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Giving Greatness

Sometimes the greatest gifts come to us unexpectedly. Many of our parents tell us that having a child who is deaf or hard of hearing can be such a gift.

Dear AG Bell Community,

Sometimes the greatest gifts come to us unexpectedly. Many of our parents tell us that having a child who is deaf or hard of hearing can be such a gift. It teaches us compassion, patience and perseverance. But above all, it reminds us to have an appreciation for all that is precious in our lives.
Sometimes the greatest gifts come to us unexpectedly. Many of our parents tell us that having a child who is deaf or hard of hearing can be such a gift. It teaches us compassion, patience and perseverance. But above all, it reminds us to have an appreciation for all that is precious in our lives.

At AG Bell, we are gratified when we learn that a life has been well lived and filled with love. So while it is with a heavy heart that we learned of the passing of Paul E. Gatza, we are happy to learn that he enjoyed his long life and was a generous supporter of multiple charities, including AG Bell. Paul served his country as a materials engineer employed by the U.S. Army for many years until his retirement in 1997. He received a Distinguished Service Award in 1999 from the American Society for Testing and Materials. Paul shared his life with his loving wife, Anne, and enjoyed traveling, leaving this world while vacationing in Romania. His kindness to AG Bell was spurred simply by his intention to leave the world a better place than he found it, and we couldn’t be more grateful. His positive spirit and caring, compassionate nature will surely be missed by all those who loved and knew him well.

In that spirit, I want to thank our recent donors who decided to make their birthdays extra special this year by dedicating their own Facebook fundraisers to the organization that has meant so much to them. On behalf of AG Bell, I thank you for thinking of us on your special day:

Every little bit helps to put children who are deaf and hard of hearing on the path to success. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you. If you would like to mark a special occasion to help raise gifts for AG Bell, I’ve included a how-to link here. Of course, you can always donate online. And remember, at this time of year, your gifts are matched 100% by a very special donor, so the impact of your gift is doubled.

As we look ahead this year, AG Bell is planning to reach even greater heights as we host the second annual Global LSL Symposium on July 9-11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. Our special focus this year is on hearing and hearing technology, and we look forward to helping our sponsors bring you the latest information on advancements in hearing devices. The Symposium promises to be an outstanding opportunity for meeting and sharing knowledge, where people from around the world will share their customs, culture and language, all to improve the opportunities for children with hearing loss. I look forward to welcoming you at this enjoyable learning event, as we work to increase the number of proud, prepared professionals across the globe who teach children who are deaf and hard of hearing to listen and talk. Be sure to register by February 10 to save on registration.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who reads and comments on this heartfelt communique. Your suggestions and your encouragement make it a joy to write.

Until next time,