The Deafness Research Foundation (DRF) was founded in 1958 to make a lifetime of hearing possible for all people through innovative, cutting-edge research. Each year since inception, DRF has funded promising researchers – over $22.5 million through more than 1,850 research grants. This seed money has led to dramatic innovations that promise to increase options for those living with hearing loss and also those at risk. These innovations include the diagnosis and treatment of otitis media (middle ear infections), the cochlear implant, implantable hearing aids, breakthroughs in molecular biology and hair cell regeneration.
Your donation helps DRF find solutions to hearing and balance disorders that affect millions of Americans. With your support, DRF funds research in the following areas:
•Hearing and Balance Restoration
• Cochlear Re-energization
• Genetic Hearing Loss
• Acoustic Trauma (noise-induced hearing loss)
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and Hyperacusis (decreased tolerance of sound)
• Vestibular and Balance Disorders (dizziness and vertigo)
• Temporal Bone Research
The generosity of DRF’s donors throughout the years has made recent advances in hearing health possible. Please consider donating to DRF through any of the following ways:
Gifts of cash A cash gift by check is one of the most common methods for making an outright charitable contribution. We invite you to submit a contribution by using the response envelope included with this issue of Hearing Health. In the coming months, we plan to add online-giving capabilities to our Web site at www.drf.org.
Memorial gifts and honor gifts DRF is pleased to acknowledge memorial gifts and honor gifts – contributions in memory of or in celebration of people who are special to you – or to commemorate a holiday, birthday, wedding or other special occasion. At your request, DRF will send a card acknowledging your thoughtfulness to the person(s) honored.
Matching gifts Many companies offer matching gift programs to encourage employees to contribute to charitable organizations. In most of these programs, the companies match contributions dollar for dollar. If your employer offers matching gifts, DRF will facilitate the required paperwork.
Planned Giving In addition, DRF offers several opportunities for planned giving. Planned gifts typically come from donors’ assets rather than their income and can be either outright or deferred. Planned giving integrates donors’ charitable gifts with their overall financial, tax and estate planning goals – thus maximizing benefits to both the donor and the DRF.
Gifts of Life Insurance If you have a life insurance policy you no longer need, you might contribute it to a charitable cause in which you believe. Purchasing a new policy and naming the DRF as beneficiary is another possibility.
Gifts of Real Estate If you have owned your home or other real estate for a long time, no doubt it has increased in value significantly. You can help fulfill DRF’s mission by giving the property outright, placing it in trust while retaining the use of it for life or giving it by will.
Your charitable gifts help DRF further research the cause, treatments and prevention of deafness and other hearing and balance disorders. By supporting research in hearing health, future generations may enjoy healthy hearing and balance for a lifetime.
For more information about contributing to the Deafness Research Foundation, please contact us. Write to 2801 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20007; or call 866.454.3924 or 202.719.8088; TTY 888.435.6104; fax 202.338.8182; e-mail info@drf.org; or visit our Web site at www.drf.org. n
Deafness Research Foundation is a tax-exempt, charitable organization and is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions under the IRS Code 501(c)(3). Federal ID # 13-1882107.
