The Stand
The Gifford Foundation recently awarded $13,000 to Aurora of CNY, Inc. to support its Low Cost Hearing Aid Program for Youth who are Hard of Hearing.
The program provides hearing aids at low cost for up to ten children per year in partnership with Hear 2 Learn, a pediatric therapy and service agency. The grant will cover the cost of consultations with an audiologist, the hearing aids, and support and training once the hearing aids are fitted. Children aged 4 to 18 are eligible.
“There is a growing number of hard of hearing youth between the ages of 4 – when they age out of Early Intervention services – and 18 in our community who cannot afford hearing aids and who need support to maintain them as they grow,” said Debra Chaiken, Aurora’s executive director.
As children grow, they need multiple ear molds and fittings to accommodate their changing hearing needs. “Most insurance plans do not cover the cost of hearing aids throughout the life span,” Chaiken noted. “Our hearing aid program for youth is modeled on an already successful program delivered by Aurora and Hear 2 Learn for seniors in our community. We are grateful to the Gifford Foundation for enabling us to extend this service to our local young people.”
Since 1954 the Gifford Foundation has been dedicated to the stewardship of the funds entrusted to its care by Rosamond Gifford. The Foundation is committed to using its financial and human resources to build the capacity of individuals and organizations to enhance the vitality and the quality of life for the people of the CNY community.
Aurora of CNY, Inc. is the only non-profit that works exclusively with people in Central New York who are deaf, blind, visually impaired or hard of hearing. Aurora is a United Way agency of Central New York and Oswego and Cayuga counties. For more information, call Aurora at 422-7263 (TDD 422-9746).
— Write-up provided by Adele DelSavio from Aurora of CNY, Inc.
