The Minnesota Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1989 to provide public service and education about the importance of speech, language, and hearing and to provide scholarships to outstanding graduate students from our graduate programs in the State of Minnesota. MSHFoundation is separate from MSHA, so all contributions are tax deductible.

We always welcome your interest and participation in the Foundation! If you would like to volunteer as a MSHFoundation committee member, please contact any member of the MSHA Executive Council for more information. Please let us hear from you.

The two main missions of the MSHFoundation are to promote public information related to communication disorders and to raise funds for graduate scholarships in speech-language pathology and audiology. MSHA members and the community support these programs through individual donations and several fundraising activities conducted during the year.

MSHFoundation Silent Auction

This event is the major fundraiser for the MSHFoundation scholarship program and is held annually at the MSHA Spring Convention. Donations are collected from individuals, corporations, and local businesses, and provide a fun and active silent "bidding" opportunity for convention participants to purchase delightful works of art, certificates for local services, restaurant, theater, and event coupons, professional books and materials, gifts, and many other items. Individuals interested in donating items or services should contact Sandy Irwin, Silent Auction Chair, at 651/490-1274.

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MSHFoundation Seed Fund

In 1999, the MSHFoundation celebrated its tenth anniversary by establishing a "Seed Fund" endowment for future scholarships. Money designated for this fund is held into savings for the future, when the MSHFoundation hopes to be able to award scholarships based entirely on the earned interest. The long range goal is to have this fund accrue sufficient interest to become a major source of money for scholarships. If you would like to donate to this fund, please designate your contribution to MSHFoundation Seed Fund and send your donation to:

Minnesota Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Seed Fund
c/o Sandra Irwin
1118 Lois Ct
Shoreview, MN 55126

If you do not receive an acknowledgment from the Foundation, please let us know. We appreciate your donations and want to thank you.

Please contact Connie Hinnerichs at 651/633-3775 or slphinn@ties2.net or Sandy Irwin at 651/490-1274 or slpirwin@aol.com if you have not received our note of appreciation.

If you’re making a donation in honor of someone, please include that person’s address.

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Since 1989, the MSHFoundation has awarded one or more scholarships to highly talented master's or doctoral students in speech-language pathology or audiology who are studying in Minnesota. Since that time, the scholarship program has grown from one $500 award to five $2,000 scholarships in the year 2005. For a list of past MSHFoundation scholars, please click here.

As an incentive to attract scholarship candidates, the MSHFoundation will pay one year's Student Member MSHA dues for all qualified applicants. Candidates must be MSHA members (at their own expense) at the time MSHFoundation scholarship applications are submitted.

Scholarship applications are due March 1st of each year. You may download an application using the links below, or you may request an application by writing to:

Minnesota Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Scholarship
c/o Frank M. Cirrin, Ph.D.
4812 Upton Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55410
fcirrin@mpls.k12.mn.us

MSHFoundation Scholarship Application [PDF version]

MSHFoundation Scholarship Recipients

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MSHFoundation Public Information Committee

This committee promotes community-wide knowledge about speech, language, and hearing and the impact of communication disorders across the lifespan. Using various media, including newspaper articles, public service announcements, TV and radio spots, and other local and regional access, the committee increases awareness of the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology, including how to find a qualified providers for evaluation and intervention. In recent years, newspaper articles have appeared on stuttering, early intervention for speech-language and hearing disorders, and a family's story of the impact of communication problems on two children.

Public information activities occur year-round, but are especially targeted during May, which is our profession's national Better Speech and Hearing month. If you have an article or an issue that you would like to promote, or if you are willing to be a local contact for media resources, please contact Janet Jacobs at 651/639-0942 or janetsjacobs@hotmail.com.

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