrin; golf legend
Arnold Palmer; 1961 Yankees teammates Moose Skowron, Whitey Ford, Ralph Terry,
and Bob Turley as well as Mickey Mantle's son David Mantle; Southern Methodist
University head football coach June Jones; songwriter Paul Williams; comedian
Norm Crosby; and many others.

In addition, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele
Bachman, Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman, arctic explorer Dan Buettner, Marilyn
and Dr. Glen Nelson, Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress, Minnesota
Vikings trainer Eric Sugarman, University of Minnesota head basketball coach
Tubby Smith, several Minnesota Vikings players, and other local celebrities
will also attend the red carpet and Gala.

The evening will also include the Foundation's recognition of four individuals
and one corporation who have each made a significant contribution to humanity.
This year's honorees will include original rat-packer and comedian Norm
Crosby, the 1961 New York Yankees, Minnesota philanthropists and business
leaders Marilyn and Dr. Glen Nelson, and Rayovac, a long-time supporter of
Starkey Hearing Foundation.

The "So the World May Hear" Awards Gala serves as Starkey Hearing Foundation's
primary fundraising event. Last year, the Gala raised a record $5 million.
Monies raised at the Gala help fund the Foundation's international hearing
mission trips. Every year, the Foundation distributes more than 50,000 hearing
instruments at more than 100 hearing missions in countries stretching from the
U.S. to Vietnam.

The 2009 "So the World May Hear" Awards Gala will be held on Sunday, July 12
at the RiverCentre in St. Paul. The celebrity red carpet, which is free and
open to the public, will begin at 2:30 p.m. on the lower level along Kellogg
Blvd. Entertainment will begin at 5:00 p.m. To reserve your Gala seat, call
866-354-3254. This year's event sponsor is Federated Insurance. Additional
sponsors include Advanced Bionics, Carlson Companies, Fed Ex, Minnesota
Timberwolves, ON Semiconductors, Rayovak / Spectrum, Sound Choice / Care
Credit, and Tiffany & Co.

About Starkey Hearing Foundation (SHF)

Starkey Hearing Foundation is the global leader in the gift of hearing by
delivering hearing instruments via hearing missions in 86 countries. Founded
by William F. Austin in 1984 with the vision So the World May Hear, countless
numbers of lives are touched by better hearing through Starkey Hearing
Foundation missions. With the goal to heighten social consciousness on the
importance of hearing, Starkey Hearing Foundation launched a hearing
conservation program, Sound Matters, to educate the public about responsible
listening. Today the Foundation is sustained by the selfless efforts of
volunteers and donors spanning the globe. Since 2000, the Foundation has
distributed nearly 340,000 hearing instruments to those in need around the
world. Become a Starkey Hearing Foundation fan by visiting Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com, follow Starkey Hearing Foundation on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/starkeyhearing, or visit us at
http://www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org.

Related Links:
Starkey Hearing Foundation
Twitter/StarkeyHearing

SOURCE Starkey Hearing Foundation

Patty Gibbs of Patty Gibbs & Company PR, +1-651-653-7302,
patty@pattygibbscompany.com