The Hear Well Be Well Gift of Hearing program has been recognized with a 2024 Communitas Award of Excellence for Community Service just in time for nominations to open on May 1 in celebration of Speech and Hearing Month.
The Communitas Awards is an international effort to recognize exceptional businesses, organizations and individuals unselfishly giving of themselves and their resources, and those that are changing how they do business to benefit their communities. In the announcement letter, Communitas said, “Our judges found Hear Well Be Well clearly exhibits the spirit of communitas, a Latin word that means people coming together for the good of the community.”
Hear Well Be Well is one of only two Canadian companies recognized by Communitas so far in 2024.
The Gift of Hearing program has been running in Ontario since 2014. The program accepts nominations throughout May with an impartial selection committee reviewing every nomination. Nominations are reviewed for the possible impact on the nominee’s life. Five Ontarians will be selected to receive the newest technology in hearing aids and three years of after care at no charge.
“We’re so proud to be able to deliver the Gift of Hearing program,” said Kathleen Tiede, co-CEO of Hear Well Be Well with her husband, John Tiede. “We’ve helped so many people get support for their hearing over the years. That’s what really makes a difference to us, and the award recognition is really icing on the cake.”
Untreated hearing loss has been connected to increased risks of developing dementia and depression, a much higher chance of having a serious fall that requires hospitalization and even relationship breakdown.
“Untreated hearing loss not only impacts overall health and relationships, it can also be dangerous,” explained John Tiede, a Hearing Instrument Specialist as well as being co-CEO. “Severe hearing loss left untreated means you may not hear alarms, cries for help or even sirens.”
Past Gift of Hearing recipients have been nominated by family, friends and coworkers. The nomination form is available at https://hearwellbewell.ca/charitable-work/gift-of-hearing-charity/ or by stopping by one of the 14 Hear Well Be Well locations.