Chris Botti
NEW YORK—The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary (NYEE) launched a national media campaign this week to focus attention on the serious problem of hearing loss, which affects the lives of an estimated 36 million Americans.
And signing on to help NYEE get its message across is the world-renowned trumpeter and composer Chris Botti. In a public service announcement released April 9, Botti says, “As a musician, I know first-hand about the importance of hearing health. I cannot imagine a world without the ability to hear music. My world would be over!
The PSA, which is narrated by the composer, singer, actor, and social activist Sting, is the centerpiece of the awareness campaign designed to encourage baby boomers to get their hearing tested. Filmed by Fabrizio Ferri, the PSA is being released in conjunction with the release of Botti’s new CD Impressions on Columbia Records.
With 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 each day in this country, the number of people with hearing loss is expected to skyrocket. Experts predict that hearing loss will affect an astounding 78 million Americans by the year 2030.
Sting commented, “I hope that with the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary as a partner, Chris and I are able to remind people of the critical need to protect their hearing.”
In addition to the nationally broadcast PSA, NYEE is going live with a new educational web site. Ronald Hoffman, MD, medical director of NYEE, said, “Our expert team created this site as a one-stop resource to help all adults take control of their hearing health. It provides a simple hearing loss self-test, information on where baby boomers can go to get their hearing tested, and tips about ways to prevent hearing loss.”
NYEE is also going live with a new Facebook site <fb.com/iLikeMyHearing> featuring a “Favorite Sounds” video that captures people talking about their favorite sounds. Visitors can choose to “like” the site by recording their own favorite sounds and entering it in the “Favorite Sounds Sweepstakes.” The sweepstakes prize is the $5000-value opportunity for the winner and ten friends to share dinner with Chris Botti at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary’s November 15 fundraising gala.
