Minneapolis, Sept. 17, 2010 - Starkey Laboratories, Inc., a world leader in hearing technology, is proud to announce that William F. Austin, CEO and founder of the Starkey Hearing Foundation, was presented with the Azteca Eagle Award by President Felipe Calderon on Tuesday, September 14, at the Presidential Palace Los Pinos in Mexico City.
The Azteca Eagle Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Mexican Government to a non-citizen and was presented to Austin in recognition of his humanitarian service to Mexico. The ceremony was held in honor of Mexico's 200th anniversary of independence celebration. U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis attended the event along with numerous heads of state from other countries.
"I am very grateful to receive this honor in the name of the people who have made it possible," said Austin. "No one can do much alone. It takes a team to significantly impact the challenges we face in life."
Since the Foundation's inception in 1973, the Starkey Hearing Foundation has conducted several missions annually throughout Mexico. The demand for help in Mexico has increased over the past 35 years, and the Foundation has met that demand, distributing more than 100,000 hearing aids to those in need.
"Mexico was the start of our international outreach," said Austin. "We partnered with Flying Samaritans in 1973 to deliver hearing aids to the underprivileged in various Mexican communities."
Four other U.S. citizens have received the distinguished Azteca Award: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ted Kennedy and Bill and Melinda Gates.
About Starkey Hearing Foundation
The Starkey Hearing Foundation is the global leader in hearing health care and is striving to change the social consciousness of hearing. The Foundation delivers the gift of hearing through missions in countries around the globe, distributing more than 500,000 hearing aids to people in need. The Foundation is striving to achieve its goal of distributing more than one million hearing aids in this decade. In addition to giving the gift of hearing, the Foundation partners with Best Buy and the Grammy Foundation to promote safe hearing and hearing loss prevention through its national program Sound Matters. Visit starkeyhearingfoundation.org to learn more.
About Starkey®
Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company is recognized for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Founded in 1967, Starkey currently employs more than 3,250 people, operates 22 facilities and conducts business in more than 100 markets worldwide. For more information, visit StarkeyPro.com or the Starkey Web Channel on Audiology Online.
