FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Christy Vogel
cvogel@soundingjoy.org
813-526-1870
Startup Charity Focuses on Providing Hearing Aids to Those in Need
St. Petersburg, FL (May 2022) – Christy Vogel, CEO and founder of local fractional marketing firm Marketing Direction, announced she has launched a new charity, Sounding Joy™, to ignite joy by providing hearing aids to children and adults who can’t otherwise afford them so they can reach their full potential in their education, careers, relationships and lives.
“At the age of 11, I was told two things: that I was hearing impaired (probably since birth), and that I had taught myself how to read lips without realizing it. I didn’t get hearing aids because we couldn’t afford them and, because I had to otherwise figure out what people were saying, many assumed I was slow or stupid,” says Vogel, founder, chairman and treasurer of the charity. “When I finally could afford hearing aids – when I was in my 20s – it changed my world. I recently realized that I was supposed to be born hearing impaired and unable to afford hearing aids so that I could eventually help others; thus, Sounding Joy was born.”
Most people know someone with a hearing impairment. What most people don’t know is how widespread hearing loss is, and the devastating effects it can have on those who struggle and their families. Thirty million Americans have hearing loss in both ears, and 37.5 million adults report some trouble hearing. Three in 1000 children are born with hearing impairment in one or both ears.
The effects on people’s lives are even more devastating. Hearing-impaired children without a hearing aid are twice as likely to become addicted to drugs or alcohol. Untreated hearing loss is linked to other health conditions such as dementia, depression, high blood pressure and increased risk of trips and falls.
Hearing loss also needlessly limits potential. Untreated hearing loss even reduces earning potential by $12,000 to $30,000 per year. And yet, few adults who could benefit from wearing hearing aids have ever used them.
The charity has named its founding Board of Directors:
Christy Vogel, Chairman and Treasurer
Traci Tucker, Secretary
Shane Donaldson, Director
Sarah Connolly, Director
Kristen Thompson, Director
Bill Vogel, Director
Thom Vanderklipp, Director
Scott Craver, Director
Sounding Joy has its first fundraising event planned, the Sounding Joy Hearos Inaugural Golf Tournament, for November of this year. For more information about Sounding Joy, Christy Vogel and the golf tournament or to make a donation, visit SoundingJoy.org.
About Sounding Joy
Sounding Joy, LLC, is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded by Christy Vogel to help people with mild to moderate permanent hearing loss who don’t qualify for financial assistance or cannot afford hearing aid technology. It partners with audiologists, corporate sponsors and donors to provide professionally fitted and programmed hearing aids to those who can’t otherwise get them so they can reach their full potential. All donations are fully tax-deductible. For more information, visit SoundingJoy.org, email info@SoundingJoy.org or call 813-526-1870.
