The nonprofit
foundation HearStrong of Syracuse, N.Y., has named
hearing-impaired singer-songwriter and recording artist Sherry Anne
one of its 2020 HearStrong Champions.
HearStrong co-founder
and president Ed Keller comments, “The beauty of Sherry Anne’s voice will truly
help change lives by inspiring others to understand that choosing to hear
better is a strength. She is a wonderful example of the powerful impact one
person can have toward shattering the stigma of hearing loss in our society.”
Sherry Anne was born
with a bilateral hearing and speech impairment that went undiagnosed until she
was struggling in kindergarten. Upon receiving one hearing aid, and then a
second, she began to thrive and gain confidence. Today, Sherry Anne is an
award-winning singer, songwriter, author, and inspirational speaker, and an
ambassador for the International Christian Centers for the Deaf. She was a Singing News
Songwriters Search Grand Prize winner in 2017.
“It is important to
seek treatment for hearing loss to improve your quality of life, social relationships,
and professional opportunities,” says Sherry Anne. “I am honored to be
designated a HearStrong Champion and to let people know how receiving hearing
aids were the first steps toward achieving my dreams. No matter what your
challenge is, step out in faith toward your dream.”Keller, EarQ
President Andrew Hebert and Brian McCaskey, vice president of the NFL Chicago
Bears, founded HearStrong in Syracuse,
N.Y., in 2013 to inspire the 80 percent of an estimated 48 million Americans
who experience hearing loss to seek help rather than let their loss go
unaddressed. The organization created its HearStrong Champions program to share
the stories of the remarkable lives of people with hearing loss.