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$100,000 Raised to Give Babies With Hearing Loss a Sound Start
May 2008 - Three hundred supporters made a sound investment in the future of local children with hearing loss at the “For the Babies” Gala held Thursday, May 15 at the Villa in Mountain Lakes. According to Stephanie Deyo, President of The Lake Drive Foundation which sponsored the event, the evening's proceeds exceeded $100,000 to benefit The Sound Start Early Intervention Program for Babies Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
The Sound Start Program services families in eleven counties in New Jersey offering vital support, education and comprehensive therapy for infants and toddlers with hearing loss. “Most people don't realize that more babies are born with hearing loss than any other congenital health problem. With early identification and intervention between the critical time period from birth to age three, children with hearing loss can develop communication skills comparable to their hearing peers,” states President Deyo.
Yet, despite research proving the importance of early intervention, New Jersey state funding covers only a portion of the cost of essential services necessary for children with hearing loss to achieve their potential. The Lake Drive Foundation was established as the fundraising arm of The Sound Start Program to fill the funding gap.
At the Gala, the Lake Drive Foundation presented The DePaiva family the Honorable John H. Ewing Friends of Deaf Children Award. Kassie and Jimmy DePaiva are known for their roles on "One Life to Live". Their own son, JQ, was born profoundly deaf eleven years ago. This award recognized their family's extraordinary efforts to heighten awareness, increase funding and impact legislation for children with hearing loss. Today JQ has dual cochlear implants and attends a mainstream school. Last year he was featured on "All My Children" as a role model for children facing challenges. At the Gala, eleven year old JQ eloquently shared his commitment to help other deaf children live their lives to the fullest. After hearing her son's poignant speech, his mother, Kassie DePaiva, reflected, “That may have been the proudest moment of my life.”
Sound Start operates under the auspices of The Lake Drive Programs for Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children located in Mountain Lakes. The early intervention program serves an average of 80 children a year from eleven counties throughout northern and central New Jersey. Since the program's inception, Sound Start has helped more than 1,000 children with hearing loss learn to communicate and build a foundation for learning. This year, Sound Start was awarded “Program of the Year” by The New Jersey Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Communication skills are crucial to learning and school performance and are the single best predictor of school achievement. Even kids with mild to moderate hearing losses, on average, achieve one to four grade levels lower than their peers. Parents who learn their child has hearing loss can be overwhelmed, not knowing how to communicate with child. Sound Start empowers these families to help their kids achieve emotional, social and academic success.
The Lake Drive Foundation is a 501(C)(3) organization, established by community leaders in 1996 to develop diversified sources of funding and build an endowment for The Sound Start Program. The Foundation also raises awareness of the incidence of hearing loss and the need for timely diagnosis and intervention. “If you suspect your child has hearing loss, call your pediatrician or an audiologist for a thorough evaluation immediately,” Foundation President Deyo emphasizes. “Time is of the essence, and every child deserves a sound start.”
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