HearU Nebraska celebrating 10-year anniversary with $15,000 donation match

19 Apr 2018     By Kelcey Buck

Ten years ago, Stacie Ray established what was then called the Nebraska Children’s Hearing Aid Bank as a means of providing hearing aids for children across the state whose families otherwise may not be able to afford them. In 2011, that hearing aid bank became HearU Nebraska, a fund within the University of Nebraska Foundation. Now, after providing 660 hearing aids to 390 children from 78 communities across Nebraska over the last 10 years, a supporter has committed to match up to $15,000 in donations toward HearU Nebraska. 

Gifts to HearU Nebraska support the purchase of hearing aids, batteries, earmolds, care kits, and dispensing fees for children ages 0-18 who reside in Nebraska. The average cost for a pair of hearing aids in the United States is $4,000, with additional costs for maintenance and batteries averaging $300 annually.

“I believe the most important work one can do is to impact the life of a child,” Ray said. “This is what drives us to continue our efforts through HearU. Providing children with the ability to hear gives them the opportunity to have better outcomes at home and in school. We are grateful for any amount donated to assist us in our efforts. It’s all about Nebraskans helping Nebraskans.”

In addition to the $15,000 matching donation for HearU Nebraska, another donor has offered to match up to $1,500 in funds given to HearU International. Ray and assistant professor of practice Hannah Ditmars established HearU International in 2015 to provide audiology services to individuals in Nicaragua as part of an ongoing humanitarian audiology project. Prior to the establishment of HearU International, there was just one known audiologist in Nicaragua, a country of more than 6 million residents which is also the poorest country in Central America and the second-poorest in the Western Hemisphere.

In late July, Ray and Ditmars will lead a group of eight students in Nebraska’s Clinical Doctorate in Audiology program to Nicaragua for the third annual study abroad trip. In its first two years of existence, HearU International has served 456 individuals and fit 269 low-cost hearing aids. Donations to HearU International support the purchase of hearing aids, batteries, earmolds, supplies, and equipment. 

Contributions to both HearU Nebraska and HearU International are tax deductible. To donate to the HearU Nebraska fund at the University of Nebraska Foundation, click here. Donations to the HearU International fund at the University of Nebraska Foundation may be made by clicking here. 

To learn more about HearU Nebraska, click here. Both HearU Nebraska and HearU International can also be found on Facebook.