CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – “So Pampanga may hear.”
This is the message of Vice Governor Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda in the recently held Community-Based Hearing Health Care Program of Starkey Hearing Foundation, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Pampanga and University of Sto. Tomas (UST) at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center (BZGCC).
Pineda led the distribution of hearing aids to more than 1,000 kabalens amounting to P75 million.
Starkey Hearing Foundation is a US-based foundation which extends help all over the world by giving hearing aids for free. It is also the largest hearing foundation in the world. To date, it has reached 3 million beneficiaries to more than 100 countries with its vision “So the World May Hear.”
William and Tani Austin, founders of Starkey, personally went here to bring their philanthropic efforts to hearing-impaired Kapampangans.
Pineda, with Board Member Anthony Joseph Torres, chairperson, Committee on Health; Board Members Rosve Henson and Cherry Manalo; Dr. Salve Olalia and Dr. Roberto Ang of UST; Dr. Mar Jaochico and Dr. Imelda Ignacio of the Provincial Health Office (PHO); Angie Blanco of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) and other department heads welcomed the Starkey Hearing Foundation founders and team last November 2 at Clark International Airport (CIA).
They also inaugurated the Pampanga Ear and Hearing Center at Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Hospital, named after William Austin.
Austin vowed that he will give his all-out support to the center, including all of its equipment.
“This is my talent, I’m not after the money but to help other people,” Austin said.
“Magiging available sa center sa Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Hospital, may tutulong sa kanila doon para mas alagaan at ingatan yung mga hearing aids nila,” she said.