EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Starkey, a global leader in hearing technology, has partnered with UNICEF as the inaugural corporate supporter of the newly launched UNICEF Children with Disabilities Fund, the company announced Thursday.
The fund aims to deliver timely and quality interventions for children with disabilities worldwide, focusing on early screening, access to assistive technologies, and inclusive support services. Starkey’s contribution will help accelerate UNICEF’s disability programming and expand opportunities for children and young people with disabilities to reach their full potential.
“We are honored to be the first corporate partner of the UNICEF Children with Disabilities Fund,” said Brandon Sawalich, Starkey president and CEO. “This partnership reflects our commitment to creating a more inclusive and compassionate world — a world where hearing health isn’t a barrier, it’s a bridge to connection.”
The initiative aligns with Starkey’s global corporate social responsibility program, Starkey Cares, which has provided hearing healthcare and hearing aids to underserved communities across the globe. The company’s founders, Bill and Tani Austin, have long championed access to hearing care as a fundamental right.
“With Starkey’s support, the fund will help ensure that children with disabilities are not left behind,” said Michael J. Nyenhuis, president and CEO of UNICEF USA. “Their leadership and compassion will help transform lives on a global scale.”
The UNICEF Children with Disabilities Fund is designed to drive systemic change and promote equity for children with disabilities, a mission both organizations say is long overdue.