Dear Friends,
Here we sit at the beginning of a new year looking back on the past 12 months and feeling so appreciative of the incredible support from both organizations and individuals alike who stepped up in big ways to make sure this was another year of continued growth and success for the Listen Foundation.
In 2021 we provided therapy services to over 100 children through telehealth and in-person sessions depending on the state of the virus and the family’s location. Spanish interpretation services were expanded through a gift from a long-time donor, allowing us to broaden our reach into the community. We launched our Music in Therapy® class which allows children who are deaf and hard of hearing to experience the joy of music like their hearing friends. Later in the year we were able to bring back a couple of community events so that local families could reconnect with one another. Adding welcome baskets and a newsletter for parents enhanced our communication with families choosing listening and spoken language for their children.
We said farewell to Julie Schlager, our Cochlear Implant Family Camp director, but not before she made sure that camps could proceed with COVID-19 protocols in place and that families would enjoy this experience once again in a safe and healthy environment. We welcomed Janette Cantwell as the new director and are so excited that she shares the same passion for this camp. Janette brings a wealth of experience as a licensed professional counselor and a camp parent alumnus of 16 years with strong camp community relations.
We would like to give a special thanks to the Wiedel and Hallberg families for sharing their children’s hearing journey for our Non-Event campaign. Both of their children were born deaf as a result of contracting the cytomegalovirus in utero. It is our hope to bring this leading cause of non-genetic deafness to the public’s awareness, so that pregnant women are well informed and can take preventative measures. This important message paved the way for a highly successful fundraiser too!
As a result of our generous community, last year was filled with many gifts and special donations to help ensure that the financial future of this organization is solid. One private donor started an endowment which will provide income from earnings for many years to come. The Oberkotter Foundation pledged a significant investment into the foundation to ensure that our therapy programs will continue to grow and to improve outcomes for Colorado children learning to listen and talk. We are blessed to have all of our incredible donors supporting the future of Colorado’s children.
We are also thankful for Allison Biever’s leadership as board president these past two years and that the new president, Julie Barys, has great ideas for this organization moving forward.
Like all Coloradans, we are saddened that friends and loved ones are still suffering from COVID-19 and that so many lost everything in the recent Marshall Fire. As a community, I know that we will continue to support one another and help with the healing process.
Our sincerest thanks to each and every one of you and it is our hope that the new year brings you good health, prosperity, and much happiness!
Pat Greenway, Executive Director