Hear for the Holidays 2025: And the Winners Are…

Every year, the holiday season brings a special opportunity for you to connect, give back, and support those around you.  

Through our sixth annual Hear for the Holidays campaign, you can see firsthand how community-driven care transforms lives, especially when it comes to hearing health.  

This year’s winners, Kenneth Brown and Ray Navarro, exemplify the spirit of giving and remind you of the life-changing impact that better hearing can have, not just for yourself but for everyone you interact with. 

You’re Part of a Community That Cares 

Hear for the Holidays is more than a giveaway; it’s a celebration of community spirit. Your nominations pour in each December, highlighting neighbors, friends, and loved ones who inspire you with their kindness and service.  

When you nominate a loved one for this giveaway, you shine a light on those who might otherwise go unnoticed, ensuring that deserving individuals receive the support they need to stay connected. 

This year, your nominations were especially heartfelt. The overwhelming response made it clear: You value those who give back, and you want to help them thrive! 

We had to narrow it down to two, however, and your 2025 winners are… 

Kenneth Brown: Retired Tutor and Passionate Educator 

Kenneth was nominated by his coworker, Nancy, at the English as a Second Language (ESL) program sponsored by the Afghan-American Church in Fremont. As an ESL tutor, it’s crucial for Kenneth to hear what his students are saying in the classroom. 

“Being retired (and ancient), one of the things I have been doing for some years is tutoring Afghan men,” Kenneth says. “Evidently, [Nancy] thought it would be useful for her tutors to actually be able to hear what their students are saying, and she was aware of my difficulty hearing in some situations. And, as it happened, I was selected.”  

Our Audiologist Brianne had the chance to assess Kenneth’s hearing with a comprehensive hearing evaluation, and she determined he has mild to moderate hearing challenges. Kenneth wasn’t surprised, as he had hearing aids already, but they weren’t quite hitting the mark. 

“For me, one-on-one face-to-face conversation is largely manageable, but hearing in a group context is more of a challenge,” Kenneth shares. “Even with one-on-one conversation, there is still plenty of ‘Pardon?’ and ‘Can you say that again?’” 

Kenneth was fitted with brand-new advanced hearing aids and finds them “quite comfortable.” He appreciates the app compatibility to adjust his devices to his unique needs, whether he’s in the classroom or living his busy life. 

“I would say that for people who have lived with mild or moderate hearing loss for some time, there is probably a challenge to put their restored capabilities to good use,” Kenneth says. 

Ray Navarro: Hard-Working Jokester and Beloved Team Member

For years, Ray was known for his quick wit and ability to make people laugh, often by poking fun at how often he’d say, “What?” or “Could you repeat that?”  

At first, it was all in good humor, a running joke among friends and coworkers. But over time, Ray realized it wasn’t funny anymore. The punchline faded, replaced by a growing sense that he was missing out on connections, not just the jokes.  

Ray’s story is a testament to the power of compassion and community. For many years, Ray has dedicated his career to working at a non-profit organization that supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

It took a gentle nudge from his coworkers, who noticed he was struggling to follow conversations, for Ray to recognize that his hearing loss was holding him back.  

Life without clear hearing, according to Ray, was “challenging - the messages I was missing, and thinking maybe I’m stupid for not understanding people.” 

He started reading up on hearing health and was surprised (and a little alarmed) to learn that untreated hearing loss could even impact things like memory and brain health.  

But everything changed when Ray learned he’d been chosen as one of our Hear For the Holidays winners. His coworkers erupted with excitement, while Ray felt a mix of nerves and anticipation thinking of the massive change to come. 

His nominator shared, “Ray’s ability to connect with people, engage them, and help them feel confident in themselves is one of his greatest strengths. He has spent years uplifting others: supporting them, advocating for them, and enriching their lives.”  

Ray’s unwavering passion for helping others and giving back truly stood out to us, embodying the heart of what makes our community so special.  

After just one week with his new hearing aids from Pacific Hearing Service, Ray described the experience as a “second chance.”  

“It’s kind of a new life! A second chance, and it opens my eyes to things,” Ray enthused. “I have been able to hear things I haven’t heard for a long time: footsteps of people approaching me from behind, people talking in the room next door, the clicking of the silverware when people eat. It just makes me think ‘Wow’!” 

Ray’s newfound enthusiasm became contagious. He began encouraging others to get their hearing checked, reminding them that good hearing isn’t just about catching every word, but about preserving the way you live and connecting with others. 

I now tell everyone to come here as soon as possible and get your hearing checked. It’s about preserving your way of life!

Now, with his world opened up again, Ray is ready to keep doing what he loves most: uplifting others and making a difference, one sound at a time! 

Thank You for Your Nominations! 

We received so many incredible stories from you, nominating your parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, coworkers, and friends in the community. It was difficult to narrow it down to just two! 

Thank you once again for all of your nominations. We’re already looking forward to this winter’s Hear for the Holidays giveaway! 

If you felt inspired by hearing Kenneth’s and Ray’s stories and want to get started on your own hearing health journey, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. You too can experience the transformation that hearing well can bring, no matter the time of year.