Big Day of Giving 2025: CCHAT Student Success Stories

CCHAT continues to participate in the yearly 24-hour fundraising extravaganza known as Big Day of Giving. This year, CCHAT’s tagline – “Listen, Speak, Thrive!” – focused on the amazing successes of the children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing within the program.

Many of these students join CCHAT with little communication, and their families ponder a variety of questions about what the future looks like for their child. Below are three children who were featured during this year’s campaign. This is just a sampling of the terrific accomplishments being achieved each day on the CCHAT campus and throughout the community. 

From Uncertainty to Confidence

Emersyn, 20 months old

Emersyn began the year in CCHAT’s parent education program, Baby & Me. Recently, she moved up to CCHAT’s Toddler class, where she continues to gain confidence with her hearing devices and build a foundation of listening and spoken language skills that will carry her throughout life!

Nicole, Emersyn’s mom, had this to say about her experience at CCHAT: “After our daughter was diagnosed with hearing loss, we had so many questions and anxieties about her future. CCHAT has been an incredibly supportive space for our family, providing us with the knowledge and tools necessary to help support our child through this journey. Their warmth, care, and compassion combined with their training, knowledge, and experience is everything we needed and more.”

Achieving Academic Success

Nyasa, 6 years old

Support from Big Day of Giving helps children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, like Nyasa. When Nyasa joined CCHAT three years ago, she had little language and required assistance to manage her hearing devices. Last month, Nyasa tested into an advanced academic program at the neighborhood school she will begin attending this fall. Chintan, Nyasa’s dad, recognizes the immense impact CCHAT has had on his family: “This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without CCHAT’s support and guidance. We truly appreciate all that you have done to help her along the way.”

CCHAT services have Nyasa ready to excel in a classroom with hearing peers…and the support of our community makes it all possible!

Preschool to Proficient Communication 

Michael, 7 years old

Michael joined CCHAT in preschool, happy and hardworking, but lacking the ability to communicate proficiently. Now in 1st grade, Michael’s work ethic and CCHAT’s unrivaled staff and services have him initiating conversations in the classroom and speech therapy, and ready to join the mainstream next school year. His speech therapist at CCHAT, Lauren Gius, had this to say about Michael’s growth: “Michael drives our speech therapy sessions because he is so inquisitive! He is eager to learn and become an expert on new topics. I always smile and laugh when working with Michael. I’m excited to see how much growth he has in store!” With the help of our community, Michael and all CCHAT kids can one day achieve their dreams and never let their hearing loss stop them from success. 

How You Can Help 

Supporting CCHAT Year-Round 

While CCHAT’s Big Day of Giving campaign has concluded, you can show your support for our program year-round by making a donation through our website (CLICK HERE). No amount is too small, and every dollar ensures that children like Emersyn, Nyasa, Michael, and all of their friends are empowered with the skills to thrive, now and in the future.