Holiday Appeal 2025
Help us ensure students have what they need to succeed.
I was born a twin. My brother and I did everything together—until second grade.
You see, I am deaf in my right ear. That year, my desk was placed with my deaf ear toward the teacher. Suddenly, the words everyone else heard so easily were erased. —I was lost in silence.
I failed the second grade. My twin moved ahead, and I stayed behind.
Every year after, I had to explain why my twin was a grade ahead. It was painful and isolating, and it left a lasting mark on me, especially my confidence
I had great support, understanding, and love at home, but school could be challenging – even with parental advocacy. My parents knew I was capable of learning with the right tools.
Then, in university, everything changed. I was given a personal sound system. For the first time, I could sit in a lecture hall of 500 students and hear every word clearly. The relief was indescribable. My friends even borrowed the extra earbud so they could hear better too. Suddenly, learning wasn’t about straining to listen—it was about truly understanding the material being delivered, so I could process the information. That technology was life-changing.
Today, I am proud to serve as the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Blind and Low Vision Coordinator at Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board. Every day, I advocate for students, knowing firsthand that the right tools can mean the difference between falling behind and thriving.
Think about your own life—how hard it is to hear family in a noisy room, or a friend in a crowded restaurant. Now imagine being a child in the back of a classroom, missing up to 55% of your teacher’s words. The reality is that, on any given day, more than 40% of our youngest learners would fail a basic hearing test – but with your help, we can provide the tools they need to still thrive in school and have a bright future ahead of them.
This is why soundfields matter. These classroom systems ensure every child hears the teacher’s voice with clarity—no matter where they sit or how well they hear. For students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 3, this means building a strong foundation for reading and learning that will carry them through their entire education and life. Soundfields benefit every child in a classroom, not just those with disabilities.
Knowing the difference this technology can make, I am thrilled to partner with the Learning Foundation on the Have You Heard? Campaign—working to place a soundfield in every primary classroom across HPEDSB. Together, we can equip 255 classrooms and reach more than 5,000 students every single school day.
With your help, The Learning Foundation is able to do incredible work — feeding hungry students through Food for Learning, supporting families through the Student Emergency Fund, and stocking Sharing Cupboards so kids have what they need. This will continue. Your donation this holiday season will still support these very important programs, but it will also help in Making Futures Bright by supporting Have You Heard?, because no child should ever be left behind simply because they cannot hear.
I know the sting of silence. And I know the power of sound—the way it opens doors and possibilities, and I am asking you to help make that possible for local students.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping ensure every child can listen, learn, and be fully seen. Your generosity truly is making futures bright.
With gratitude,
Glenda McComb
Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Blind and Low Vision Coordinator
Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board
P.S. Please join me in Making Futures Bright. Your holiday gift to the HPE Learning Foundation helps ensure every child has the tools, support, and opportunities to succeed.
P.P.S. As a special thank-you, your holiday donation could also win you a trip to sunny Aruba! CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS —thanks to generous donors, one lucky supporter will enjoy some sunshine while helping students thrive.
