Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Michael Bolton, and Donny Osmond among Celebrities Participating in the August 20 'So the World May Hear' 2005 Awards Gala

NEW YORK (Patty Gibbs & Company) - Starkey Hearing Foundation:

WHAT: The "So the World May Hear" 2005 Awards Gala is a star-studded event benefiting the Starkey Hearing Foundation. The fifth annual Gala hopes to raise more than $3 million to support the Foundation's mission of promoting hearing health awareness, providing hearing aids for the needy, and supporting hearing research and education. Last year's event, which included a performance by Sir Elton John, garnered $2.7 million for the Foundation.

WHO: More than 1,500 individuals from across the world are expected to attend this year's event, at which Starkey Hearing Foundation founder William Austin will once again honor a number of internationally acclaimed celebrities and/or their foundations for their contributions to humanity. This year, the Foundation will honor Garth Brooks' Teammates for Kids Foundation, Olive Osmond's Children's Miracle Network, the Wayne Gretzy Foundation, and the Richard Schulze Family Foundation. Garth Brooks, members of the Osmond family, Wayne Gretzky, and Richard Schulze (Best Buy founder) will all be on hand to accept the awards. The evening will include performances by Michael Bolton, Donny Osmond, and Trisha Yearwood. Nearly 40 well known celebrities are expected at the event.

WHEN: Saturday, August 20
4:45 p.m. Celebrity red carpet
5:30 p.m. Cocktail reception and silent auction
6:30 p.m. Ballroom doors open
7:00 p.m. Dinner, entertainment and live auction
(please note: times are approximate and subject to change)

WHERE: St. Paul's RiverCentre
175 Kellogg Blvd. W.
St. Paul

MORE: Since 1973, the Starkey Hearing Foundation has been giving the gift of hearing to the world's underprivileged- especially children-through its internationally recognized mission trips and its domestic program, Hear Now. Since 2000, the Foundation has provided more than 115,000 hearing aids to those in need around the world. To learn more about the Starkey Hearing Foundation or the Gala, visit www.sotheworldmayhear.org.