Stäfa, Switzerland (June 14, 2010) - Phonak beat off strong competition at the recent international SABRE and HALO award ceremonies when Hear the World, the global initiative to raise awareness about the importance of hearing and hearing loss, won the International SABRE for best campaign in the 'Public Education' category and the Silver HALO award for 'Best Event.'
The prestigious SABRE Awards, which recognizes Superior Achievement in Branding and Reputation throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, received close to 2,000 entries for this year's ceremony, split over a range of categories. In the 'Public Education' group, Hear the World was selected as the winner ahead of other celebrated campaigns including the 'Brain Bank Appeal' by the Parkinson's Disease Society and 'Smoking in Pregnancy' from the Department of Health. The initiative also received a Certificate of Excellence for the annual Hear the World calendar in the 'Poster/Calendar/Photography' category.
The Cause Marketing Halo Awards recognizes how corporate and non-profit fusion can bring a seamless approach to positive, impactful social change. Phonak received the silver HALO award for 'Best Event' for the Hear the World exhibitions showcasing the world-famous Hear the World celebrity ambassador photographs during a six month tour to Macy's department stores in five major U.S. markets, including Dallas, San Francisco, Miami, New York and Philadelphia. Each image, taken by musician and photographer Bryan Adams, depicts a celebrity ambassador with one hand cupped behind their ear in an effort to convey conscious hearing. In addition to viewing the exhibit, consumers at each site were able to receive free screenings and consult with local hearing healthcare professionals.
Phonak, the world's leading manufacturer of innovative hearing instruments, launched Hear the World in 2006 to call attention to the social and emotional impact of hearing loss and address the prevention of and solutions to a problem that affects more than 16% of the world's population. Hear the World's goals are to educate people about hearing loss and provide support to those affected via the independent Hear the World Foundation, which was developed to improve the quality of life of people with hearing loss through financial and technical assistance.
About Hear the World
Hear the World is a global initiative by leading hearing system manufacturer Phonak created to raise awareness about the importance of hearing. The initiative calls attention to the social and emotional impact of hearing loss and addresses prevention of and solutions to a problem that affects more than 16% of the world's population. Bryan Adams, Annie Lennox, Sting, Plácido Domingo and other renowned personalities support the Hear the World initiative as ambassadors. In the context of the Hear the World initiative, Phonak has established the non-profit Hear the World Foundation to improve the quality of life of people with hearing loss through financial and technical assistance. The foundation is committed to the prevention of hearing loss as well as the support of people with hearing loss and their families.
For more information visit www.hear-the-world.com, become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/CanYouHearTheWorld and follow the Hear the World Twitter channel at www.Twitter.com/Hear_The_World.
About Phonak
Headquartered near Zurich, Switzerland, Phonak, a member of the Sonova Group, has developed, produced and globally distributed state-of-the-art hearing systems and wireless devices for more than 60 years. The combination of expertise in hearing technology, mastery in acoustics and strong cooperation with hearing care professionals allows Phonak to significantly improve people's hearing ability and speech understanding and therefore their quality of life.
Phonak offers a complete range of digital hearing instruments, along with complementary wireless communication systems. With a worldwide presence, Phonak drives innovation and sets new industry benchmarks regarding miniaturization and performance.
For more information, please visit www.phonakpro.com, www.phonak.com or the Phonak web channel on Audiology Online.
