Grayslake student works to give gift of hearing

Zach Genc, a freshman at Grayslake Central High School, is paying it forward with the gift of hearing.

Zach was the first recipient of a set of hearing aids through the "Help Them to Hear" fund established by David and Donna Raye in 2009.

The fund was created to help raise the needed funds to ensure that every Lake County student who cannot afford hearing aids or other hearing assistive technology gets the financial and practical help they need.

Zach is no stranger to fundraising. During middle school he raised money and awareness for the Save-A-Pet organization. As a freshman, he has decided to put his efforts behind providing hearing aids for at least three students this year. Zach's goal is lofty, as a set of hearing aids costs anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000. Most insurance companies do not cover this expense.

Zach's participation in the SEDOL Foundation's "Making Strides for Special Kids" 5K Run/Walk and his coordination of a Culver's night, has raised enough money for him to "grant" his first set of hearing aids to Molly Smith, a senior at Grayslake North High School.

Molly has always "felt different from (her) friends" due to her genetic hearing loss. Molly has overcome major hurdles in her academic and social life and is excited to wear her new red hearing aids.

The Help Them to Hear program, administered by the SEDOL Foundation, aims at creating a system for identifying children and young adults who may otherwise not get the help they need, and making sure they are fitted with hearing aids or other technology that will enable them to develop speaking, reading and other skills.

Through the Rayes' grant, more than 20 children have received hearing aids or other assistive hearing technology. David and Donna Raye have dedicated themselves to helping children. They built and operate the Goddard School in Third Lake, part of the nationwide franchise of private schools for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years old.

Raye also served as the chairman of the board for the SEDOL Foundation from 2010 to 2015.

The Special Education District of Lake County audiology department evaluates more than 2,200 children and works with more than 600 deaf or hearing-impaired students each year. To support the "Help Them to Hear" fund or other programs sponsored by the SEDOL Foundation, visit sedolfoundation.org.

• To submit Your news with one photo, go to dailyherald.com/share. To submit Your news with multiple photos, send it to nbrcalender@dailyherald.com.