The Pasco County Tax Collector’s office will feature the Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation in May, all part of the national recognition of Better Hearing & Speech Month.
The purpose of the month is to bring attention to hearing and speech issues, according to a release. Locally, the Pasco County-based Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation is the key to providing hearing and speech services to children throughout the county and state.
Sertoma reports that hearing loss is the No. 1 birth defect in America, with three out of every 1,000 children being born with some level of hearing loss. In Pasco alone, 13,000 students are screened for hearing loss by audiologists affiliated with Sertoma and All Children’s Hospital.
For those children who do need hearing aid technology, Sertoma assists in providing new devices as children grow, as well as batteries to keep the hearing aids functioning.
Those who wish to support Sertoma can check off the appropriate box on their license renewal or auto registration forms, which contribute $1 or more to the fund. Cash donations also will be accepted by the tax collector’s office.
“The Children’s Hearing Help Fund assists hard-of-hearing babies and children to avoid a life of isolation, so they can hear the world around them, succeed personally, academically and socially,” said Craig McCart, Sertoma’s executive director, in a release.
“Hearing loss can be devastating at any age, but in a newborn or small child, it can hinder their development and ability to succeed in life,” said Tax Collector Mike Fasano, in a release. “The services provided by the Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation’s Children’s Hearing Help Fund have made the lives of countless children better. Your donation of any amount will assist children in being able to live their lives to the fullest.”
Contributions can be made at all four tax collector offices, including the ones in Land O’ Lakes and Dade City. For more information, call Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179, or visit PascoTaxes.com.
