FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2025

Media Contact: Susan Hancock
Abshire Public Relations
912.844.9549
pr@abshirepr.com

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Speech and Hearing Center has named Bridget W. Gardner of Savannah as the recipient of the 2024 Annie F. Oliver Volunteer of the Year award. Mrs. Gardner began volunteering with the Savannah Speech & Hearing Center (SSHC) in 1983, as a member of the Junior League of Savannah. At that time, SSHC invited schools to transport students to the center for hearing screenings and Mrs. Gardner was part of a team volunteering in performing these screenings. As time has gone on and student populations increased, SSHC initiated outreach measures to provide hearing screenings at the schools themselves in both Chatham and Bryan Counties as well as at other community centers. Mrs. Gardner has been instrumental in this community outreach initiative for the past three years, volunteering over 155 hours.

The Annie F. Oliver Volunteer of the Year award has been given on an annual basis since 1978, celebrating extraordinary dedication and service supporting the mission of Savannah Speech & Hearing Center in providing access to comprehensive speech, hearing, language and other therapeutic services that empower and transform lives.

ABOUT SAVANNAH SPEECH AND HEARING CENTER:

Since 1954, Savannah Speech and Hearing has been committed to providing comprehensive speech, hearing, language and other therapeutic services that empower and transform the lives of both children and adults, regardless of financial abilities. SSHC offers a wide range of programs including Sound Start, our early intervention auditory/verbal program for children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, as well as audiology, speech, pediatric occupational therapy, pediatric physical therapy, hearing aids, cochlear implants, informational resources, a stroke and traumatic brain injury survivors’ support group and other specialized programs. SSHC speech-language pathologists and audiologists are certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), their occupational therapists are certified by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), their physical therapists are certified by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and all are licensed by the Georgia State Professional Licensing Board. For more information, visit www.speechandhearingsav.org or call 912.355.4601.

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