A year like no other…..
2020 began with high hopes at the start of a new decade following the celebration of our 5oth anniversary the previous year. We were so excited about all of our plans for programming, hosting a second year of the hugely successful Cochlear Implant Family Camps, and planning a new music program for wee ones.
Then all of a sudden we found ourselves scrambling to make sure the staff, therapists and families were safe and our work could continue, assisting other early intervention providers in moving their practices to tele-health, and wondering how were we going to fundraise in this social distancing environment???
Thankfully, the Soule Family Foundation immediately stepped up and offered an emergency grant to ensure that the children’s therapy would continue uninterrupted and a PPP loan assisted with operations at the foundation. All of the Denver Metro families were moved to the tele-health platform for therapy as our rural families were already established in this mode. At this point, we sensed that we were going to get through the challenges brought about by COVID-19.
Listening and Spoken Language Therapy carried on through ZOOM but all of the in-person support programming for families was halted. By late spring we knew that we would have to cancel the cochlear camps too as the pandemic raged on. In its place, the camp director held virtual events which included assisting these families with the challenges brought about with mask wearing, social distancing, and attending school through videoconferencing for their children with hearing loss.
We put all of our fundraising efforts into our annual mailing campaign, honoring the Kontnik family who attempted the English Channel swim 20 years ago in support of the Listen Foundation. It was one of our most successful Non-Events ever! Corporations and individuals stepped up to make sure the Listen Foundation remained financially strong. Our funders came through with generous grants throughout the year and the Oberkotter Foundation surprised us with a special grant to help with our most pressing needs.
As it turns out, this year was busier than ever! We provided therapy services for 40% more children than in 2019. We were able to assist Spanish speaking families by providing interpretation services, an outreach to this community we have wanted to pursue for a long time. No family was turned away due to lack of funding. Our online education programs for professionals and parents carried on and grew in numbers. None of this was possible without the incredible support of this community!
Grateful doesn’t begin to describe how we are all feeling at the Listen Foundation as we begin 2021. It is with much hope that we plan for a return to in-person programming and to once again offer a camp experience for children with cochlear implants.
Pat Greenway, Executive Director