Alex and Maggie Lang hosting a fundraiser for Ear Community

Alexander and Maggie Lang wanted to help give back to the community by supporting a nonprofit that not only was near and dear to their hearts, but one that would help children and adults in need.

Alex was born without his right ear (microtia) and has hearing loss due to an underdeveloped ear canal (aural atresia). He often wondered if there was an organization or a resource available that helped individuals just like him or a place to connect with others in the same situation. To Alex’s surprise, he recently discovered the Ear Community Organization! During the summer, Alex and Maggie attended an event that was hosted by the Ear Community Organization in Edina, in collaboration with Minnesota Children’s Hospital, and had a wonderful time! As Alex watched younger kids with microtia and atresia playing together at the event, he thought how wonderful this would have been to have when he was a kid! Alex wanted to become more involved with Ear Community as soon as he could and recently became a Board Member for the organization.

Alex Lang, hosting a fundraiser for Ear Community

On November 1st, 2024, Alexander and Maggie Lang hosted a fundraiser in Minnetonka for the Ear Community Organization to help give back and help support children and adults who are missing one or both ears with hearing loss. Family, friends and members of the community attended the organized event. To their surprise, the fundraiser raised over $5,000 for the microtia and aural atresia community! This fundraiser was extra special for Alex because it allowed him to embrace a community that is close to him and be an inspiration to others in the same situation! Alex also said this event was very special to him as it reminded him of a special day like his wedding day – being around so many friends and family, talking and sharing happiness with everyone! Most importantly, with feelings of love and acceptance by so many, the day really made him smile. Alex enjoyed the opportunity to promote awareness and educate about something that means so much to him. Since finding Ear Community, Alex has been able to connect with the local children’s hospital and doctors through the microtia and atresia clinic where he can help reach out to other families in the same situation. He is looking forward to meeting new microtia families and sharing his experience along with helping them know they are never alone.  Alex also looks forward to teaching the kids all of the ear related humor he knows too! Melissa Tumblin, Ear Community’s Executive Director said “Alex is a incredible role model for these families and such a wonderful inspiration to so many! We are lucky to have him as a member of our board and a part of our organization!”

A special thank you to Maggie Lang for being by Alex’s side and supporting him in so many ways. A special thank you to Alex’s family and friends for helping him be the incredible person he is today- the fun personality and genuine person he is. Thank you so much to the Lang Family for making this fundraiser possible and the work that was put into making everything a success! Thank you to everyone who helped give back by making a contribution to the Ear Community Organization! Thank you to Jade Park at Unmapped Brewery for donating the space for this special event! Thank you to Rob for donating the whiskey give-a-way! And thank you to Jared Jenkins of the Minnesota Wild for donating the signed hockey stick! – Together each one of you helped make this special day extra special! Especially for Alex and his family!

Funds raised will go toward Ear Community’s events, college scholarships, hearing device donations, promoting awareness and education about microtia and atresia, genetics research and community research as well as legislation known as Ally’s Act that will help the members of this community thrive when it comes to hearing device coverage.
Thank you for this incredible support!

Here are some fun memories from this fundraiser:

Thank you,
Melissa Tumblin
Ear Community