Shure's Bid For Hearing Program Awards $50,000 To Hearing Conservation Charities

Three Organizations Receive Grants to Support Research, Increase Public Awareness about Hearing Conservation

 

Shure Incorporated announced on January 16, 2004 at the Third Annual Musical Roots benefit concert that $50,000 will be awarded to three organizations as part of the company's Shure Bid for Hearing program. This program helps educate the public about the dangers of noise-induced hearing loss while raising money for non-profit organizations to fund their activities.

 

"Each year we look forward to hosting this concert in order to fund the various educational efforts of the hearing conservation charities we support," said Al Hershner, Vice President and General Manager of Shure's U.S. Business Unit. "We hope that through the work of these organizations, more people will understand the importance of protecting their hearing in order to enjoy music and the sounds of their everyday lives."

 

Reverend Horton Heat was the headline act at this year's Musical Roots Concert at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California.

 

"We're happy to be a part of this event for Shure because everyone should understand that hearing loss is an important issue, especially musicians who need to protect their ears in order to keep performing," said James Heath, lead singer for Reverend Horton Heat. "And if you're a fan who attends live performances, always remember to wear ear plugs so that you can continue enjoying your favorite music for a long, long time."

 

This year, the three organizations receiving grants are the Kresge Hearing Research Laboratory at Louisiana State University, the House Ear Institute (HEI), and Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers (HEAR).

 

The Kresge Hearing Research Laboratory operates as part of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Foundation. The Kresge Lab's mission is to empower people with life-enhancing creative alternatives to hearing problems and the prevention of hearing loss through education and ground-breaking research on the mechanisms of hearing.

 

The grant money awarded to the Kresge Lab will be used to fund research on hearing loss and attitudes surrounding hearing loss amongst musicians.

 

The House Ear Institute (HEI) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing hearing science through research and education to improve quality of life. HEI Scientists are exploring the causes of auditory disorders on the cellular and molecular level as well as refining the application of auditory implants and hearing aids. For more information please call (213) 483-4431 or visit the Website at www.hei.org.

 

The grant money awarded to HEI will be used to cover the costs of providing free hearing screenings at the 2004 NAMM trade show, and to fund HEI's Sound PartnersTM program.

 

Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.) is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the real dangers of repeated exposure to excessive noise levels, which can lead to permanent, and sometimes debilitating, hearing loss and tinnitus. For more information on H.E.A.R. go to www.hearnet.com.

 

The grant money awarded to H.E.A.R. will be used to fund educating the public about hearing loss and the creation of materials to promote the findings of a recent Shure-sponsored H.E.A.R. study.


Release 38