Harry Van Buren, a resident of Brunswick, was a recent recipient of hearing aids through The Beltone Hearing Care Foundation. The foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, donates hearing aids to those who are in need, and are unable to access them. Both individuals and organizations are eligible to receive assistance from the foundation through direct nominations to Beltone or at one of its locations across North America.
Beltone representatives described Van Buren as: “A happy go lucky individual always smiling, telling jokes, carrying on, and never complaining about anything. He’s also one of the kindest, nicest and most considerate guy you’d ever want to meet.”
Unfortunately, a few years ago, Van Buren suffered a near fatal massive heart attack. His family didn’t think he was going to make it and feared the worst. After a triple bypass and months of rehab, he not only survived but in no time at all was back to being his usual carefree smiling self.
Recently, Van Buren suffered a second heart attack but beat the odds and got back to good health once again.
During all of this time, numerous attempts were made by Van Buren’s local Beltone Hearing Center — where he has been a patient since July of 2009 — to help him get financing so that he could get new hearing aids. Unfortunately all efforts in this regard failed for one reason or another. Time after time, they were told that he didn’t qualify which turned out to be extremely frustrating as well as disappointing. At their wits end, they decided to apply to The Beltone Hearing Foundation on his behalf to see if they could help.
Van Buren was approved almost instantly and has been fitted with a set of new hearing aids that will make his life and his hearing much better again.
“I am extremely grateful for what Beltone has done for me,” said Van Buren. “Their generosity is beyond belief and I will never forget their wonderful and kind act as long as I live. It’s a dream come true.”
“We are completely ecstatic to be able to help Harry Van Buren who is a wonderful person in such need,” said Michael Andreozzi, president and CEO of Beltone
New England. “He is truly deserving and a very caring individual who needed our assistance.”
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