The Ear Community Organization Turns 15 Years Old – May 20, 2025

Before Ear Community was founded, our microtia and atresia families struggled to come together, learn about all of their options, receive the support that was needed and find the answers we all are looking for! When Ally Tumblin was born in 2009, the Tumblin family struggled to find the answers they were looking for, but wanted to share all that they had learned with everyone in order to help make things easier for the next family who has a baby born with microtia and aural atresia! In 2010, the Tumblin Family started the Microtia and Atresia Support Group on Facebook. Within one year, online support group on FB/Meta became a global group with families joining from across the globe. In 2011, Melissa Tumblin launched the Ear Community website, which has become a portal of information for microtia and atresia families and is translatable in nearly 50 different languages. It was in 2012, that the Tumblin Family founded the Ear Community Organization to help give back and so no other family who has a baby born with microtia and atresia would ever feel alone. Ear Community created a safe place for children and adults who have microtia and atresia, including providing a place of belongingness and inclusivity where everyone can come together in the same situation.

Since founding Ear Community in 2010, Ear Community has hosted over 120 events bringing over 15,000 people together in the United States, Canada, Denmark, South Africa, the UK and Spain! Our organization has donated nearly 200 bone anchored hearing devices and awarded nearly 30 college scholarships. Ear Community has championed genetic research on why microtia happens and which chromosome is responsible for this congenital anomaly including working on research for our community to improve the caregiver experience for our families. In addition, Ear Community introduced Federal Legislation known as Ally’s Act – which would get bone anchored hearing devices covered by private insurance from birth to age 64 and established National Microtia and Atresia Awareness Day taking place every November 9th with the world embracing our special community day! We look forward to seeing everyone at an Ear Community picnic near you! Our organization is also proud to have two funds made possible that help children who have microtia and atresia:  Pax’s Eyewear Fund helps children who have microtia and atresia obtain eyeglasses and sunglasses and Pax’s Ear Fund that helps to reimburse audiologists for the fitting and programming fee when private insurers deny their patients this service. Pax is a little boy who has helped many children and adults in our community live better quality lives! Our organization is grateful to all of our donors, including the Pax’s Family!

If you enjoy giving back to nonprofit organizations and like what the Ear Community Organization does, please support the work we do by making a donation that will help our organization continue our mission to help more microtia and atresia families!

Thank you for everyone’s support to our organization over the past 15 years! It is always an honor and something quite special to serve our community!