Big-name celebrities in town for hearing aid gala
Muhammad Ali and Steve Martin will be in St. Paul Sunday to receive humanitarian awards from the Starkey Hearing Foundation.
The Eden Prairie-based foundation is holding its 10th annual gala, which raises money for hearing aids for people in developing countries.
Organizer Tani Austen said entertainers are drawn to the cause because they recognize the importance of hearing. She said celebrities expected include Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, Patrick Dempsey and Larry Fitzgerald.
"We have a lot of celebrities coming in to be here in honor of these people," she said. "About 1,600 attendees."
Austen said the foundation will give Ali a humanitarian award.
"I just talked to his wife Lonnie yesterday and she said they were so honored to come and support you guys for breaking the silence around the world," Austen said.
Last year's gala raised about $5 million. In the last 10 years, the foundation has distributed 442,221 free hearing aids to underprivileged, hearing impaired, children and adults in more than 86 countries, including the U.S.
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