Merrill and Justin Osmond to Galvanize Jersey's Hope For Hearing Kickoff 2012 on Feb 27
Alternative Press
February 8, 2012
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Merrill Osmond, solo artist and lead singer of the Osmonds, together with his son Justin, will join a host of state dignitaries at the Jersey's Hope for Hearing Kickoff 2012 rally on Monday, Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m., at the Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf in Trenton.
Jersey's Hope for Hearing Kickoff 2012 will launch this year's major fund-raising campaign to provide hearing aids for more than 50 disadvantaged New Jersey students with hearing loss, as well as a number of the Marie Katzenbach School's programs. |
The Feb. 27 kickoff rally will bring together two world-renowned charities--the Olive Osmond Perpetual Hearing Fund and Making A Difference: One Step at a Time--plus numerous other sponsors, to jump-start this year's campaign.
Prospective sponsors are invited to attend the kickoff on Feb 27. To secure an invitation, those interested in helping to give the gift of hearing are asked to call Donna Kelly at 609-709-3950.
New Jersey 101.5, the state's radio station, and media partner with Jersey's Hope for Hearing, will help spread the word about the campaign throughout the Garden State.
Justin Osmond, the nephew of Donny & Marie, is 90 percent deaf. He founded the Olive Osmond Perpetual Hearing Fund in memory of his grandmother, the matriarch of the Osmond family. Olive Osmond devoted her life to helping people with hearing loss.
Both Justin and Merrill Osmond will speak at the kickoff, as will Dr. Angel M. Ramos, superintendent of the Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf.
The school, operated by the State of New Jersey, serves 165 students, many of them from disadvantaged families. "Like many schools, the economic downturn has hurt us," says Dr. Ramos. "We've had to postpone several programs that would've been great for our students."
Adds Justin Osmond, "Some of these kids can't afford hearing aids. Our goal is to raise enough money to buy hearing aids for every student who doesn't have one." |
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The Feb. 27 kickoff will rally support for the Jersey's Hope for Hearing yearly fund-raising campaign, which culminates in an annual three-day extravaganza in October. The event includes a kids' Karate Kick-a-Thon, pony rides and face painting. Merrill Osmond will be performing at a Dinner/Gala featuring Merrill Osmond and Friends. "Music is all I have ever known and this gives me the opportunity to work music into the art of healing," Merrill Osmond explains.
Capping the Jersey's Hope for Hearing three-day event will be a 5K Family Fun Run, sponsored by Making A Difference: One Step at a Time. "We've produced successful runs like this one, around the country," says Lezhai Gulbransen, M.A.D.'s CEO and founder. "We're so excited to help the Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf." Justin Osmond will also participate in the run.
"We are grateful for the passion and awareness about deaf children around the world that this event is creating," says Jersey's Hope for Hearing spokeswoman Jill DeLuca.
Among the dignitaries slated to attend the kickoff are Bert H. Steinmann, the Mayor of Ewing; Robert DiSogra, PhD, President of the New Jersey Academy of Audiology (NJAA); NJAA's Vice President of Professional Issues; Janet Koehnke, PhD, Director of the Audiology Doctoral Program at Montclair State University and the incoming president of NJAA; Donna Merchant, AuD, Secretary of the NJAA; Elizabeth Young and Evelyn Riccio of Horizon Blue Cross; Robert Prunetti, President of the Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce; Liz Tindall, Chamber VP; and Joe Zoratti, Membership Manager of the Chamber.
To learn more about Jersey's Hope for Hearing, visit www.jerseyshopeforhearing.com.
The Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf is located at 320 Sullivan Way in Trenton.
About the Olive Osmond Perpetual Hearing Fund:
The Olive Osmond Perpetual Hearing Fund (oliveosmond.org) helps people around the world by raising deaf awareness and promoting hearing educational services. It also helps provide hearing aids to people who otherwise might not be able to afford them.
About Making A Difference: One Step at a Time:
The Making A Difference program (madrunseries.com) is a global initiative that unites people through coordinated community events. It empowers participants around the world and from every imaginable circumstance, to Make A Difference in their own lives and the lives of others.
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