Press room

Eden Prairie, Minnesota (July 10, 2025) – Starkey, a global leader in hearing technology, announced today its role as the inaugural partner of the UNICEF Children with Disabilities Fund, a new fund aimed at delivering quality and timely interventions to create sustainable change for children with disabilities across the globe. As the inaugural partner, Starkey is helping UNICEF accelerate disability programming and results, empowering children and young people with disabilities to realize their full potential.

This partnership underscores Starkey’s long-standing culture of caring and its global corporate social responsibility program, Starkey Cares, which is committed to bringing better hearing to communities in need. With Starkey's support as the premier donor, UNICEF has launched this critical fund to transform the lives of children and young people with disabilities through resources, support and opportunities to overcome barriers and create more equitable communities.

“We are honored to be the first corporate partner of the UNICEF Children with Disabilities Fund,” said Brandon Sawalich, President and CEO of Starkey. “At Starkey, we believe in a world where everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. This partnership reflects our commitment to creating a more inclusive and compassionate world — a world where hearing health isn’t a barrier, it’s a bridge to connection.”

The UNICEF Children with Disabilities Fund was established to drive systemic change and ensure that children with disabilities are not left behind, a passion shared by Starkey’s chairman and co-chair, Bill and Tani Austin who have dedicated their lives to providing hearing healthcare access to underserved communities and people in need. With support from Starkey, the Fund will focus on early screening and identification, as well as expanding access to disability support services and assistive technology, empowering children to fully develop and participate in every aspect of society.

Through Starkey Cares, Starkey has impacted millions of lives across the globe by providing hearing health care services and hearing aids to underserved populations. Starkey’s partnership with UNICEF builds on this legacy by expanding support to broader disability inclusion efforts.

“Starkey’s leadership and compassion will help transform lives on a global scale,” said Michael J. Nyenhuis, President and CEO of UNICEF USA “With their support, the UNICEF Children with Disabilities Fund can deliver upon its critical mission to give every child — including those with disabilities — the opportunity to thrive.”

For more information about Starkey in support of UNICEF, click here.

For more information on Starkey Cares and Starkey’s corporate social responsibility efforts, visit www.starkey.com/starkeycares.

About Starkey
Starkey is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Founded by Bill Austin in 1967, Starkey is known for its innovative design, development, and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Led today by President and CEO Brandon Sawalich, Starkey is the only American-owned provider of hearing technologies. The company has more than 5,000 employees, operates 29 facilities and does business in more than 100 markets worldwide. Learn more at starkey.com.

UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, organization, product or service.