New York Mets and Sonic Innovations Host 2nd Annual Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Day

New York City-Sonic Innovations, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNCI) and the New York Mets hosted the 2nd Annual Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Day at Shea Stadium on September 14.

As part of the day, individuals with hearing loss, their friends, and family members were invited to watch the Mets play the Atlanta Braves. A percentage of each game ticket sold was donated to the New York Deaf Theatre.

The Mets presented Sonic Innovations with the "Spirit Award" for the company's participation. The award was accepted on the field by Sonic Innovations' President and COO Paul Wennerholm, Vice President and CFO Michael Halloran, Division Manager Keith Greene and Regional Sales Manager Joanne Rosenberg.

Students from the Lexington and New York Rochester Schools for the Deaf were on the field to sign the words to the national anthem before the first pitch. The students also signed "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch.

Groups attending the event included the New York Deaf Theatre, Fountain House, Hillside Manor Nursing Center, Manuet House, Helen Keller National Institute for the Deaf, The New York Foundling, and Advocates for Services for the Blind, Deaf & Multi Handicap. In addition, American Sign Language students and deaf and hard-of-hearing students from local colleges and high schools participated in the event. In all, 2,032 families were present.

Wennerholm noted, "It was a wonderful event and Sonic Innovations was delighted to have been involved with such a fantastic group of organizations that serve the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing. It was a privilege to have been able to invite so many people who suffer from hearing loss to such an unforgettable event."

The September 14 game was one of the last to be played in Shea Stadium (the Mets played their final game at Shea on September 28). Shea Stadium is in the process of being demolished to make room for parking at the adjacent Citi Field, the new home of the Mets beginning in 2009.

"Since the Mets played their first game in 1962, this team has grown to become an integral part of New York - and it was a thrill for our guests to be able to experience one of the last games ever to be played in Shea Stadium," added Wennerholm.

"This was an incredibly successful event, with a lot of warm and positive responses from our attendees," said New York Mets Group Sales and Community Relations Coordinator Matt Gulotta.

About Sonic Innovations:

Sonic Innovations is a global provider of superior hearing solutions. The company is passionate about quality, technology, and improving lives through enhanced hearing. Sonic Innovations is dedicated to the growth and success of their hearing-healthcare partners.

Sonic Innovations, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, has international offices and manufacturing centers across the globe. In conjunction with its distributor partners, Sonic Innovations has provided hearing care services and solutions in more than 25 countries. Sonic Innovations is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market System (SNCI) and can be found online at www.sonici.com. You can also learn more about Sonic Innovations on the Sonic Innovations web channel on Audiology Online.