Elise Ansberg knows firsthand the struggles of those who suffer with hearing loss. The Ottawa Hills High School senior was born with bilateral hearing loss and received her first pair of hearing aids at the age of three.
“My first memories are of a muffled world — soft, unclear voices around me. Even my own words were whispers,” she said.
Ansberg (17) did not let her disability hold her back. Instead, she has become an advocate for others, working with the organization HearAide to provide hearing healthcare to underserved communities, both local and around the world.
“Supporting HearAide is my biggest passion,” she said. “I know what it’s like to live in a world unable to hear. I am so fortunate my family has the resources to provide me with what I need to hear. It’s a hidden disability that I have grown up with, normalized, and would not wish on anyone else. Giving others the opportunity to live with access…that’s a priceless gift. Why wouldn’t I make that happen?”
Making a worldwide impact
In March of 2022, Ansberg traveled with HearAide to Jordan, where she worked with a team of volunteers to set up two clinics in refugee camps. Ansberg had hoped to raise $2,500 through a GoFundMe campaign. Instead, she raised over $45,000, thanks in large part to her willingness to share her own story with others.
“During my volunteer efforts at the Marka refugee camp in Jordan, I met Yousef, a 17-year-old Palestinian who has grown up with hearing loss similar to mine. He came to the health clinic hoping we could help him hear. Despite our similarities, Yousef had never visited an audiologist before. Even through the clinic’s efforts to provide a cost-effective treatment, Yousef and I will always be separated by the social determinants that leave him without access to the latest technological advancements of hearing health care.”
National Philanthropy Day
On November 16, National Philanthropy Day, Ansberg will receive the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award from the Northwest Ohio Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She was nominated by the Greater Toledo Community Foundation for her efforts.
Ottawa Hills High School Principal Ben McMurray feels that Ansberg is truly deserving of this recognition.
“Elise is a thoughtful and kind student with a passion for helping people with hearing loss. I have no doubt that she will continue to help unmet needs in our community through philanthropy, volunteering, and leadership,” McMurray said.
In addition to her volunteer efforts, Ansberg also enjoys playing varsity doubles tennis with her partner, co-captain and step-sister, Bre. A member of the National Honor Society, she also tutors at the Foundry and works at Toledo Yoga.
A Giving Heart
“Giving back is a cornerstone in my family, “ she said. “There are so many opportunities to participate in really cool things in Toledo.”
The World Health Organization estimates that by 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people will suffer from some form of hearing loss, and over 700 million will need hearing rehabilitation. Ansberg hopes to study global health. She notes that even in the United States, insurance companies are not required to cover the cost of hearing aids, leaving many without affordable access.
“As I continue to champion these public health efforts through advocacy to state and local government stakeholders, my priority is to develop cost-effective solutions so that individuals have the freedom to hear without sacrificing scarce resources. I hope that eventually, replacing hearing aids becomes as easy as swapping out a pair of eyeglasses.”
