What’s the ideal venue for a gala celebration of the advancement of hearing science and technology? That was the question with which the organizers of the Deafness Research Foundation’s (DRF) 2007 Celebration of Hearing Health struggled. Surprisingly, the answer came in the form of a museum that focuses on the past.
The New-York Historical Society, housed in a landmark building at 77th Street in New York City’s Central Park West, was founded in 1804. The Society was the first museum in New York City to have induction loops and the museum boasts myriad technical and nontechnical conveniences for all visitors with disabilities. Its commitment to accessibility for people who are deaf and hard of hearing (D/HH) is what drew DRF to the New-York Historical Society as the perfect location for the 2007 gala.
Over 150 people attended the 2007 Celebration of Hearing Health, the annual DRF gala, on May 16, 2007. Organizers eschewed the traditional sit-down dinner in favor of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, allowing guests to mingle and visit while sizing up auction items. An impressive $350,000 was raised that evening for DRF and all proceeds go toward fulfilling DRF’s mission of funding new and ongoing research in the field of hearing health.
Rebecca Ginzburg, chair of the DRF Board of Directors and the honorary chair of the event, called the 2007 gala a complete success and had high praise for everyone who came out that evening in support of DRF. “Clearly, the issue of hearing health is on many people’s minds and in their hearts too,” said Ginzburg. “My personal thanks go out to everyone who attended the gala. Every single contribution allows DRF to help key researchers in the field work toward our shared goal of improving hearing for all.”
Although the main purpose of the DRF gala is to raise money for research, it is also a time to give back – to recognize those who have promoted hearing health in their own diverse fields.
2007 honorees included New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, who was presented with the DRF Community Service Award for her tireless efforts on behalf of the people of New York, including those with hearing disabilities. Gotbaum is also a former president of the New-York Historical Society and is credited with introducing the museum’s access friendly Henry Luce III Center for the Study of American Culture.
Dr. Robert Ruben, distinguished university professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, was named DRF’s 2007 Scientific Honoree in recognition of his long and dedicated service to DRF and to research in communicative disorders.
Maxine Clark, founder and chief executive “bear” of Build-a-Bear Workshop®, received DRF’s Corporate Service Award. Build-a-Bear Workshop®, which allows customers to create customized teddy bears with clothing and accessories, was recognized for introducing hearing aids as one such accessory.
DRF Board member Elizabeth Thorp said that seeing Build-a-Bears wearing hearing aids was one of the highlights of her evening. “A child with a hearing loss fears being seen as different,” Thorp said. “It’s up to us as parents and adults to help our hard of hearing children to be comfortable with who they are. I was so impressed to see that most comforting of childhood toys—the teddy bear—sporting hearing aids.”
The DRF Cultural Service Award was presented to Ms. Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of the New-York Historical Society, for her museum’s dedication to total accessibility for people with disabilities. For visitors with hearing disabilities, the access is impressive. In addition to the hearing induction loop system, t-coil-compatible audioguides are available at no additional cost and all listening stations in the museum’s “New York Divided: Slavery and the Civil War” exhibit are t-coil compatible. Visitors can borrow large-print transcripts for exhibits in The Henry Luce III Center for the Study of American Culture, and the auditorium is equipped with an FM assistive listening system with headsets and neckloops. Furthermore, all New-York Historical Society films are open-captioned.
“The New-York Historical Society truly ‘walks the talk’,” says Rebecca Ginzburg. “The 2007 gala was the kickoff to Deafness Research Foundation’s 50th year as an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with hearing loss. We partnered with the Society for this year’s celebration because this museum has made a commitment to doing the same. In essence, the New-York Historical Society is a DRF honoree, as well.”
More photos of the DRF 2007 Celebration of Hearing Health can be found online at the DRF Web site: www.drf.org.
Donate Now!
DRF funds research that changes lives.
