Centennial Gala Tops $1 Million

FOR RELEASE: 
12:00 p.m. EDT, October 29, 2010

CONTACT:
Laurie Hanin, Executive Director            
(917) 305-7760                        
lhanin@CHChearing.org

CENTER FOR HEARING AND COMMUNICATION RAISES OVER $1 MILLION AT CENTENNIAL GALA

The Center for Hearing and Communication (CHC) celebrated 100 years of innovation and care in hearing health with a centennial gala on October 18, 2010 that raised over $1 million. Lending support were 400 donors led by Centennial Co-Chairs Ellen Berelson and Shelley Einhorn. All proceeds will benefit children and adults with hearing loss. The gala’s success reaffirms CHC’s leadership role as CHC begins a second century of service.

In his welcoming remarks, CHC Board President Jeffrey M. Cohen acknowledged the extraordinary work of CHC’s professional staff of 50 as well as the benefactors whose generosity makes CHC’s countless programs and services possible. On raising more than $1 million at the gala, Board President Cohen says, “This funding will help sustain CHC and the services and support we provide that change lives. As we begin our second century of service, deafness and hearing loss issues won’t be going away anytime soon. Technology continues to improve, but it’s expensive. And as every parent of a deaf child (and that group includes me) and every child of a deaf parent knows, technology alone - without the support services, skill training and speech & language therapy - isn't enough.”

Bill Ritter of Channel 7 Eyewitness News hosted this event which honored Dr. Noel Cohen of NYU Medical Center. CHC Board Vice President Steven Peikin presented Dr. Cohen with the Centennial Award for his groundbreaking vision and clinical excellence in cochlear implant surgery. 

Several entertainers also made the evening unique and memorable. Crystal Bowersox of American Idol, comedian Christian Finnegan, and multi-platinum recording artist Joey McIntyre all sparkled. One Life to Live star Kassie DePaiva shared aspects about her son’s hearing loss and sang an original song of hope which she dedicated to him. The evening included a live auction which raised $150,000 and featured a commemorative bronze sculpture, The Secret, by artist Tom Otterness.

The need for CHC’s renowned clinical expertise and technical know-how is greater now than ever before. The challenges of hearing loss impact 38 million Americans, a number which is projected to increase sharply as Baby Boomers age and the incidence of noise-induced hearing loss grows. Watch the centennial video at the top of this page to see how CHC’s talented staff makes a difference and to learn more about CHC’s state-of-the-art services. 
  
Founded in 1910, the Center for Hearing and Communication (new name for the League for the Hard of Hearing) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for infants, children and adults with all degrees of hearing loss.  With offices in New York and Florida, CHC accomplishes its mission by providing hearing rehabilitation and human services for people who are hard of hearing or deaf, and their families, regardless of age, ability to pay, or mode of communication, and by striving to empower consumers to achieve their potential.

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