TPSP student creates foundation focused on hearing loss communities

According to John Hopkins Medicine, about 20 percent of adults in the U.S. report some degree of hearing loss and about two to three of every 1,000 children have hearing disabilities.

The nonprofit Generous Palms foundation focuses on uniting these communities with a common sign language by funding deaf schools and sign language programs and raising awareness.

Senior Jasmine Monterroso, founder and creator of the foundation, was inspired to do her TPSP project over hearing loss because of her niece who was born hard of hearing.

“I was interested in learning about the culture she would grow up in,” Monterroso said. “I began to notice how little [organizations] cared for sign language and that they were more concerned with changing the deaf to use speech and hearing aids because it’s seen as a disability.”

Monterroso planned to hold a free event to help kick start her foundation. The event was a How to Train Your Dragon 2 movie night with donation boxes and a silent auction table.

“The movie event was directed to raise funds for the Texas school for the Deaf in Austin, Texas,” Monterroso said.

The event was planned by Monterroso’s fellow TPSP classmate, Briel Madler, who is studying event management.

“There were a lot of challenges like time management, but we overcame them and got everything done,” Madler said. “This event reassured me that event management is what I really want to do.”

The event took Madler about two and half months to plan and said this event helped her get a sense of what real event management would feel like.

“I’m glad I got the opportunity to make a difference in the organization,” Madler said

Together the two, along with some committee members, pulled off the event April 24 in the gymnasium. Students came out to enjoy the movie and support Monterroso’s foundation.

“Generous Palms and Briel Madler did a very good job organizing and holding the event,” senior Colleen Waggoner said. “It was very professional.”

The foundation will continue to raise money throughout the year and aim to help the hearing loss communities. You can keep up with and support the Generous Palms foundation by donating money to Monterroso and following their Facebook, @ Generous Palms, and twitter, @GNRS_PLMS.