Sir Elton John headlining the 2004: ''So The World May Hear'' Awards Gala

Building off the momentum of last year's record setting fundraiser, The Starkey Hearing Foundation's 2004 "So The World May Hear" Awards Gala is slated for Tuesday, July 20 at the RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Foundation hopes to raise more than $2 million for the continued dissemination of hearing aids throughout the world.

The annual gala recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to mankind and strongly support the Foundation's philanthropic activities. This year's event honors internationally acclaimed musician Sir Elton John, actors Leslie Nielsen, Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman, and talk show host Sharon Osbourne.

William F. Austin, CEO of Starkey Laboratories, created the Foundation in 1978. Austin and team members travel several times a year on missions to fit children and adults needing hearing aids. Since 2000, the Foundation has donated more than 100,000 hearing aids on nearly every continent of the world.

To learn more about ticket and sponsorship information, visit www.sotheworldmayhear.org or contact a Foundation representative. Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime event, tickets and sponsorships are limited and all contributions are tax-deductible.