Wisconsin Station Collects 1.1 Million Diapers for Families in Need
Date Posted: 3/4/2024
Funds and donations totaling more than 1.1 million diapers were collected during the fourth annual WMTV Diaper Drive from Gray Television’s WMTV in Madison, Wis. “This initiative transcends the mere provision of diapers; it plays a crucial role in supporting children’s development, assisting families in achieving financial stability, and enabling parents to pursue consistent employment,” said Founder and CEO of the Village Diaper Bank Megan Sollenberger. “Changing diapers is more than a daily task—it’s a life-changing act. We are thrilled to continue making this profound impact together.”
“Our viewers really came through during WMTV’s Diaper Drive,” said WMTV 15 Regional Vice President/General Manager Don Vesely. “Megan and her team at the Village Diaper Bank work tirelessly to build a foundation that allows sponsors and viewers to make a difference in our community. It is inspirational when you see our community step-up and make a difference.”
Gray television’s WSAW in Wausau, Wis., raised $166,834 during the 2023 
Hearst Television’s WISN 12 in Milwaukee, Wis., raised more than $152,000 in the 12th annual 
CBS owned-and-operated KDKA in Pittsburgh raised $855,935 for the Great Pittsburg Community Food Bank with their annual 
The FOX 11 Food Project: Northeast Wisconsin Gives Thanks food drive from Sinclair Broadcast Group’s Fox 11 News in Green bay, Wisc., resulted in 22,572 pounds of food and $3,368 donated to three area pantries. General Manager Jay Zollar shared heartfelt stories from the community: “An emotional mother dropped off food, telling us that her son was a recipient of food from Paul’s Pantry before he died. She said it took two years, but she finally had the financial means to now help pay it forward.”
Nexstar’s WAVY in Hampton Roads, Va., is conducting its 31st annual Coats for Families drive through December 31. Last year, they collected more than 9,000 coats. WAVY says it is “proud to continues its mission of helping those in need through our 10 On Your Side Coats for Families drive. For many families, a warm coat is not just a piece of clothing; it represents security, protection, and the knowledge that their community cares.”
Audacy’s 105.3 The Fan in Dallas raised more than $88,000 for My Possibilities, a charity dedicated to assisting adults with disabilities, with the station’s 13th annual Piece-A-Thon. The event featured a live auction with special items and experiences to help raise money, as well as special guests including Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer Charlotte Jones, former Dallas Stars goaltender and current Dallas Stars Foundation President Marty Turco, former Texas Rangers pitcher Derek Holland, Rangers Hall of Fame play-by-play announcer Eric Nadel and German actor, comedian, and musician Flula Borg.
The 26th annual Preston & Steve Camp Out For Hunger event from Beasley Media Group’s 93.3 WMMR-FM in Philadelphia raised over 1.7 million pounds of food and over $948,732 dollars cash to directly benefit local hunger relief organizations. “There’s not a single event that even comes close to this level of collaboration. Add to that the results of Camp Out for Hunger,” said WMMR Program Director Bill Weston. “The generosity of our listeners, clients and sponsors is humbling. This was an amazing week of local, community-driven and entertaining radio.”
Hearst Television’s KCCI in Des Moines, Iowa, raised $376,769, which translates into 579,645 meals, during the fourth annual Food Bank of Iowa Hunger-Free Holidays telethon. “The generosity of KCCI’s viewers was once again on full display,” said KCCI General Manager Brian Sather. “Being Iowa’s News Leader means going beyond covering an issue to helping solve it. We’re grateful to our viewers who stepped up to help.”
Audacy’s News Talk 830 WCCO in Minneapolis partnered with the Union Gospel Mission for the 21st annual Hunger Mission Radiothon. They raised $367,000, bringing the overall fundraising total to over $4.3 million since 2003. "We are simply in awe of the incredible generosity of our fans! This is yet another great example of how live and local radio can truly impact lives,” said Brad Lane, brand manager, 830 WCCO.
The second annual Gift of Sole Gala from Scripps Local Media’s 41 KSHB Kansas City raised $76,250 to provide new shoes to more than 1,200 area kids in need. “A simple pair of shoes does a lot for a child,” Fabi Maldonado, the mother of one of last year’s recipients, told the station. “It brings them confidence. It brings them feeling like a new person.”
Cumulus-owned KMJ in Fresno, Calif., raised $620,000 for the Central California Food Bank during KMJ’s 10th Annual Feeding Families Fund Drive. In the last decade, KMJ’s Feeding Families Fund Drive has raised a total of over $4.4 Million to help feed area families in need through the Central California Food Bank. “Every year this event gets bigger, and every year KMJ listeners respond with jaw-dropping generosity. Our very special thanks to the Musson family at Gar Bennett for their always unbelievable support and 50% match, which puts this drive over the top every year,” said Patty Hixson, regional vice president and market manager, Cumulus Fresno.
Cumulus Savannah radio stations I-95, KIX96, Magic 103.9 and E93 collected 1,914 diapers, 1,458 baby wipes, and $117 in monetary donations during a Diaper Drive for Savannah families in need during National Diaper Need Awareness Week. The community drive benefited local charities Shelter From the Rain and Over The Moon Diaper Bank with event sponsor, CareSource.
Gray Television’s Newscenter Fairbanks in Fairbanks, Alaska, partnered with community organizations to host their annual Coat Drive. This year, the coat drive collected over a thousand pounds of donations. “Unfortunately, our unhoused community numbers are going up, and with the inflation of the economy being what it is, it’s gotten a lot harder for even two-income homes to be able to provide proper winter gear,” said Alyssa Handy, Executive Director of Development for the United Way of the Tanana Valley. The Coat Drive helps alleviate that burden for members of the Fairbanks community.
Nexstar Media Group’s WDTN in Dayton, Ohio, raised $40,000 for its long-running Coats for Kids campaign with “Buckeye Blast.” This special event invited families to watch an Ohio State-Notre Dame game on the big screen at Day Air Ballpark, home of the single A Dayton Dragons. “We’re very proud of what we accomplished with WDTN’s Buckeye Blast and we truly thank everyone for joining us for this event,” said General Manager Melissa Jones. “Not only did our community have the opportunity to come out to a free, family friendly event, but they also made an impact for children in the Miami Valley to receive coats and accessories this winter through our Coats for Kids Initiative. We’re grateful to all our partners and contributors that helped make WDTN’s Buckeye Blast a success. We will continue to do our part as a local news leader by making more community connections and directly impacting the Miami Valley.”
Sinclair Cares: Humanitarian Relief in Israel is a fundraising partnership with Magen David Adom (MDA), an affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, to provide humanitarian relief and emergency medical services for all people in Israel, regardless of religious creed or political belief. “The work MDA is doing to provide medical assistance in the region is urgently needed, and we are proud to lend our support to their humanitarian relief efforts to provide emergency aid,” said Rob Weisbord, Sinclair chief operating officer and president of local media.
The Nexstar Media Charitable Foundation made $50,000 donation to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization, to assist with Feeding America’s promotion of “Hunger Action Month,” in September. The contribution is part of Nexstar Media Group’s ongoing four-year $2 million partnership with Feeding America. As part of the partnership, during the month of September, Nexstar’s 200 owned and partner broadcast stations and its cable news network, NewsNation, will donate airtime worth more than $600,000 to air a variety of public service announcements on behalf of Feeding America. In addition, with one or more partner food banks in all of Nexstar’s 116 television markets, Nexstar employees are being encouraged to volunteer their time and effort to assist Feeding America in fulfilling its mission.
Nexstar Media Group’s KXAN in Austin, Texas, helped collect 
Audacy raised over $447,000 to benefit Second Harvest Heartland during 830 WCCO’s “Let’s Kick Hunger Day Radiothon.” The amount raised during the 14th annual radiothon held on February 2 brought the overall fundraising total to over $3.5 million since 2009.
“Year after year, our fans open up their hearts to those in need,” said Jeff Gonsales, senior vice president and market manager, Audacy Minneapolis. “Lives are being impacted in significant ways, and we are incredibly grateful. WCCO’s long-standing partnership with Second Harvest Heartland means so much to us and to so many people who are helped by this community effort.”
WBAL, a Hearst NBC affiliate in Baltimore, raised $7.8 million for Maryland charities in 2022. WBAL’s fundraising campaign, "Helping Our Neighbors," was held in partnership with the United Way of Central Maryland. The campaign raised money for a variety of local charities, including the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Baltimore.
Audacy Milwaukee radio station 99.1 The Mix held a Stuff the Bus event November 23 to benefit Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, which provides meals to children, seniors, veterans and families. They gathered donations during to provide at least 74,515 meals this holiday season.
Three Neuhoff Media radio stations in Danville, Ill., D102, K-ROCK and 1450 WDAN, raised $77,000 for the local United Way with a radiothon. The group exceeded their $75,000 goal. “The community has definitely come alive and come together,” said a United Way spokesperson at the event.
Northeast Florida radio station WNZF, owned by Flagler Broadcasting, raised $125,000 for Grace Community Food Pantry during a six-hour radiothon. “A lot of times the people that have the least are the ones that give the most,” Flagler Broadcasting President David Ayres said. “A little bit from a lot of people adds up, and we’ve had a few people donate a large amount.”
For six weeks in July and August, WUSA9 is hosting food drives across Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia to combat food insecurity in the Washington metropolitan region. The station reported that, according to the Capital Area Food bank, one in three people in the region were impacted by food insecurity in the region last year. In one drive, more than 3,200 pounds of food were collected for Manna Food Center in Montgomery County, Md.
The “Beat the Heat” fan drive from WPSD Local 6 in Paducah, Ky., surpassed its goal, collecting donations of 864 fans for neighbors in need during the summer heat. " The economic stress right now, many people, particularly the elderly often won’t turn their air conditioning on because they need to buy medicine and food and so, so many people need a fan this summer,” said Paducah Bank Marketing Director Susan Guess in an appearance on the station to promote the campaign.
Q106 FM, a Midwest Communications-owned rock station in Lansing, Mich., hosted an “All-Request” drive to benefit the Greater Lansing Food Bank, playing any kind of music requested by donors. The event raised enough money to provide 9,000 meals. “Working with non-profits is baked into what we do,” said Q106 FM Brand Manager Terry Stevens.
As food costs rise, more people are relying on hunger relief services. In response, Gray Television’s WITN in Greenville, N.C, teamed up with grocery chain Food Lion and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina to hold a four-day food drive. They raised enough food and funds to provide nearly 10,000 meals to families in need.
Neuhoff Media partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois (RMHCCI) for its 3rd Annual All-In Donation Day on Tuesday, March 29. They raised $72,288 in 24 hours, surpassing their goal of $50,000 and fulfilling the charity’s wish list of household items that are used daily to make the Springfield and Peoria Houses feel more like home to the families served.
In April 2022, Nexstar Media-owned WKRG News 5 in Mobile, Ala., is kicking off a new initiative in partnership with Feeding the Gulf Cost called “Stock the Pantry.” Their goal is to make sure children don’t go hungry during the summer.
One in four children along the Gulf Coast is food insecure, meaning it may be difficult for them to get access to proper food and nutrition. For students in the Mobile County Public School System receive breakfast and lunch for free, summers present a challenge accessing adequate nutrition.
The station is partnering with sponsors throughout the Mobile community to accept “Stock the Pantry” food donations at orange barrels in 31 drop-off locations. A complete list of locations and needed items are available on the station’s website.
As food insecurity rises in the Minnesota due to the economic hardships caused by the pandemic, WCCO-TV is stepping in to help. In partnership with The Salvation Army, WCCO-TV is hosting a month-long 
The 17th annual “Radio for Relief” broadcast with Lakeland Broadcasting and corporate partner Jennie-O Turkey Store was a huge success on Friday, March 25. The radiothon brought in $58,787 in monetary donations and 5,452 lbs. of food for the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf. 
The Audacy Pittsburgh Family, along with the help of the Pittsburgh community, raised 603,000 meals for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank during the annual “Giant Eagle Feed the Need Radiothon.” During the one-day event, news KDKA (1020), sports KDKA-FM (93.7), hot AC WBZZ (100.7), and country WDSY (107.9) broadcast live throughout the entire day, encouraging listeners, local restaurants and businesses to donate meals to neighbors in need. 
When many in southern Wisconsin struggled to keep their homes heated during frigid temperatures this winter, WISC-TV’s News 3 Now in Madison stepped in to help. News 3 Now partnered with the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund for a “Day of Warmth” telethon and donation drive on Thursday, February 10, raising $34,264 to help those in need. A total of 90 cents of every dollar donated will be used to help those in crisis this winter.
Each year, 103.3 The Eagle’s “Spread the Love” campaign helps feed the hungry in Tulsa, Okla. The Eagle counts on the power of PB&J to help the Foodbank of Eastern Oklahoma, calling on listeners of the Cox Media Group station to donate peanut butter and jelly. Everyone who donates also can leave a love note for their special someone, to be read on 103.3 The Eagle on Valentine’s Day. 
On February 4, THAW’s WWJ Winter Survival Radiothon raised $986,256 to help thousands of Michigan families pay utility bills. The 14-hour radiothon featured an online auction and hourly incentives, as listeners called in to make generous pledges.
Eau Claire radio station WAYY Sports Talk 105.1 created the “Backyard Dreams” charity to help fulfill the wishes of local children and adults. In December, “Backyard Dreams” helped a 14-year-old boy with rare eye disease realize his dream of seeing LeBron James play basketball. The station provided the boy and his family tickets to the L.A. Lakers versus Milwaukee Bucks basketball game and arranged early access to watch the players warm-up, plus signed Giannis Antetokounmpo jersey. 
Communities across southeastern Wisconsin have come together to help those affected by the incident that occurred at the Waukesha Christmas Parade. Following a donation effort hosted by Milwaukee TV station WISN 12, $256,198 was raised to benefit the families impacted by this tragedy.
Beasley Media Group’s WMGK-FM Classic Rock 102.9 legendary Morning Personality John DeBella hosted the annual Turkey Drop, collecting turkeys for needy families in the Philadelphia area. The event is the largest one-day food gathering event in the area, and this year collected a record-breaking 9,056 turkeys. 
Leighton Broadcasting’s KZPK-FM St Cloud, Minn. teamed up with the "I’m Not Done Yet" Foundation to raise money for the family of a local child named Eden who is battling pediatric cancer. Managing Director Brook Stephens and the station team raised $1,160 worth of donations in under a week.
Hearst’s WTAE-TV Pittsburgh collected more than $200,000 via WTAE’S project "Bundle-Up Telethon", a record year of giving for this 35-year tradition to community service. The annual event, held December 4 in partnership with the Salvation Army - Western Pennsylvania Division, provides winter clothing--hats, boots, jackets and gloves--to families, older adults and those in need each winter. 
Sinclair Broadcast Group’s CBS affiliate WRGB-TV Albany’s anchor Anne McCloy has helped thousands of people access unemployment benefits during the ongoing pandemic. After she was approached by someone struggling to get through to the state’s unemployment office, Anne McCloy began investigating the backlog, eventually bringing the issue directly to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo during a press conference. Read the account of her work and the impact on ending the state’s unemployment claims backlog 
iHeartMedia Colorado aired "We are iHeart Colorado. Boulder Strong," an on-air broadcast fundraiser on March 26 to benefit the victims and the families of the March 22 mass shooting, which took place at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder and claimed the lives of 10 people. 
NRG Media’s 
Gray Television’s Fox affiliate WSAW-TV and CBS affiliate WZAW Wausau, Wis., collected more than $100,000 during the 17th annual “Share Your Holidays” campaign, held November 29 – December 30. The funds will be donated to The Salvation Army of Wausau and The Neighbors’ Place food bank.
Quincy Media’s NBC/CW affiliate KTIV-TV Sioux City, IA supported the community through several initiatives at the end of 2019. KTIV sponsored the annual “Red Shoe Shindig” for the Ronald McDonald House, which raised $107,770 on November 22. Station anchor Matt Breen served as emcee.
Quincy Broadcasting’s NBC-affiliate WGEM-TV Quincy, Ind., partnered with local schools and the Salvation Army to deliver 1,350 food baskets to local families during the holiday season. Food was collected during the 32nd annual “Fall Harvest Food Drive,” which ran throughout the month of October. Local schools competed to collect the most food items per student, with the top school receiving a $1,000 donation from WGEM-TV.
Radio stations across the U.S. have raised close to $31.2 million for their local communities, according to Radio Ink’s ongoing tracker. Broadcasters collected tons of food, distributed hundreds of thousands of toys and raised millions to fight childhood cancer. A sample of the stories can be found below. More information about stations’ fundraisers can be found at 
Faith Communication’s KSOS-FM Las Vegas partnered with Hope for Prisoners to produce Christmas events for 110 children and their incarcerated parents on December 12. KSOS set up 50 unique living rooms anchored around a fresh-cut, decorated Christmas tree. The station also collected toys, bikes and other gifts in the weeks leading up to the event.
Pathfinder Communications’ WOWO-AM Ft. Wayne, Ind., raised $100,000 for Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana during its annual charity fundraiser “Penny Pitch” fundraiser, held December 12 - 13. Since 1948, WOWO has asked listeners to contribute pennies, nickels and dimes to help local families.
Enercom’s KLUC-FM Las Vegas host Chet Buchanan lived on a 30-foot high scaffolding platform from December 5 – 16 to raise awareness and money for families in need. Donations collected during the 12-day event filled 41 semi-truck trailers with new toys and 9,540 bikes. KLUC also collected $603,000. The toys and money benefit HELP of Southern Nevada, a nonprofit organization that helped impact over 3,000 families this holiday season.
Seton Hall University’s WSOU-FM Orange, N.J. donated a record-breaking 1,202 pounds of food to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey on December 17. The food collected during the station’s sixth annual food drive will provide over 1,500 meals to those in the local community.
Cumulus-FM WIVK Knoxville raised nearly $342,000 for St. Jude during its annual radiothon, held December 12 - 13. This total represents a record for the event.
SummitMedia’s KSRZ-FM and KKCD-FM Omaha, Neb., provided holiday gifts and meals for local families and raised $96,000 for children with life-threatening illnesses during two annual fundraisers. Listeners adopted a record-breaking 2,000 families for KSRZ’s 20th annual Adopt-A-Family radiothon on December 5 and 6, in partnership with the Salvation Army. KKCD’S Make-A-Wish radiothon raised $96,000 on December 6, a station record for the event.
Natalie Cash from Cox Media Group’s KWEN-FM Tulsa’s lived on top of 30-foot scaffolding from December 9 – 11 to encourage listeners to donate bikes for children in the community. Over 1,600 bikes were collected during the 5th annual Bikes for Kids event.
Nexstar’s WDTN-TV Dayton, Ohio, held its annual “Food for Friends” campaign from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. In 38 years, WDTN has collected over 13 million food items to help stock The Foodbank of Dayton and other local food pantries. The station ran spots encouraging viewers to donate and broadcast live from various donation locations during the 2019 campaign.
Entercom’s WSSP-FM Milwaukee raised over $200,000 to benefit Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and Robyn’s Nest during its 13th annual toy drive, held December 2 – 6. Children’s Wisconsin is one of the top pediatric health systems in the U.S., with more than 40 locations throughout the state. Robyn’s Nest houses and provides clothing, hygiene products, infant items, toys, books, and household goods to families in the foster care system.
Beasley’s WMMR-FM Philadelphia collected a record 2.6 million pounds of food and $200,000 during the annual Preston & Steve Camp Out For Hunger event, held December 2 - 6.
KSBW-TV, Hearst’s dual NBC-ABC affiliate in Salinas, Calif., collected $168,820, plus 6,971 pounds of food and 4,855 new toys during its 33rd annual “Share Your Holiday” event, held December 6. KSBW held the event in partnership with the Salvation Army and is part of its Project CommUNITY initiative.
NRG Media’s Omaha, Neb., cluster - KQKQ-FM, KOPW-FM, KOOO-FM, KOZN-AM, KMMQ-AM and KOIL-AM – collected more than 10,000 toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign on December 6 and 7. Stations also collected more than $1,000 in cash during the two-day event.
Entercom’s KFRG-FM and KXFG-FM Loma Linda, Calif., raised $303,500 to aid the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital during its 19th annual “Stater Bros. Charities K-FROGGERS 4 Kids Radiothon,” held December 4. Proceeds will be used for improvements to rooms, including beds, televisions, sleeper chairs for parents and more. In 19 years, they have raised $6.7 million.
The Family Radio Network’s WEMY-FM Green Bay, WEMI-FM Appleton, Wis., WGNV-FM Wausau, Wis., and WSTM-FM Sheboygan, Wis., held its first Christmas Blessing fundraiser to benefit families across Northeast and Central Wisconsin on December 3. During the daylong fundraiser, stations encouraged listeners to help provide Christmas trees and grocery cards to 95 families. The stations raised over $15,000 in total.
Cox Media’s KRMG-FM raised $271,000 through its 14th annual “Stories of Light” event, held November 19 – 21 to benefit Make-A-Wish® Oklahoma. KRMG shared stories from local kids and their families to encourage donations. In addition, a local kid’s wish was granted during the broadcast – he was surprised with a ski trip to Canada for himself and his family. The radiothon has raised over $3 million in 14 years.
Griffin Communications-owned KHTT-FM host Chubbs of “Chubbs & Tara in the Morning” climbed up on the roof of the Tulsa’s station media center on December 3 and did not return to the lobby $60,000 was raised for Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. The station accepted donations from listeners in the parking lot and met the $60,000 goal in just over 48 hours, 
NBC-owned WBTS Boston aired an investigation that prompted U.S. Senator Ed Markey 
Saga Communications-owned WNOR-FM Hampton Roads, Va., and WAFX-FM Suffolk, Va., collected enough food to serve over 700,000 meals during the 23rd annual Mayflower Marathon Food Drive benefits from November 22 - 24. The event benefits the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore and Virginia Peninsula Food Bank.
Cox Media Group’s KRAV-FM Tulsa, Okla., collected 64,000 meals in a drive held November 15 to benefit the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. The event, a part of the annual “Restock the Cupboards” food drive, included a 12-hour live broadcast, during which on-air talent and staff encouraged listeners to donate. In anticipation of the rivalry football game between Oklahoma State University and University of Oklahoma, KRAV also encouraged listeners to make an online donation in support of their preferred team.
Townsquare Media’s WQRR-FM, WFFN-FM, WTUG-FM, WTBC-FM, WTUG-FM, WTSK-FM and WTID-FM Tuscaloosa, Ala., 
Seton Hall University’s WSOU-FM South Orange, N.J., set a new record for donations to its annual clothing drive for the Our Lady of the Sioux Church on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The station collected enough clothing to fill 14 large boxes with clothes for all ages and seasons.
Hearst’s ABC affiliate WCVB Boston raised $350,000 on December 4 in the “Relief Fund 5: Explosion Recovery” telethon. The money supports relief efforts after a gas line exploded in the Merrimack Valley.
Beasley Media Group’s WMMR-FM Philadelphia collected a record 1.83 million pounds of food (913 tons) and nearly $200,000 in the 21st annual “Preston & Steve Camp Out for Hunger,” held November 26 – 30. The donations will provide over 2.2 million meals for people in need.
Scripps’ NBC affiliate WPTV West Palm Beach collected 100 tons of food during the 34th annual “Bill Brooks’ Food for Families Food Drive” to serve people in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties. WPTV partnered with schools, local businesses, civic groups and nonprofits during the six-week campaign, which concluded December 8.
Hubbard’s KNUC-FM Seattle collected 12,300 pounds of food during a series of 13 drives that culminated in the “Bull Nation Appreciation Holiday Concert” on December 7. KNUC far surpassed its goal of 10,000 pounds of food. The campaign benefited statewide hunger relief agency NW Harvest and the Sky Valley Family and Community Resource Center.
Alpha’s KLGR-FM Redwood Falls, Minn., collected 23,857 pounds of food in its 15th annual “Freezing for Food” event, held December 5-7. The donations were split among four local food pantries.
Connoisseur Media’s WPLR-FM New Haven raised a record $192,000 in toys and cash during a toy drive held December 7. The show featured musical performances from national, local and student rock acts, plus appearances by Connecticut Governor-Elect Ned Lamont and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal.
Hearst’s NBC/ABC affiliate KSBW Salinas, Calif., collected 489 pounds of food, 5,129 toys, and $184,000 in its “Share Your Holiday” event on December 7. In 32 years, KSBW has raised $2.1 million.
Cox Media Group (CMG) Tulsa generated $1.9 million of community service in the fourth quarter of 2018. “We are most proud of not only the size of our impact in our community, but also the diversity of needs we addressed during the fourth quarter,” said CMG Tulsa Director of Marketing and Radio Operations Nate Reed. “The employees at CMG – Tulsa care greatly about using our platform to improve the quality of life of our neighbors and this remarkable impact is proof of that.” 
Seton Hall University’s WSOU-FM South Orange, N.J. collected 908 pounds of food for the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. The “Students Change Hunger” drive, held September 17 – December 10, far surpassing the previous record of 640 pounds. It is one of WSOU’s annual community service projects because nearly one million New Jersey residents, including 270,000 children, need food assistance.
Beasley Media Group’s WRAT-FM Lake Como, N.J., collected nearly 15,000 pounds of food and 6,000 pounds of clothes during its 20th annual “Broadcast for the People of New Jersey Thanksgiving Season Collection Drive” on November 19- 20. Three local non-profits used the food to provide 12,000 meals.
Beasley Media Group’s WMGK-FM Philadelphia collected almost 10,000 turkeys on November 20 during its “John DeBella Turkey Drop,” Philadelphia’s largest one day food drive. Morning Show Host John DeBella broadcast live to accept donations for City Team Philadelphia, a non-profit providing food and services to local individuals, families, shelters and agencies. WMGK-FM also accepted donations at supermarkets in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
Lenawee Broadcasting’s WLEN-FM Adrian, Mich., raised $11,000 during its “Hoping for a Home” radiothon, held July 13 – 14 to support renovations and on-going expenses for Neighbors of Hope Women and Children’s Center. Neighbors of Hope supports the Men’s Ministry Fresh Start and Life Change Programs, Blessings and More Resale Store, Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry, the Third Day Farming Program and Word Made Flesh Radio Ministry.
NBC-owned WNBC-TV and Telemundo’s WNJU-TV New York City collected 1.9 million meals, which will restock eight food banks with 240 tons of nonperishable goods. The second annual “Feeding Our Families / Alimentando a Nuestras Familias” event was held April 28 in partnership with 254 Stop & Shop supermarkets and featured more than 1,000 volunteers, including anchors, reporters and station staff.
Salem Media Group’s KKFS-FM Sacramento collected over 10,000 items in April during their annual drive to gather clothes, shoes, toys, books, personal care items and cash for WEAVE *Women Escaping Violent Environments). The donations arrived at their final locations in time for Mother’s Day. Many listeners who donated expressed their deep appreciation for WEAVE and the free services they provide.
Bonneville-operated KBLX-FM San Francisco’s morning “Dream Team” rallied behind local resident LaDonald Griffin and his six children when his wife was killed in March by a drunk driver while visiting family in Jacksonville, Fla. KBLX-FM broadcast live from a local café from 5 – 10 a.m. on May 17, asking listeners to donate to their GOFUNDME account, or provide clothing, gift cards and non-perishable items.
Employees at Beasley Media Group Boston stations WBQT-FM, WROR-FM, WBOS-FM, WKLB-FM, WBZ-FM and WRCA-AM participated in Project Bread’s 
Twenty-one Memphis radio stations aired a “roadblock” announcement on April 2 to promote the Mid-South Food Bank’s “Hunger to Hope” campaign, encouraging listeners to donate towards the construction of a new food distribution center. “Food insecurity is a real issue across the Mid-South and this unprecedented effort by our local radio stations and Kroger gives everyone a chance to contribute to help build our new distribution center. We cannot thank them enough,” said Mid-South Food Bank President and CEO Estella Mayhue-Greer.
Tribune’s FOX affiliate WXIN Indianapolis held a 13-hour telethon that raised more than $102,000 as part of its "Pack the Pantry" program. The station raised enough to provide over 300,000 meals for local food banks.
Beasley Media Group announced on April 17 that 30 employees from the Fort Myers, Fla., cluster and corporate staff recently volunteered at Habitat for Humanity’s home sites in Collier County. As part of Beasley’s “Community of Caring” initiative, team members nailed siding on the exterior of a house, installed windows and put roofing paper on two homes for local families in need. “This is what radio is all about…serving as a lifeline to help our local community,” said Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley.
Raycom Media’s KHNL Honolulu produced a series of follow up stories on two homeless people - Donna and Ben - who were featured in a previous special report "
Hearst’s ABC affiliate WISN-TV Milwaukee partnered with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Bucks station, encouraging viewers to donate some of the most needed items – peanut butter and jelly – during a month-long food drive in February. The equivalent of 125,830 meals was collected.
Raycom’s CBS affiliate KOLD-TV Tucson partnered with the Community Food Bank for the second annual "Hoops for Hunger" food drive, held March 5 - March 23. The campaign successfully raised 1,575 pounds of food.
NBC and Telemundo Owned Television Stations Group have donated $150,000 to RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit working to eliminate the medical debt crisis in the country. RIP will use the station group’s donation to locate, buy and forgive $15 million of medical debt owed by individuals in 11 markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas/Fort Worth, Bay Area, Washington D.C., Boston, Miami-Fort-Lauderdale, San Diego and Hartford. Additionally, NBC and Telemundo-owned stations’ consumer investigative units will report about medical debt, its effects and what people may be able to do to alleviate their situation through localized, multi-platform awareness campaigns. 
Beasley Media Group’s WPEG-FM Charlotte is partnering with Habitat for Humanity for the second year in a row to build a home for a local Charlotte family. Kicking off the initiative with a live broadcast on January 12, WPEG-FM staff will continue to build the dreamhouse until completion in March 2018. Each weekend, WPEG-FM invites Charlotte residents to join the on-air personalities to help with the project.
Raycom Media’s ABC affiliate station, KSWO-TV Lawton, OK., held their second annual “Share Your Christmas” event on December 9. The Oklahoma station partnered with local Walmart Super Centers to collect toys and non-perishable food items. The event raised $10,024 in donations that will benefit the Lawton Food Bank and The Salvation Army.
Beasley Media Group’s WCSX-FM Detroit held their third annual “People Helping People” campaign to assist local families facing challenges this holiday season. The campaign was able to connect 35 families with listeners who were eager to help, as well as distribute $5,000 to other families in need. WCSX-FM and their listeners were able to reach 60 families with the 2017 “People Helping People” promotion.
Beasley Media Group’s WBEN-FM Philadelphia held their annual “Adopt A Family” radiothon in partnership with Volunteers of America on December 5. WBEN-FM’s radiothon successfully solicited the ‘adoption’ of over 700 families. Additionally, the radiothon helped to raise over $50,000 to benefit hundreds of families in the surrounding community through Volunteers of America Delaware Valley’s “Adopt A Family Program.”
Gray-owned WSAW-TV and WZAW-LD, the CBS and Fox affiliates, respectively, in Wausau, Wis., held their 15th annual “Share Your Holidays” campaign on December 1. With WSAW-TV and WZAW-LD staff walking the Wausau Holiday Parade to collect nonperishable food items and monetary donations, the stations raised a record-breaking $95,811 to benefit the food pantries at The Salvation Army of Wausau and The Neighbors’ Place. The previous record of $90,942.72 was set in 2016.
Carroll Broadcasting’s KKRL-FM, KIKD-FM and KCIM-FM hosted a Halloween themed blood drive called the "Dracula Drive" and had an overwhelming response. During the drive 88 units of blood were collected from 111 people. This is well beyond the normal attendance of 30 people at blood drives at the Life Serve Blood Center from Des Moines. The drive will benefit 264 people. “All that from a town of ten thousand was a fantastic turnout,” said Operations Manager John Ryan.
Hearst’s ABC affiliate KETV-TV Omaha partnered with The Omaha Community Foundation for the fifth annual “
Alpha Media’s KINK-FM Portland raised $134,000 during the “One Village Transformed” radiothon on May 3. The humanitarian organization 
Media General’s NBC affiliate WCMH-TV Columbus collected $1.6 million for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank in an 18-hour telethon on December 14. The funds will provide seven million meals through the Mid-Ohio Foodbank’s network of more than 650 pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, senior living centers, day care and after-school programs in 20 counties. “It’s an honor and privilege for NBC4 to partner with Mid-Ohio Food Bank to mobilize the generosity of our community for this years’ ‘Double Your Donation Day,’” said Vice President and General Manager Ken Freedman.
Tribune’s Fox affiliate Indianapolis WXIN photojournalist Greg Dunn pulled a woman to safety after her car spun into a nearby canal. The car flipped upside down in the water, with the woman trapped inside. In 
Tegna’s NBC affiliate KGW-TV Portland launched its 30th annual “KGW Great Toy Drive.” The campaign collects new toys for less fortunate families in Oregon and southwest Washington and runs until December 17.
Alpha Media Dallas collected more than 3,000 coats in fourth annual “Share the Warmth Coat Drive,” held October 3 - November 4. Texas Laundry and Dry Cleaning cleaned the coats in advance of delivery on November 10 to hundreds of families. A special pick-up time was set aside for veterans. “We are proud and thrilled with the continued growth of our Share the Warmth Coat Drive and the number of people we’re now able to help,” said Alpha Media Market Manager David Smith
Raycom’s Fox affiliate WFXG Augusta, Ga. collected 438 coats for the Salvation Army in the "Coats For Our Children" drive held October 20-31. WFXG had two all-day live shot locations to highlight six drop-off locations in the market.
Alpha Media San Antonio raised a record $131,000 in the ninth annual “Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner Radiothon,” held October 21. The Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner is named for a late local restaurateur who began serving meals to hundreds of people in need 36 years ago. His daughter Patricia Jimenez continues the event, which currently serves Thanksgiving Day meals to 25,000 people. "We’re appreciative of Alpha Media for hosting the radiothon for a ninth straight year and the generosity of the San Antonio community never ceases to amaze us,” Jimenez said.
ABC-owned WTVD Durham, N.C. collected 15 large trucks of food and more than $135,000 for Hurricane Matthew relief on October 18. The drive will provide more than a million meals through the Food Bank of Eastern and Central North Carolina and the Second Harvest Food Bank in Fayetteville. ABC-owned stations in New York, L.A., Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston and Fresno, Calif., asked their viewers to donate to WTVD’s phone bank. Local iHeartMedia, RadioOne and Beasley Radio stations also promoted the event. WTVD will host its 30th annual “ABC11 Together Food Drive” later this month.
Neuhoff Communication’s WSOY-AM/FM Decatur, Ill. raised 1.4 million pounds of food in the station’s 15th Annual Food Drive, held October 11. The food benefits 10 local pantries. The station topped last year’s collection of 1.2 million pounds. In 15 years, over 7.5 million pounds of food has been collected. “For WSOY to be able to do what they do in a community the size of Decatur showcases the power of radio’s connection, the essence of human compassion and the spirit of a place that care for its own,” said Neuhoff Communications CEO Beth Neuhoff.
Eagle Communication’s KKJO-FM St. Joseph’s, Mo. collected more than 13,000 pounds of food in nine weeks during the 12th annual “Canned Film Festival.” KKJO-FM partnered with a local movie theater to provide free movie admission with a non-perishable food item on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings during the summer. A total of 10,862 kids and adults participated this year. The food collected benefits the Second Harvest Community Food Bank serving Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas.
Alpha Media’s KXL-FM Portland, Ore. Aired a story on July 21 about a Los Angeles firefighter and his family, who were vacationing in the area when their camper van, filled with their clothing and belongings, had been stolen. After the family called in to KXL’s Lars Larson Show to tell their story, a listener saw the camper parked nearby and notified the police.
Raycom Media’s KXXV-TV Waco, Tx. served as a media sponsor for the Economic Opportunities Advancement Corporation’s Annual Golf Tournament, which helps transition individuals and families out of poverty. With the station’s assistance, the tournament raised $18,301.99.
Raycom Media’s NBC affiliate KHNL Honolulu has served as a media partner for the Hawaii Foodbank Annual Food Drive for over 25 years. This year, the station also collected 4,300 pounds of food through an internal food drive. Dozens of station employees volunteered at the April 16 event. Watch about the food drive 
Cox Media Group’s WFXT-TV Boston employees and newsroom volunteers helped prepare and pack made-from-scratch meals for neighbors on April 13. The station donated healthy snacks for 1,200 families and caregivers who receive the nutritious meals from Community Servings, a local food service.
iHeartMedia’s WNIC-FM Detroit morning show host Jay Towers produced and hosted a water drive on Jan. 23, in conjunction with iHeartMedia’s Detroit cluster and Fox-owned WJBK-TV, to help the Flint water crisis. The stations collected 240 tons of water. The event broadcast live on WNIC-FM, WKQI-FM, WJLB-FM, WDTW-FM, WMXD-FM, WDFN-AM and WJBK-TV. Watch 
Tribune’s Fox affiliate WXIN and CBS affiliate WTTV Indianapolis partnered with Cumulus’ WRWM-FM and WJJK-FM Indianapolis to collect bottled water for the citizens of Flint during the week of Jan. 18. The on air, online and on-site promotions resulted in 205,000 bottles of water and over 20,000 gallons of water, plus thousands of dollars in cash. On Jan. 29, six semi-trucks delivered the water to Flint.
Cumulus Media Dallas - KPLX-FM, KSCS-FM, WBAP-AM, KLIF-FM, KTCK-AM and KESN-FM - raised $1.2 million for charities in 2015. They raised $205,449 for Cook Children’s Hospital, $303,157 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and $500,400 for Austin Street Center. Additionally, they provided lifeline tornado coverage on Christmas Day and worked with the Red Cross on disaster relief. Other events supported the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, Special Olympics Texas, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), Charles E. Nash Elementary School’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Learning Center and the Denton State Supported Living Center.
Block Communication’s NBC affiliate WAND-TV Decatur, Ill., raised $350,000 in its 15th annual telethon on Jan. 31 for United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). UCP serves people with cerebral palsy, autism, Down Syndrome and epilepsy. Due to state budget cuts, this year’s telethon was particularly important. "This telethon helps us keep our doors open and meet payroll," said UCP President Brenda Yarnell.
Graham Media Group’s NBC affiliate WDIV-TV Detroit provided in-depth coverage and community support for the Flint water crisis. WDIV collected more than $3,400 and several truckloads of bottled water. WDIV’s consumer investigative unit, "Help Me Hank," reported on the origin of the crisis, how residents coped, the National Guard’s arrival, protests at the capitol and Hurley Children’s Hospital treatment for children exposed to lead. WDIV interviewed health experts and government officials, including Governor Snyder. "The devastating water crisis in Flint reminds us just how important local television can be, especially in digging for answers, demanding solutions and aiding our community neighbors," said Director of Local Programming Laurie Oberman. Watch 
Quincy’s NBC affiliate KTTC Rochester, Minn., raised $1 million during the 62nd annual Eagles Cancer telethon, Jan. 16-17. The live event included entertainment and refreshments. All money raised funds local cancer research for the Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota and the Hormel Institute. Watch 
Nexstar Broadcasting’s CBS affiliate KTAB-TV Abilene, Texas, raised $1.3 million on Jan. 16 during the West Texas Rehabilitation Telethon. Since the event’s inception, KTAB has raised $40 million for the rehab center. This year’s telethon included a silent auction, musical performances and a variety of activities.
Gray Television’s NBC affiliate WEAU Eau Claire, Wis., raised a record $313,000 in the 36th annual United Cerebral Palsy Star Fest Telethon, held Jan. 31. WEAU continued to collect donations online. The telethon supports the hundreds of children, adults and families dealing with the challenges of disabilities in the 12-county area of West Central Wisconsin served by UCP.
CBS Radio’s WCCO-FM Minneapolis’ seventh annual "Let’s Kick Hunger Day" radiothon on Jan. 28 raised almost $262,000, pushing the event’s seven-year total to more than $1.4 million for Second Harvest Heartland. "It’s a real honor for all of us at WCCO Radio to be a part of such a meaningful and important effort," said Market Manager Shannon Knoepke
Waitt Broadcasting’s CBS affiliate KMEG and Sinclair’s Fox affiliate KPTH Sioux City, Iowa, collected toys for more than 3,500 children this December, setting a record for the event. They also collected 1,500 coats from a dozen collection points, which were distributed through the Salvation Army of Sioux City.
Beasley’s WKXC-FM Augusta, Ga., raised $50,000 in the "Rock 4 the Cops" concert, benefitting the Post Critical Incident Seminar (PCIS)’s training for police officers after traumatic incidents. The concert featured "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery and "The Voice" winner Cassadee Pope.
Raycom’s CBS affiliate KSLA-TV Shreveport, LA hosted its third annual Holiday Food Drive on Dec. 2. At six locations in our three-state market area that covers parts of Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas, the station collected more than 15,000 pounds of food in 13 hours.
Beasley Media Group and “Just Beds” Stores teamed to collect more than 300 blankets for those in need in Augusta, GA, thanks to ReStart Augusta, which furnishes the foundation for a good start on the day and a healthy life by providing a new or gently used bed and bedding for local children, families and veterans who cannot afford them.
CBS Radio’s KKHH-FM Houston and Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union (GCEFCU) surprised elementary school teacher Rafael Carballo with $500 for school supplies on November 19. KKHH morning show host Sarah Pepper launched the "Sarah Pepper Cares" initiative so local students can nominate teachers each month.
Cumulus’ WMDH-FM Muncie, Ind.’s "Secret Families Day," held December 5, provided 372 families with a Christmas tree, decorations, food, cleaning supplies and gifts for each family member. More than 1,000 volunteers delivered $200,000 in goods on "Secret Families Day."
Team members at CBS Radio Dallas’ KJKK-FM, KLUV-FM, KMVK-FM, KRLD-FM, KRLD-AM and KVIL-FM donated their time to pack 9,250 meals in the North Texas Food Bank warehouse on December 9.
Raycom Media’s WMC-TV Memphis partnered with the Mid-South Food Bank for the “WMC Action News 5 Holiday Food Drive.” The day-long event collected more than 25,000 pounds of food and more than $60,000, which translates to more than 200,000 meals.
Greater Media’s WCSX-FM Detroit hosted an online charity auction from September 2-4 to benefit the family of Michigan State Trooper Chad Wolf, who died while on duty on August 28. Proceeds went to a GoFundMe account for Wolf’s family, which totaled nearly $175,000. Auction items included guitars autographed by Detroit rock legend Bob Seger, Eddie Money and Creedence Clearwater Revisited, plus signed Detroit Pistons merchandise. WCSX posted 
Greater Media’s WBT-AM Charlotte, N.C., partnered with Harris Teeter and Jif on "Peanut Butter ‘N’ July" to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Peanut butter is one of the most valuable commodities for a food bank due to high levels of protein. Each Saturday in July, WBT hosts visited participating Harris Teeter stores to help collect peanut butter and promote the drive. Click 
Salem Radio Network Vice President News and Talk Tom Tradup recently traveled to Haiti to spearhead the network’s coverage of the country’s major humanitarian crisis and to work with the charity Food For The Poor. Salem Radio Network personalities who broadcast live reports from the refugee situation in Haiti included syndicated hosts Bill Bennett, Mike Gallagher and Hugh Hewitt, plus local hosts Joe Piscopo of WNYM-AM New York, and Mark Davis and Jon-David Wells of KSKY-AM Dallas.
Morgan Murphy Media’s KZZU-FM Spokane Program Director and morning show host Ken Hopkins lost the use of his legs in a bike accident on July 13. Despite having no feeling below his chest, he plans to return to KZZU as soon as possible. Colleague Dave Sposito set up A GoFundMe site, which has raised $15,000 for his medical bills. Hopkins is an integral part of the KZZU family, having been with the station since before it flipped to KZZU in September 1984.
Reiten Television’s CBS affiliate KXMB-TV Bismarck, ND was recognized by the Missouri Valley Slope United Way in January for its efforts in the KX Cares Food Pantry Drive during the 2014 holiday season. The United Way recognized the efforts of volunteers and businesses, including KXMB-TV, for raising $2.5 million for the local community.
iHeartMedia’s WHO-AM Des Moines, Iowa morning hosts Van Harden and Bonnie Lucas gave away 5,000 packaged pork loins on Dec. 17 for those in need this holiday season. The drive-through giveaway, held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, attracted thousands. Watch the video 
Gray Television’s CBS affiliate KNOE Monroe, La. raised $3,000 for the Salvation Army during the Red Kettle Challenge. Salvation Army’s Red Kettles are placed throughout the city for local citizens to donate.
Greater Media’s WMGK-FM Bala Cynwyd, Pa., hosted its 13th Annual John DeBella Turkey Drop on Nov. 25. During morning host John DeBella’s live broadcast at Philadelphia’s Love Park, WMGK-FM accepted monetary and turkey donations. The John DeBella Turkey Drop benefits City Team Philadelphia, which provides food and services to individuals, families and shelters. In 2013, the event raised over 9,000 turkeys. The 2014 Turkey Drop raised 10,685 turkeys for needy individuals and families. City Team Philadelphia provides holiday meals for more than 70 organizations and has seen a record number of sign-ups for holiday meal assistance in 2014.
Meredith Broadcasting owned-and-operated KTVK-TV Phoenix, Ariz., raised over $290,000 in cash and food donations, four times last year’s total, in its 2nd Annual Battle Against Childhood Hunger. In Arizona, one in four children struggle with hunger every day. This year, recipients included Association of Arizona Food Banks, AZBrainFood, Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, Kitchen on the Street and St. Mary’s Food Bank. 
Alpha Media’s KTSA-AM San Antonio, Texas, and its five sister stations raised $128,000 during the 7th annual Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner Radiothon to support San Antonio’s A Feast of the Heart. The program started 35 years ago, when late restaurant owner Raul Jimenez served free Thanksgiving dinners to more than 200 needy people. This year, the event served more than 25,000 people. "We associate our stations with so many wonderful organizations, but this one is one of the most genuine," said Operations Manager Greg Martin.
Manship Station’s ABC affiliate WBRZ Baton Rouge, La., held its 30th annual Feed-A-Family food drive in October. Volunteers delivered the donations to a local food bank, where they were stored before distribution. On Oct. 24, Feed-A-Family Friday, the station raised over $25,000 and almost 69,000 pounds of food. This will provide 186,000 meals. WBRZ also held its Pat’s Coats for Kids Coat Drive in November. So far, WBRZ raised more than $33,000.
CBS Radio Dallas employees spent the afternoon of August 5 volunteering at area food banks as part of a team-wide day of community service. Eighty-two employees worked together in the warehouses of the North Texas Food Bank and the Tarrant Area Food Bank to help provide nearly 13,000 meals for hungry North Texans.
Entravision Communications Corporation hosted its seventh annual three-day radiothon for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. This year’s event, themed "Un Million Para Los Niños" (One Million for the Children), kicked off on August 21, broadcasting live from the lobby of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to more than 69 cities across the country via Entravision’s syndicated radio programming, online and mobile platforms. Through its radiothon, Entravision helped raise $2.1 million for 24 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Raycom Media’s CBS affiliate WOIO-TV and MyNetworkTV affiliate WUAB-TV Cleveland partnered with Make-A-Wish Foundation to sponsor the annual "Walk for Wishes" to help children with life-threatening medical conditions. WOIO-TV anchor Denise Dufala helped to kick off the event, which involved more than 2,100 walkers, sponsors and volunteers. In total, WOIO-TV and WUAB-TV helped raise more than $180,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Capitol Broadcasting’s CBS affiliate WRAL-TV Raleigh and Radio One’s Raleigh cluster partnered for a week-long initiative called "HungerFreeNC" to raise awareness of North Carolina’s hunger crisis. The campaign included a 13-hour fundraiser that was broadcast live on TV and radio and was highlighted on digital and social media. In addition, WRAL-TV produced and aired a documentary, "Hungry for Answers," that uncovered the invisible hunger epidemic in the state and showcased creative solutions to combat the issue. The program also ran on Capitol Broadcasting’s FOX affiliate WRAZ-TV Raleigh and its CBS affiliate WILM-TV Wilmington, N.C. In total, "HungerFreeNC" raised more than $112,000 to benefit the local nonprofit Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.
Cumulus Media’s WFNC-AM Fayetteville, N.C., has been collecting box fans during the summer for the last 20 years to help local residents who cannot afford air conditioning or a fan in their homes. Most of the listener-donated fans are given to the elderly who are among the most heat-sensitive. More than 35 fans were donated this July. In a typical year, WFNC-AM distributes between 300 and 500 fans.
The Virginia Association of Broadcasters (VAB) launched a year-long, statewide food drive and hunger awareness campaign called "Feeding Virginia." More than 150 radio and television stations across Virginia are participating in the initiative, in partnership with the First Lady of Virginia, Dorothy McAuliffe. Broadcasters will air a variety of PSAs throughout the year, as part of the "Feeding Virginia" campaign, and stations will host several food drives to benefit the state’s seven regional food banks.
Capitol Broadcasting’s CBS affiliate WRAL-TV Raleigh recently hosted a two-hour panel discussion on domestic violence and sexual assault that streamed live on its website. The 
Raycom Media’s NBC affiliate WSFA-TV Montgomery, Ala., hosted the Summer Fund and Food Drive to benefit the Montgomery Area Food Bank. The station helped collect non-perishable food items and monetary donations to help feed those in need across Alabama. WSFA-TV promoted the drive, broadcast live from the event and WSFA-TV anchors helped collect donations. In total, WSFA-TV helped collect 2,599 pounds of food and $11,000, which will purchase a total of 73,000 pounds of food.
Ida-Vend/Inland Northwest Broadcasting’s radio cluster in Lewiston, Idaho, recently hosted the "Four Hour Food Drive" to collect food and money for four local, nonprofit organizations. Each nonprofit was given an hour of radio airtime to solicit donations, and the charity with the most items collected would receive $4,000 in free radio advertising. In total, the drive raised more than 430 pounds of canned food and hundreds of additional household items. 
Hearst Television’s NBC affiliate WLWT-TV partnered with the Cincinnati Reds and St. Vincent de Paul on a 
Raycom Media’s CBS affiliate KGMB-TV Honolulu supported the Hawaii Food Bank Annual Food Drive. In April, the station produced and aired a 15-second "Good Things PSA" for several weeks, which encouraged viewers to bring canned meals and monetary donations to the Food Drive. The PSA featured KGMB-TV’s morning anchor Steve Uyehara. In addition, several KGMB-TV anchors donated their time at the Food Drive, volunteering at a dunking booth to help raise money for the Food Bank. KGMB-TV also produced two 30-second PSAs to promote the event, along with a five-minute presentation for the organization’s kick-off breakfast. This year’s Food Drive raised 1 million meals, according to the Hawaii Food Bank.
Gannett’s ABC affiliate WFAA-TV Dallas reporter Janet St. James recently reported on a local nonprofit, NICU Helping Hands, whose mission is to take donated wedding gowns and turn them in to beautiful Angel Gowns. These gowns serve as burial and baptismal gowns for babies who do not make it home from the hospital. After posting the story on WFAA-TV’s Facebook page, the outpouring of viewers who wanted to donate their dresses led to a one-week, wedding dress donation drive at the station. Over 1,000 wedding dresses were donated locally, and since the story went viral, over 3,000 wedding dresses have been donated from across the country. Each donated dress will make approximately 12 Angel Gowns. NICU Helping Hands volunteers estimate their warehouse now holds enough wedding dresses to make over 40,000 Angel Gowns. Click 
Cordillera Communications’ NBC affiliate KVOA-TV Tucson partnered with local advertisers for the fifth annual Kristi’s Kids Season 4 Hope campaign to collect a variety of items for area children. The event collected more than 13,000 toys, 12,000 pounds of food and enough clothing for 5,000 people. All the donations were distributed to families in Southern Arizona.
CBS Radio Washington and Gannett-owned CBS affiliate WUSA-TV Washington partnered with Safeway and the Women Who Care Ministries to collect donations for victims of a local fire that killed a four-year-old boy and displaced 40 others. Click 
Gannett-owned NBC affiliate KING-TV Seattle held the 13th annual Home Team Harvest food drive to collect meals for those in need in the Western Washington community. The 2013 drive collected a record 4.5 million meals, which have been donated to hundreds of food banks and meal programs in Washington state. "We are so appreciative of KING 5 viewers who donated to Home Team Harvest," said Shelly Rotondo, CEO of Northwest Harvest, a local food pantry. "The need for food is high, but so is the generosity of people here."
CBS Radio’s WCCO-AM Minneapolis hosted its fifth annual "Let’s Kick Hunger Day" radiothon to generate awareness of hunger in the heartland and to raise funds to help end it. The all-day event raised more than $250,000 for hunger relief, pushing WCCO-AM’s five-year total for the event to more than $1 million. All proceeds were donated to Second Harvest Heartland, one of the nation’s largest food banks.
Inland Northwest Broadcasting Radio stations in Lewiston, Idaho, held its Holiday Heroes Food Drive in late December to support local families in need. The broadcast group collected more than 200 bags of packaged food, which were paired with frozen turkeys and hams. The food was distributed at the Salvation Army, along with donated coats, gloves, hats and other warm clothes.
Duhamel Broadcasting’s KZZI-FM Rapid City, S.D., recently hosted a three-day fundraiser to support local ranchers that were affected by a blizzard in October. The storm dumped more than four feet of snow in parts of western South Dakota and killed more than 100,000 cattle and livestock. Through KZZI-FM’s radiothon, the Ranchers Relief Fundraiser raised nearly $45,000 from listener pledges and donations from local businesses.
Gray Television’s CBS affiliate KWTX-TV Waco, Texas, partnered with the Boy Scouts of America, the Texas Army National Guard and the H.E.B. Grocery Company to host the 24th annual Food for Families drive to collect non-perishable items for local food banks and pantries. The event gathered 1.4 million pounds of food. Over the past 24 years, KWTX-TV and its partners have collected more than 19 million pounds of donations.
Independently-owned KAZT-TV Phoenix recently became the 2014 media partner for the Sojourner Center, the largest women’s domestic violence shelter in Arizona. Statistics show that nearly one out of four women is abused in their lifetime. The Sojourner Center sheltered and supported more than 1,500 women and children this past year. KAZT-TV is helping to spearhead an effort to bring awareness, aid and hopefully an end to domestic violence in the future. This past holiday season, for example, KAZT-TV was instrumental in donating hundreds of items to the Center, including more than 1,000 toys for young victims of domestic violence.
Manship Stations’ ABC affiliate KRGV-TV Weslaco, Texas, hosted several events to make the holidays brighter for those less fortunate. For two weeks, KRGV-TV held the "Sharing Basket" food drive which collected enough meals for 2,700 families. The KRGV-TV Toy Drive also collected more than $10,000 to buy toys that were distributed to children in foster care, local hospitals and in low income communities along the Texas-Mexico border. In addition to these drives, the station is currently holding its "Tim’s Coats" drive to collect new and slightly worn coats. The project began in October and runs until March. So far, KRGV-TV has collected 4,000 coats and 400 hats.
On “Giving Tuesday,” December 3, employees of CBS Radio Dallas-Fort Worth volunteered their time at the North Texas Food Bank. Team members sorted and packed dozens of pallets of food items, producing more than 23,000 meals for local families in need.
Hearst-owned NBC affiliate WGAL-TV Lancaster, Pa., hosted the "Coats for Kids Telethon," to benefit Salvation Army branches throughout the Susquehanna Valley. This year marked the station’s 26th annual coat drive and the 19th year for the telethon. In total, the event raised more than $232,000, in addition to thousands of coats that were donated at several Salvation Army locations.
Emmis Communications’ WQHT-FM New York held a day of service, "Lift ’Em Up," a celebration to give the less fortunate a first-class evening of gourmet food and holiday entertainment. Emmis staff, along with several partner organizations and volunteers, provided a dinner feast and holiday market for 200 New Yorkers in need, as well as a raffle and performances from several well-known artists. Video of the event is available 
Entercom’s WAAF-FM Boston hosted the "Rise Up Against Hunger" event in December. For three days, two WAAF-FM personalities "rose up" on lifts and lived on platforms suspended in the sky in an effort to raise funds for the Greater Boston, Worcester County and New Hampshire Food Banks. For more than two decades, the station’s personalities have enlisted themselves in physically challenging stunts to encourage listeners to support area food banks. This year’s event raised $80,255, enough to provide 189,401 meals to those in need.
Wild West Radio’s KRAI-AM/FM Craig, Colo., held its 15th annual Holiday Drive. The stations broadcast live in front of a local shopping mall from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. for two days. With just over 10,000 residents in Craig, Colo., KRAI-AM/FM was thrilled to collect more than $28,000 in cash, 2,000 toys and 5,000 pounds of food during the drive. Additionally, the station was grateful for the support of more than 200 volunteers who made the Holiday Drive such a success.
Pillar of Fire’s WAWZ-FM Somerset, N.J., partnered with Passione Legwear to distribute new socks to thousands of local people in need during the holiday season. WAWZ-FM staff, along with the Passione Legwear staff and volunteers from 15 local charities in the New Jersey and New York listening area packed 7,500 pairs of socks for delivery.
Gannett’s NBC affiliate KUSA-TV Denver held the 31st annual 9Cares Colorado Shares Food Drive. Viewers were invited to donate food and money at one of 35 locations on November 16. The drive collected enough food and cash donations to purchase 586,000 meals for Denver residents in need. The food was distributed to 100 food banks across Colorado. Click 
Hearst’s NBC affiliate WBAL-TV Baltimore held a Coats for Kids event to provide new coats to needy children. Twenty Baltimore nonprofits submitted the names of children in the region who needed coats to the station. As part of the broader WBAL Kid Campaign, WBAL-TV raised money from viewers and then negotiated with the local Burlington Coat Factory store to purchase the 840 coats. WBAL-TV’s staff filled their orders, and then hosted an event to give away the new coats to the children.
The Howard University Radio Network’s WHUR-FM Washington broadcast the 36th annual Food2Feed radiothon to help feed families in the Washington, DC area. WHUR-FM broadcast live from the Old Post Office Pavilion for 12 hours, encouraging listeners to make monetary donations or drop off non-perishable items. The radiothon raised more than $101,000 and a tractor-trailer filled with canned food and other items. The Capital Area Food Bank and Shabach Ministries Inc. distributed the baskets of food to families in need.
Cumulus Media’s WWTN-FM Nashville hosted the Hunger to Hope Radiothon to support the Nashville Rescue Mission which provides food, clothing and shelter to Nashville’s poor and homeless. WWTN-FM broadcast commercial-free for 14 hours outside the Rescue Mission, challenging listeners to donate to those in need. In total, the radiothon raised more than $111,000.
Greater Media’s WMGK-FM Philadelphia’s morning host John DeBella held the 12th annual John DeBella Turkey Drop. WMGK-FM staff collected donations for turkeys in 10 locations across the city. The one-day drive raised enough funds to purchase 9,462 turkeys. All proceeds were donated to Cityteam Philadelphia, an organization that provides holiday meals and other services to less fortunate individuals and families in the area.
Scripps Media’s ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV Detroit held the Together We Can food drive to help fight hunger in Detroit during the holiday season. Throughout the month of November, viewers were encouraged to drop off non-perishable items at locations across the Detroit metro area. In total, the campaign collected more than 13,200 pounds of food, which was distributed to local soup kitchens, shelters and pantries.
Entercom’s Buffalo radio stations teamed up with the Buffalo Sabres to hold a Thanksgiving turkey drive on November 21 to benefit local food pantries. For every turkey dropped off for the drive at the Entercom Buffalo offices, the Sabres gave away two tickets to an upcoming game to the donor. In total, 1,700 turkeys were donated, and 4,000 tickets were distributed.
Saga Communications’ WNOR-FM and WAFX-FM Chesapeake, Va., hosted the 17th annual Mayflower Marathon Food Drive. The three-day event collected a record 577,678 meals for those in need in the Chesapeake area. All food and monetary donations went to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula.
Clear Channel’s WGIR-FM Manchester and WHEB-FM Portsmouth, N.H., along with Saga Communication’s WKNE-FM Keene, NH and a few other local radio stations broadcast the 23rd annual Lend a Helping Can Radiothon hosted by New Hampshire’s morning show, "Greg & The Morning Buzz." The two-day event raised more than $82,000, and the proceeds were given to 11 local agencies that feed New Hampshire’s needy and homeless.
Thunderbolt Broadcasting’s WCMT-AM/FM Martin, Tenn., hosts Chris Brinkley and Paul Tinkle of the "Good Times in the Morning" program held a four-hour radiothon for the local St. John’s Community Development Services Center. The event raised $17,000 for St. John’s CDS, which serves approximately 100 special needs adults and provides opportunities for them to perform skills that allow them to remain productive in society. An additional $3,200 was mailed or delivered to the radio station. The total campaign raised more than $20,000.
Belo’s KTVK-TV Phoenix teamed up with three local grocery store chains to battle childhood hunger in Arizona. Throughout the month of September, all Bashas, Food City and Safeway stores in Arizona collected donations at their registers. The goal of the campaign was to raise enough funds to provide 1 million meals for Arizona’s hungry children. In total, KTVK-TV’s childhood hunger campaign collected more than $66,000. All the proceeds were donated to five local food banks.
Columbus, Ohio, broadcasters including Media General’s NBC affiliate WCMH-TV, Sinclair’s ABC affiliate WSYX-TV, Cunningham Broadcasting’s Fox affiliate WTTE-TV and Dispatch Broadcasting’s WBNS-TV partnered with the United Way to raise awareness of poverty in central Ohio and to inspire the community to unite to fight it. On October 10, broadcasters created a day-long roadblock to flood the market with United Way messaging and stories during newscasts. Anchors from all four stations were also featured together in TV and print ads.
Withers Broadcasting-owned WEBQ-FM, Harrisburg, Ill. saved the 4Cs Homeless Shelter, from shutting down on October 31. The $40,000 in donations and pledges that were raised during WEBQ-FM’s eight-hour radiothon was enough to keep the shelter open for almost a year. "The airwaves have power, and [we have] the proof [through events like this],” said Sonny Dotson, WEBQ-FM sales manager in a 
CBS Radio’s KMLE-FM, KZON-FM and KOOL-FM Phoenix hosted several drives at a local mall and numerous Dunkin’ Donuts stores to collect donations for the firefighters’ families. The largest contributions came from the Country Cares Concert, which CBS Radio’s Phoenix stations hosted in partnership with another local radio station. The concert, featuring Arizona native Dierks Bentley, raised more than $476,000. All of the proceeds were donated to the United Phoenix Firefighters Charities, which will be distributed to the families of the 19 fallen firefighters.
Scripps-owned KNXV-TV Phoenix held a phone bank to raise money for the 100 Club of Arizona, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to Arizona public safety agencies, officers, firefighters, paramedics, and their families. Local firefighters answered the phone and collected donations from KNXV-TV’s viewers. At the end of the evening, $121,000 was raised. The money will be used to assist survivors, covering the costs for flights of family members of the victims, helping injured firefighters, and purchasing replacement equipment for the Prescott Fire Department.
Greater Media’s WBT-AM Charlotte, N.C., partnered with Harris Teeter and Jif for the second annual "Peanut Putter ’N July" campaign to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina this summer. High on protein, peanut butter is one of the most valuable commodities for a food bank and is one of the most requested items for those who benefit from their services. WBT-AM set up donation bins in 37 locations to collect jars of peanut butter. On air personalities made appearances at several locations on Saturdays throughout the month. In total, 1,083 pounds of peanut butter were collected.
Hearst-owned WYFF-TV Greenville, S.C., recently produced a TV special, "Chronicle: Living in Fear," which highlighted the alarming rate of domestic violence in the state. The program explained that one in four women in the United States will become a victim of criminal domestic violence in their lifetime, and South Carolina ranks second in the country for the number of women killed by their partners. By raising awareness to the issue, WYFF-TV aims to reduce the staggering statistics.
CBS Radio’s WPGC-FM Washington, D.C., stepped up in a big way when a record summer heat wave and a water main repair left many area residents in Prince George’s County in need of drinking water. WPGC-FM donated truckloads of bottled water to those in need. The station set up three distribution points and invited listeners to come and receive a free gallon of water. Senior citizens were served first, followed by the members of the general public. Photos from the event are available 
Independently-owned KOMU-TV Columbia, Mo., has launched "Poverty in Plain Sight," a special multiyear initiative that aims to understand and address poverty in Mid-Missouri. The campaign will include a series of news reports on poverty and its associated effects on issues including education, crime, health care, housing, transportation and hunger. "The statistics were startling, and we felt compelled to act in a public service capacity in hopes that we could draw attention to this crisis in our area," said KOMU-TV’s General Manager Marty Siddall.
The E.W. Scripps Company’s KERO-TV and KZKC-TV Bakersfield, CA collected 41,550 pounds of food during the Stuff the Bus Food Drive, setting an event record. The event garnered 37,778 pounds last year and about 35,000 pounds in 2011. All donations benefit the Community Action Partnership of Kern Food Bank. Local radio stations aired PSAs and broadcast live from the event.
Clear Channel-owned WTKS-FM Orlando’s "The Bucket Show" helped reunite a mentally disabled 13-year-old boy after he wandered away from the residential facility in which he lives. The boy’s stepfather called WTKS-FM and asked for help to get the word out about his missing son. WTKS-FM posted the boy’s picture and information online. Within two hours, the boy was spotted by a listener and reunited with his family.
To help those in need stay warm through the long winter season, WZPW-FM in Peoria, Ill., hosted its second annual “Blanket Peoria” charity blanket drive. During the month-long campaign, the station broadcast live six times from drop off locations throughout the community and played hundreds of live and recorded promos. In addition, WZPW dedicated a section of its Web site to the cause, posting maps to drop off locations and a running tally of blankets collected. In the end, 250 blankets were collected, a total more than double the original goal. The blankets were distributed to three local charities that care for the needy: the Southside Mission, Crittenton Center and Children’s Home. “I feel so blessed that I have a warm house to live in during the winter months. Not everyone in central Illinois is as lucky” said Jason Parkinson, station program director. "The response from our listeners has been overwhelming. We can’t thank the community enough for helping us provide warmth for so many."
Lenawee Broadcasting’s WLEN-FM Adrian, Mich., launched the Share
Your Heart campaign this Valentine’s Day inviting listeners to
send love song dedications, for a $5 fee. Proceeds from the fundraiser
went to the Morenci Reward Fund for Andrew, Alexander and Tanner
Skelton, local brothers ages 5, 7 and 9, who have been missing
from their home since November 26, 2010. WLEN-FM aimed to raise
awareness of their disappearance and encourage anyone with information
about the boys to contact the National Coalition for Missing and
Exploited Children.
Hall Communications-owned WCTY-FM Norwich, Conn., hosted a radiothon
for the local Women’s Center of Connecticut, which provides services
to those affected by sexual assault and domestic violence. WCTY-FM
raised $18,000 during the radiothon, with proceeds from the fundraiser
going to support the Center’s community education and prevention
programs.
Cumulus Radio’s five Nashville stations, WWTN-FM, WQQK-FM, WSM-FM, WRQQ-FM and WNFN-FM, hosted their fourth annual radiothon to raise money for the Nashville Rescue Mission. Each Cumulus station went commercial-free from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 16, with the goal of raising enough money to provide 56,000 meals to Nashville’s homeless. Throughout the day listeners dropped off donations and called in pledges. By the end of the radiothon, Cumulus successfully surpassed its goal. Mark Sullivan, senior vice president and general manager of Cumulus Nashville said, "We are proud to have been a part of something amazing and issuing a call to action that will make a real impact on the Nashville community." Nashville Rescue Mission’s President and CEO Don Worrell was quick to thank the stations. "We are grateful for Cumulus Broadcasting’s efforts on behalf of the poor and hurting of our community. The outpouring of generosity from this year’s event will provide over fifty-thousand meals to hungry men, women and children arriving at our doors seeking help."
Entercom’s WAAF-FM Boston hosted "WAAF’s Rise Up Against Hunger." Cranes lifted on-air personalities LB and Spaz onto sky-high platforms, where they lived for three days to raise money for the Greater Boston, Worcester County and New Hampshire food banks. WAAF-FM’s Greg Hill stayed on air around the clock for the three days to encourage donations and listener visits. For the past 20 years, WAAF-FM personalities have engaged in various stunts for charity. This year’s promotion raised more than $76,000.
Fox Television’s WTTG-TV Washington, D.C., held its 11th annual "Stuff-a-Truck" food drive in partnership with Giant Food and CBS Radio stations. WTTG-TV broadcast live from Giant Food locations around D.C. to encourage donations. In 2011,"Stuff-A-Truck" generated over 62,000 pounds of food and almost $128,000 in donations for the Capital Area Food Bank.
Belo Corporation’s KING-TV Seattle’s "Home Team Harvest" food drive raised more than 3.4 million meals for local people in need. On December 1, KING-TV crews broadcast live from six area malls, collecting enough food to feed Washington’s population of hungry people for two months. Home Team Harvest has become the state’s single largest food drive of the year.
The Broadcasters Foundation of America (BFOA) held the Celebrity Golf Tournament at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, NJ to support broadcasters in need. More than 150 broadcasters and celebrities participated in the event, which raised more than $200,000. This year, the BFOA expects to distribute $700,000 in assistance. The Celebrity Golf Tournament is one of the Foundation’s biggest annual fundraisers.
Cumulus’ WWTN-FM Nashville raised $120,000 for the local Rescue Mission during its 6th annual "Hunger to Hope Radiothon." Market Manager Mike Carpenter said, "Our gracious listeners and clients helped raise over $20,000 above and beyond our original goal [of $100,000]. We are very proud to be a part of this effort to support the community through the Nashville Rescue Mission." Contributions from 1,100 donors will provide 53,100 meals.
WEMI-FM and WEMY-FM Provided Christmas in a Shoebox for 2,700 Wisconsinites
Quincy Media’s NBC/CW affiliate KTIV-TV Sioux City, IA supported the community through several initiatives at the end of 2019. KTIV sponsored the annual “Red Shoe Shindig” for the Ronald McDonald House, which raised $107,770 on November 22. Station anchor Matt Breen served as emcee.
As part of the "LIN TV’s Day of Caring," a work day when staff from 30 television stations in 18 markets dedicate their time to people experiencing hardship, 60 employees from WALA-TV and WBPG-TV in Mobile, Ala. rolled up their sleeves and helped in the rebuilding of a an elderly couple’s home, which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Charlie and Patsy Wagner, like many other residents of Dauphin Island, Ala., were in the process of recovering from Hurricane Ivan when Katrina hit. Their home suffered catastrophic damages and they lacked sufficient insurance. Together with the Southeast chapter of Volunteers of America, the stations’ staff worked with contractors to frame a new home, clear away trash and debris and landscape the yard. "It was an enormous undertaking but a very rewarding day," said WALA’s Kyle Claude. The stations donated $5,000 toward the reconstruction effort and provided a total of 420 volunteer hours.
Rising costs have left more families in need of energy assistance, which is why WTRV-FM in Grand Rapids, Mich., organized an annual "Winter Warmth Radiothon." The fundraiser benefits The Heat and Warmth Fund, a local nonprofit organization that assists low-income families with energy bills. In 2007, the second year of the annual event, on-air support began six weeks prior and included multiple interviews with staff from the Heat and Warmth Fund and daily live and pre-recorded public service announcements. During the event, WTRV personalities broadcast live for 30 hours from a local mall raising $50,000, which was matched by the local electric and natural gas company for a total of $100,000. Station staff contributed 300 hours to the event and more than 200 community volunteers helped answer phones. The funds assisted 99 families in the area. The station followed the event with broadcasts of final results, thanks and congratulations to all who participated.
To make sure those experiencing hard times in the northern part of the state don’t go hungry, KTVN-TV in Reno, Nev., organizes an annual "Share Your Holiday Food Drive." Over the last two years, the effort has provided more than 150,000 meals. On the day of the drive, on-air coverage starts at 5 a.m. "Share Your Holiday" is the focus of programming for the majority of the day, with live remotes airing from four collection sites. Station staff and volunteers gather donations from viewers’ cars. The station starts gearing up the community for the holiday event in November with public service announcements featuring its four main evening anchors. To help encourage business and groups to make large donations, the station also provides news coverage of check presentations. With a 15-year history, the event has become a critical source of help for those in need. A total of 128,743 pounds of food was collected during the 2007 drive, making it a record-breaking year. The drive provides resources to more than 110 agencies.
Due to the high cost of fuel, WWLP-TV in Springfield, Mass., once again decided to organize its “Warming Hearts and Homes" campaign. Each week during the cold weather season, "Warming Hearts and Homes" provided a $300 fuel assistance voucher to a family requiring assistance. The station partnered with the United Way of Pioneer Valley to identify recipients and worked with local businesses to fund the vouchers. Nearly $25,000 worth of airtime was donated to the campaign. In addition to airing 30-second public service announcements, the station reported weekly on the recipients and their stories. In all, the program lasted more than three months and helped 15 families heat their homes. “The $300 provided by ‘Warming Hearts and Homes’ meant the gas bill could be paid, so families didn’t go cold,” said Joanne Dernoga, vice president of community investment for the United Way of Pioneer Valley. “People really needed that assistance. It meant a lot.”
Business offices in the southern part of the state went to the birds this past holiday season, and that was a good thing. The goal of the annual "Take a Turkey to Work" campaign, spearheaded by KKLI-FM in Colorado Springs, Colo., is to inspire as many people as possible to bring a turkey to their workplace for donation to the Care and Share Food Bank. A representative from each business then brings the collective donations to one of three KKLI drop-off sites, where the station broadcasts live from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Captain Dan and Paul, the station’s morning show talent, geared up listeners with mentions and two extended interviews with representatives of Care and Share. Recorded promotional spots featuring the mayor began 10 days before the event, and the KKLI Web site listed information on how to participate. In 13 hours, nearly 4,000 turkeys and $14,000 came in for the cause, which provided 18,000 people with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. After each year’s successful turkey collection, the station follows up on the air to thank its listeners for caring for their neighbors. The success of the annual event prompted the mayor to declare the Friday before Thanksgiving "Take a Turkey to Work Day." KKLI was a National Association of Broadcaster’s Crystal Award finalist in 2008.
WAND-TV in Decatur, Ill., has jumped on board to help promote WSOY-AM’s annual Community Food Drive. In just the second year of the WSOY and WAND partnership, collections have increased 125 percent, bringing in a record 280,000 pounds of food to help Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army fill their pantries for the winter months. At the most recent drive, WAND’s coverage began with live remotes during its early morning newscast and continued with two live remotes every hour. The coverage wrapped up with news stories in the early evening and 10 p.m. newscast. The remotes were recorded and posted on the station Web site, which also kept a running total of the food collected and information regarding how individuals could donate. "WAND-TV is instrumental in promoting and publicizing this event to ensure its success; and this is important because each year the total in pounds of food that is collected has always surpassed the previous year," said Robin Murray, community services supervisor at Catholic Charities. "We look forward to another successful event this year with the help from our friends at WAND-TV."
Dispatch Broadcasting’s WBNS-TV Columbus, Ohio, joined the Mid-Ohio Foodbank this March for a day-long campaign entitled "One Paycheck Away: 10TV Dedicates the Day to Hunger," continuing the 27-year tradition. The initiative featured a documentary that explored hunger in the suburbs, tough choices faced by seniors and alarming poverty rates in Marion County. The "One Paycheck Away" broadcast was followed by a live fundraising telethon held at the WBNS-TV studios. "As Central Ohio’s News Leader, we have devoted a great deal of time and resources to helping promote the health and well-being of central Ohioans," said President and General Manager Tom Griesdorn. "Continuing to support the Mid-Ohio Foodbank in its efforts is another way of furthering our commitment and letting the community know we care." 
Christmas dinner, complete with a ham, is made possible for needy families through a 10-day food drive organized by WQBE-FM and WVSR-FM in Charleston, W.Va. In addition to a traditional holiday dinner, the Union Mission Christmas Food Drive collects enough donations to give each family food for a week or more. Every morning and every afternoon during the effort, WQBE and WVSR broadcast live from a command center set up in parking lot of a local grocer. The broadcasts target people during their commute to and from work, encouraging listeners to stop by and make a donation. In 2007, the generosity of listeners filled five tractor-trailers full of canned items and raised $15,000. The stations also held a potato challenge, where a local business agreed to give 7,500 10-pound bags of potatoes if the community would collectively match that number, which it did within one week. The stations have held the annual food drive for the past decade, feeding 2,500 families each year; Union Mission, which distributes the food, serves 51 of West Virginia’s 55 counties. "This event has become so necessary, and the rewards we get from the listeners and the families who are provided Christmas meals mean the world to us," said WQBE’s Jeff Jeffreys Whithead. "It is so important they we take care of each other."
The 19th annual “Combat Hunger” campaign run by KSTZ-FM in Des Moines, Iowa, is proof that even in a tough economy, the hearts of Iowans have stayed big. This year’s drive resulted in 205,000 pounds of food for the Food Bank of Iowa, which helps stock the pantries of more than 245 agencies throughout the state. During the campaign, the station moves its studio to the “Combat Hunger” encampment in downtown Des Moines and replaces normal programming with two days worth of live broadcast for the cause. This year, donations poured in from more than 190 central Iowa schools and businesses. In addition to donating air time and significant staff hours, KSTZ created a campaign Web site, where listeners could donate online and find out what food items were needed the most. “This past year, everyone has had to learn to make do with less—and yet, they’ve given more,” said Scott Allen, KSTZ program director. “After more than a year of bad news about the economy, it seems like Iowans are just determined to make their own good news.” The station prepares for the drive, which is the biggest in the state, for months before the event. Since its inception, “Combat Hunger” has generated donations of more than 1.5 million pounds of food to feed the hungry.
Clear Channel’s WRBT-FM Harrisburg, Pa., raised $30,000 in 14 hours to support the Clouse family, a Pennsylvania couple who recently lost seven children in a local house fire. WRBT-FM’s "Nancy and Newman Morning Show" led the station’s effort, accepting listeners’ pledges and auctioning several items donated by top country music artists. "We are not doing this to pat ourselves on the back and say ’Hey, look at what a good thing we’re doing.’ I felt compelled. We needed to do something," Newman said. Contributions are still being accepted for the Clouse Family Fund, c/o Church of the Living Christ, P.O. Box 180, Loysville, PA 17047.
Schurz Communications-owned WSBT-TV Mishawaka, Ind., hosted the third annual "Neighbors in Need" campaign to help people who have been hit hard by the recession with layoffs and losses of shelter, clothing and food. On February 21, WSBT-TV and its partner, the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, braved the cold, wind and snow to receive donations from the community. Within eight hours, WSBT-TV collected $11,943 in cash donations and 6,106 pounds of food.
Despite a challenging economy, Cumulus-owned WKQL-FM Ann Arbor and Kroger Foods exceed their goal for the Food Gatherers’ food bank’s largest annual outdoor food drive, "Rockin’ for the Hungry." The five-day event raised 203 tons of food for families in need in Washtenaw County.
Big River Broadcasting WXFL-FM in Florence, Ala., behind morning man, Johnny Law, started a holiday food drive four years ago that has raised over 17,000 pounds of non-perishable food items. Over the years, Law has come up with some very creative ideas to help the community. 
Clear Channel Communications’ WKSC-FM’s five-day fundraiser collected over 15,000 pounds of clothing, furniture and toys for the Ohio Valley Goodwill during its first "Skyline Chili Stuff Santa’s Sleigh" fundraiser. 
To help those affected most by the economy have a happy Thanksgiving and a merry Christmas, WFGR-FM in Grand Rapids, Mich., participated in several events, including the Second Harvest Gleaner’s Food Bank Radiothon and the station’s own "Hope for the Holidays" program. The radiothon supports more than 1,200 organizations in west Michigan that feed the hungry. During the station’s 12-hour live broadcast, listeners gave more than $12,000, putting food on the tables of those needing it most. In conjunction with the radiothon, WFGR broadcast pre-event announcements and conducted interviews with representatives from Second Harvest Gleaners. During the station’s "Hope for the Holidays" program, WFGR arranged for five families to receive $100 in groceries and additional resources for holiday decorations so they could enjoy a traditional holiday dinner. The station also organized a drive to provide veterans in the area with items for the holiday season, and within a few short hours, listeners had filled a storage unit to the brim with donations for the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans.
LIN Media-owned WLFI-TV West Lafayette, Ind., supported Food Finders
Food Bank in numerous ways in 2010. WLFI-TV created an ad campaign
for the organization to help raise donations year-round. The public
service department produced and ran a PSA promoting the Food Finders
"My Way" campaign. In the spot, local celebrities explained
how they fight hunger and then asked the public to help in the
effort. WLFI-TV’s Sports Department partnered with area high schools
to put on the Annual Frenzy Food Drive. The two schools, competing
against each other in basketball that night, also competed to
see which fans could donate the most food. They raised 825 pounds
in just a few hours.
Revitalization Partners’ KLAD-FM Klamath Falls, Ore., assisted the
Klamath Lake Counties Food Bank in raising more than 100 tons of food
during a one-day "Supermarket Saturday" food drive. To
promote the event, KLAD-FM’s General Manager Rob Siems spent six
hours hoisted in the air. He descended one foot throughout the day
for every two tons of food that was donated. For 10 years, KLAD-FM’s
event has been a major fundraiser, raising more than 800 tons of food.
The Klamath Lake Counties Food Bank serves two counties in Oregon,
providing food to nearly 5,600 households and distributing 26,000
pounds of food weekly.
Weigel Broadcasting Co. is a supporter of the Greater Chicago
Food Depository’s 86 Hunger Series. The Depository recently hosted
more than 200 donors and guests at a local restaurant, NAHA, including
Art Sims, entertainment contributor on Weigel’s WCIU-TV Chicago
morning show, "You & Me This Morning." NAHA is the
second of six restaurants to donate its culinary talent to help
end hunger in the community. Weigel Broadcasting Co. is a long-standing
partner of the Depository, which distributes food to 678,000 Cook
County residents each year.
January marked the "The Sanctity of Human Life Month," and to celebrate the occasion, Bangor Baptist Church’s WHCF-FM Bangor, Maine, wanted to support young mothers who are struggling. For over a month, WHCF-FM encouraged the public to purchase any new items that moms would need and drop them off at any of the eight drop-off locations throughout the state. The public came through, donating hundreds of diapers, wipes, baby clothes, bottles, formula and more. Collected items were donated to First Step Pregnancy Center in Bangor, the Pregnancy Care Center in Houlton and the Family Resource Center in Calais.
Fisher Communications’ KVAL-TV in Eugene, Ore., and its sister stations, KCBY-TV Coos Bay and KPIC-TV Roseburg, part of the Fisher Broadcasting’s family of stations, recently held their third annual CanDo! Food Drive across Oregon. KVAL’s campaign culminated in a live remote broadcast on March 30, with 49 cut-ins from three locations starting at 5 a.m. and ending at 6:30 p.m. Food for Lane County’s Media Coordinator Dawn Marie Woodward, noted, "The drive not only brings in much needed food, but equally as valuable is the public awareness it brings to the issue of hunger in our community." KCBY-TV and KPIC-TV held similar CanDo! Food Drives resulting in another 18,500 pounds of food for their respective communities. Thanks to generous viewers, the food donated provided more than 14,500 meals for area residents.