Marlee Matlin & Starkey: The Story Few People Know
- 01. Who is Marlee Matlin and why does she support Starkey?
- 02. What exactly is the Starkey Hearing Foundation?
- 03. How did Marlee Matlin raise money for Starkey on The Celebrity Apprentice?
- 04. What impact has Matlin's involvement had on Starkey's visibility and reach?
- 05. Why does this partnership matter for people with hearing loss?
- 06. Technology and innovation: How does Starkey involve Matlin beyond philanthropy?
- 07. What does "impact or just PR" mean in this context?
- 08. How can someone support the Starkey Hearing Foundation?
Marlee Matlin is a longtime ambassador and advocacy leader for the Starkey Hearing Foundation, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that provides free hearing aids to people with hearing loss who cannot afford them, with Matlin's high-profile work including a record-setting $1 million fundraiser on The Celebrity Apprentice in April 2011 and multiple field missions to distribute devices in Africa.
Who is Marlee Matlin and why does she support Starkey?
Marlee Matlin is the first deaf performer to win an Academy Award, taking home Best Actress for Children of a Lesser God in 1986, and she lost most of her hearing at 18 months due to measles.
Because she personally understands the barriers to hearing care, Matlin has been a friend and supporter of the Starkey Hearing Foundation for about eight years as of 2011 and says she "believe[s] whole-heartedly in their work to bring the gift of hearing to those who would normally not have access".
Her advocacy is not symbolic: she has traveled to Uganda with Starkey teams to help fit hearing devices to African children and has repeatedly voiced that hearing care is "essential for one to realise their true and full potential".
What exactly is the Starkey Hearing Foundation?
The Starkey Hearing Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Starkey Hearing Technologies, based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and its mission is encapsulated in the slogan "So the World May Hear".
The foundation's core operation is free hearing aid missions, both in the United States and internationally, where audiologists and volunteers fit thousands of people each year with custom hearing devices.
In one notable international effort, Starkey planned to provide 22,000 digital hearing aids to kids and adults across Africa over a 24-day period, with Matlin on the ground helping to distribute devices.
How did Marlee Matlin raise money for Starkey on The Celebrity Apprentice?
On the April 3 episode of NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice, Matlin led a team of female celebrity apprentices that raised $986,000 for the Starkey Hearing Foundation, setting a show record at the time.
Her team's total included a $99,000 sale of an artistically signed T-shirt created by La Toya Jackson in honor of her late brother, Michael Jackson.
Host Donald Trump personally top-offed the donation to $1 million for Starkey, turning Matlin's team win into a landmark fundraising moment for the foundation.
- Matlin assembled a team of female celebrities and assigned roles to maximize auction items and pitches.
- She leveraged her personal story and deaf advocacy to describe Starkey's global hearing aid mission on national television.
- La Toya Jackson's Michael Jackson-themed T-shirt became the single largest auction item at $99,000.
- The team raised $986,000 through auctions and challenges, then Trump added funds to reach $1 million.
- Matlin used her platform to explain how hearing aids change lives, directly tying celebrity entertainment to philanthropy.
What impact has Matlin's involvement had on Starkey's visibility and reach?
Matlin's Oscar-winning status and mainstream TV presence have given Starkey unusually broad exposure, bringing millions of viewers to hear about free hearing aid missions that might otherwise remain hidden.
Her involvement has helped Starkey secure high-profile media spots on shows like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, where she encouraged the production to include Starkey in episodes helping deaf and hard-of-hearing families.
She has also appeared alongside Starkey at events like the So the World May Hear Awards Gala, where other celebrities show support for deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.
| Metric | Datum | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Year Matlin began publicly supporting Starkey | ~2003 (about 8 years by 2011) | |
| Celebrity Apprentice fundraising total (Matlin's team) | $986,000 raised, $1 million with Trump bonus | |
| African hearing aid goal on 2011 mission | 22,000 devices in 24 days | |
| Domestic mission example (Phoenix, AZ, 2015) | 75+ kids and adults received free hearing aids | |
| Starkey 10-year hearing aid pledge (as of 2015) | 1 million hearing aids worldwide |
Why does this partnership matter for people with hearing loss?
For many low-income families, hearing aids are financially out of reach, yet untreated hearing loss can damage education, employment, and social connection.
Starkey's model-funded by donations and corporate philanthropy-lets volunteers fit thousands of devices per mission, turning a single event into long-term life changes for recipients.
Matlin's presence humanizes the data: instead of abstract statistics, viewers see an Oscar-winning deaf actress personally handing out hearing aids and explaining why they matter.
- Personal connection: Matlin's own deafness makes her advocacy authentic and relatable.
- Media reach: Celebrity Apprentice, TV specials, and galas expose Starkey to mass audiences.
- Fundraising power: Her team's $1 million raise is a concrete financial boost for device production and missions.
- Global visibility: Field trips to Uganda and other countries highlight international need.
- Policy and representation: Matlin's broader disability activism amplifies Starkey's message about inclusion.
Technology and innovation: How does Starkey involve Matlin beyond philanthropy?
Starkey Labs has also partnered with Matlin to showcase new hearing instrument technology, such as hearing devices using proprietary BluWav signal processing that helped her participate in Dancing With the Stars.
These collaborations demonstrate how innovation and advocacy intersect: new technology improves Matlin's daily communication and performance, while her public profile promotes broader access to similar devices via Starkey's foundation.
What does "impact or just PR" mean in this context?
Critics sometimes wonder whether celebrity involvement is mostly PR, but Matlin's decade-plus of support, on-the-ground missions, and multi-million dollar fundraising suggest deeper impact.
The combination of personal advocacy, field participation, and measurable fundraising (including a record $1 million gift) indicates a partnership that goes beyond surface-level publicity.
For an organization like Starkey, celebrity allies who also become active distributors of hearing aids help bridge the gap between brand awareness and real-world service delivery.
How can someone support the Starkey Hearing Foundation?
- Donate directly through the Starkey Hearing Foundation website to fund hearing aid missions.
- Volunteer as an audiologist, technician, or event supporter at domestic or international missions.
- Participate in or promote fundraising events, galas, and campaigns like "So the World May Hear."
- Advocate for hearing health in schools, clinics, and community organizations.
- Share stories and data about hearing loss to reduce stigma, following Matlin's example.
Marlee Matlin's relationship with the Starkey Hearing Foundation is a sustained, action-oriented partnership that combines personal experience, celebrity reach, and measurable philanthropy to expand access to hearing care worldwide.
What are the most common questions about Marlee Matlin Starkey The Story Few People Know?
Is Marlee Matlin a vocal advocate for the Starkey Hearing Foundation?
Yes. Matlin is a vocal, long-term advocate who has appeared on national TV to explain Starkey's mission, traveled to field sites to distribute hearing aids, and publicly stated she "believe[s] whole-heartedly" in the foundation's work.
Did Marlee Matlin ever go to Africa with Starkey?
Yes. In 2011, Matlin traveled to Uganda to assist Starkey staff and authorities in giving hearing devices to African children who are hearing impaired.
How much money did Marlee Matlin raise for Starkey on The Celebrity Apprentice?
Her team raised $986,000, and host Donald Trump increased the donation to $1 million for the Starkey Hearing Foundation.
What is the Starkey Hearing Foundation's mission?
Starkey's mission is to provide free hearing aids to children and adults who cannot afford them, both in the United States and globally, under the slogan "So the World May Hear".
Is Marlee Matlin deaf?
Yes. Matlin lost most of her hearing at 18 months after a bout with measles and is a deaf actress and activist.
Has Marlee Matlin worked with Starkey on TV shows other than The Celebrity Apprentice?
Yes. She helped bring Starkey into Extreme Makeover: Home Edition episodes and appeared in segments discussing hearing aid technology and Starkey's work.
Does Marlee Matlin wear Starkey hearing aids?
Matlin has used Starkey hearing instruments and has publicly discussed how breakthrough technology from Starkey Labs enabled her to take part in shows like Dancing With the Stars.
Is the Starkey Hearing Foundation part of a larger company?
Yes. It is the philanthropic arm of Starkey Hearing Technologies, a hearing aid manufacturer headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.