May 2026 Oberkotter Foundation Newsletter

The Latest From the Foundation

Two Weeks Remain to Apply for the Foundation’s Latest Funding Opportunity

Applications close in two weeks for the Oberkotter Foundation’s current request for proposals, Hearing Habits to Optimize Device Wear Time. The Foundation is seeking proposals for projects that promote the use of hearing devices during all waking hours in infants and young children.

Consistent access to language-rich listening environments is critical for children who are deaf or hard of hearing to develop listening, talking, and literacy skills. With this funding opportunity, the Foundation intends to support projects that help families establish and maintain hearing device use throughout all waking hours, to support children’s long-term listening and spoken language development.

Nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations that are located and operating within the United States, with experience in early childhood hearing loss and social drivers of health access, are invited to apply.

Expanding Awareness of Newborn Hearing Health Nationwide

The Starts Hear campaign was created to address the continuing challenge of loss to follow-up care after newborn hearing screening. The campaign, now in its sixth year, has reached millions of expectant parents with actionable messages about newborn hearing health, expanding awareness and guiding families on what to do if their baby does not pass a screening.

In the last five years, Starts Hear has driven measurable progress:

• Campaign ads have been viewed 1.2+ billion times
• Over 700,000 hours of watch time on campaign videos
• 23 million emails sent to expectant and new parents