Sounding Joy

06/08/2026

Two Rotary clubs in one day! ❤️

Last week Christy Vogel packed her schedule and spoke at both the East Lake Sunrise Rotary and the Rotary Club of Largo, sharing her personal journey with hearing loss and the mission behind Sounding Joy.

Every conversation like this plants a seed of awareness in a new community, and we're so grateful for organizations like Rotary that create space for that connection.

Thank you to both clubs for the warm welcomes! ❤️

06/04/2026

There's a moment we look forward to every single time. ❤️

It's called Approval Day, and it's the day a family finds out their child has been approved for hearing aids through Sounding Joy. The worry they've been carrying about how they'll afford essential care is lifted, and everything starts to change.

This month has been a big one for approvals, and Bacilio, age 10, Yeison, age 7, and Brooklyn, age 11, are among the incredible kiddos who reached that milestone. All three are now working with our provider partners to get fitted for their hearing aids.

Each of them is at a different stage of childhood, but they all share the same exciting next chapter ahead of them, and we'll be cheering them on every step of the way.

Thank you for being the reason Approval Day exists for kids like Bacilio, Yeison, Brooklyn, and so many more this month ❤️

06/03/2026

"I'm not ignoring you. I'm trying so hard to hear you."

Those words capture something so many children with hearing loss feel every single day but struggle to explain to the people around them.

Hearing loss is so much more than not being able to hear well. It's the exhaustion of a brain working overtime just to follow a classroom lesson, the isolation of not being able to keep up with friends at lunch, and the fatigue of getting through a school day that feels twice as long as everyone else's.

From the outside, these kids look fine. But on the inside, they're working harder than anyone realizes just to keep up.

This is why access to hearing aids matters so deeply. When children can hear clearly, they spend less energy just trying to keep up and more energy actually learning, connecting, and being kids.

Sounding Joy provides hearing aids to children in Tampa Bay whose families cannot afford them. Share this post with someone who needs to understand what hearing loss really feels like, because awareness is the first step toward change ❤️

06/02/2026

Say hello to Anyelin! ❤️

This sweet 3-year-old just received her hearing aids through Sounding Joy, and we couldn't be more thrilled for her!

Getting hearing aids at 3 means Anyelin will be able to follow along during preschool, chat with friends on the playground, and never miss a moment with her family. Early access to hearing care opens up so many opportunities for kids to grow, learn, and connect.

Her father shared something with us that perfectly captures what this moment means for their family:

"I am deeply grateful to everyone. What would have become of this little girl's condition had we still been in our home country, Cuba, where the resources and technology there were utilized for her here simply do not exist? Thank you so much."

Thanks to your support, Anyelin has the tools she needs to thrive ❤️

06/01/2026

Another wonderful Rotary visit! ❤️

Christy Vogel recently had the opportunity to speak at the Rotary Club of Seminole, FL, sharing her personal journey with hearing loss and the mission behind Sounding Joy.

Every time Christy shares her story, it opens up conversations about pediatric hearing health and the barriers families face in accessing essential care for their children. The Rotary Club of Seminole Lake was warm, engaged, and genuinely passionate about making a difference in their community.

Thank you to the Rotary Club of Seminole Lake for the warm welcome and for your commitment to serving others. We're grateful for the opportunity to connect with leaders who believe in our mission ❤️

05/28/2026

This is so important and this is exactly what it truly feels like. ❤️

If you've ever wondered what it's really like to navigate the world with hearing loss, this post captures it perfectly.

Hearing loss doesn't just affect the ears. It affects the brain, the energy, and the ability to simply be present in a conversation without working twice as hard to keep up. The exhaustion is real, and it's often invisible to everyone else in the room.

This is exactly why we do what we do. When children get hearing aids early, we're not just helping them hear, we're giving their brains a chance to rest, their confidence a chance to grow, and their ability to connect with the world around them a chance to thrive.

People think hearing loss only affects the ears but they don’t realise how exhausting it can be for the brain too 🧠

In busy places, my brain is constantly trying to separate voices, fill in missing words, lipread, process background noise and guess conversations all at the same time.

From the outside, I might look fine.

But inside? My brain is working overtime just trying to keep up.

That’s why hard of hearing/deaf fatigue is real.

Not because we aren’t listening,
But because we’re listening SO hard.

A little patience, facing us when you speak, and including us properly makes more difference than people realise 💜

05/28/2026

More to celebrate! Another Q1 2026 Top Provider ❤️🏆

We're so grateful for our partnership with Hillsborough County Schools Audiology Department, and we're thrilled to recognize them as our Top Provider for the first quarter of 2026!

This incredible team has been instrumental in helping students across Hillsborough County access the hearing aids and care they need to succeed in school and beyond. Their professionalism, compassion, and commitment to our mission make all the difference for the families we serve.

Sounding Joy Provider Liaison and Board of Directors Member Vangie Neeley presented the award to Dr. Janet Dishaw, Dr. Emily Saunders Seard, and Dr. Deirdre Hamaker from the audiology department. Thank you to the entire team for everything you do!

We're honored to work alongside you and can't wait to help even more students together.

Here's to a fantastic partnership and many more children hearing clearly in the classroom ❤️

05/27/2026

What an exciting milestone for Tampa Bay! ❤️

Christy Vogel attended the topping out ceremony for Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital's new Wesley Chapel campus this week. She was joined by Board Chair Shane Donaldson, his partner Xiomara Luciano, and guests Jesus Luciano and Dalia Luciano.

The topping out ceremony marks a huge milestone with the placement of the final steel beam, signaling the structural completion of the new facility. This $300 million pediatric hospital is on track to open in fall 2027 and will bring world-class pediatric care closer to families in Wesley Chapel and surrounding communities.

We're excited to see this incredible facility come to life and serve children and families for years to come!

Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this incredible facility to life! 🎉

05/26/2026

An evening to remember ❤️

We recently hosted our Top Supporter Dinner to celebrate and thank the donors who have shown up for Sounding Joy again and again. It was an evening filled with gratitude, great food, and even better company.

A huge thank you to Cook Extraordinaire Carolyn Wilkinson and Chef Michael Baugh for putting together such a stunning evening. From the food to the atmosphere, every detail was thoughtfully done and our guests felt truly appreciated.

And to our amazing volunteers who helped make the night run smoothly from start to finish, we couldn't have pulled this off without you. Thank you for your time, your energy, and your heart!

To our top supporters, thank you for believing in our mission and for standing with us as we help kids access the hearing aids they need. You make this work possible, and we're honored to have you as part of our Sounding Joy family ❤️

05/22/2026

Exciting news! ❤️

Francisco and Aaleyah have been approved for hearing aids through Sounding Joy!

These two wonderful kids will soon be able to hear clearly in the classroom, connect with friends and family, and fully participate in all the moments that matter. We're honored to be part of their journey and can't wait for them to receive their hearing aids in the coming weeks.

This is what your support makes possible. Because of you, kids like Francisco and Aaleyah are getting the tools they need to thrive in school, build strong relationships, and reach their full potential.

Thank you for believing in our mission and standing with us as we continue to change lives, one child at a time ❤️