Stars light up Starkey Hearing Foundation gala in St. Paul
Several big name celebrities were in St. Paul Sunday for the Starkey Hearing Foundation's annual "So the World May Hear" awards gala, which honored the likes of actor Ashton Kutcher, entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson and first daughter Barbara Bush for their humanitarianism, the Star Tribune reports.
Among those on hand on the red carpet at St. Paul's RiverCentre to help honor this year's award recipients were former President Bill Clinton, Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker, Heavyweight champion boxer Evander Holyfield, Minnesota-born actor Kevin Sorbo, and several current and former Vikings and Twins.
The event annually raises funds for Bill and Tani Austin's Starkey Hearing Foundation. Last year's event raised more than $7.6 million, which helped the foundation fit more than 100,000 children and adults with hearing aids.
KARE 11, WCCO, the Pioneer Press and the Star Tribune all posted photo galleries of the event.
Also on hand for the event for was actor Lou Ferrigno, the "Incredible Hulk" star who has had profound hearing loss since he was a child.
A frequent guest of the Starkey gala, Ferrigno tells the Star Tribune that Starkey Foundation helps take away the stigma of hearing loss, saying, "It’s OK to be hard of hearing. It’s OK to have a hearing aid."
See the Pioneer Press' video from the event below.
