Boost Studio Boosts Local Hearing-Loss Education

Boost Studio’s principals, Christine Koch and Steve Boris, have recently been elected to the board of directors for the Hearing Loss Association of Sarasota  (HLAS). Boost will be helping HLAS build awareness by utilizing its award-winning visual-communication and branding experience in the Sarasota area.

“This is an extremely personal issue,” said Steve Boris, Boost’s Creative Director, who has suffered from partial hearing loss since childhood. “I can’t describe what an honor this is. It means so much to me.”

Hearing loss affects nearly one third of Americans over the age of 65, and is the third most-common physical condition after arthritis and heart disease, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America. HLAS was named the “Best Cause of 2012” by SRQ Magazine who noted that 16.1 percent of the local [Sarasota] population is affected by hearing loss.

“Boost is so grateful for the opportunity to help the Hearing Loss Association of Sarasota. When so many of our neighbors are suffering from hearing loss, we hope our expertise at visual communications can make a real difference,” said Boost’s CEO Christine Koch, whose father, an audio engineer, was a hearing-loss advocate.

HLAS is the local chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America, the nation’s leading non-profit group for education, advocacy and support of the hard-of-hearing. HLAS offers monthly meetings in which expert speakers teach participants how to better manage hearing loss.

Boost has a strong history of pro-bono work for local and national non-profits. Past and present clients include Selby Gardens, TEDxSarasota, South Florida Museum, GWIZ, and the 1-in-8 Cancer Foundation.