At this time of the year, many radio stations devote resources to radiothons and fundraisers for local hospitals, especially children’s hospitals. The latest issue of the National Association of Broadcasters Licensed to Serve newsletter recounts many such efforts.
Following in the great tradition of radio hijinks, Andy Chase of Townsquare Media’s WCHR(FM) in Tom’s River, N.J. spent five days on a local billboard raising money for the Ocean of Love Foundation. Eventually, almost $120,000 was raised for the group that is devoted to childhood cancer treatment.
In Pittsburgh, at iHeartMedia’s WDVE(FM), over $650,000 was raised for the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation. Highlights of the radiothon included live music and appearances by Pittsburgh Steelers football players.
KELO(AM) and KTWB(FM), Midwest Communications properties in Sioux Falls, S.D., collected over $200,000 for the Sanford Children’s Hospital in its 10th annual radiothon.
A similar amount was raised by a radiothon conducted by Cumulus Media’s KSCS(FM) in Dallas. The beneficiary was the Cook Children’s Hospital.
The big enchilada of these operations is the Children’s Miracle Network. Many radiothons and fundraisers are conducted in its name during the fall and winter.
Three Mississippi Valley properties, WQCC(FM), La Crosse, Wis., WKBH(FM), West Salem, Wis., and KQEG(FM), La Crescent, Minn., teamed up for a CMN radiothon that raised over $100,000.
To the west in South Dakota, Prairie Winds Broadcasting’s KBFO(FM) and KGIM(FM) in Aberdeen along with sister station KNBZ(FM) in Redfield collected $50,000 for the CMN.
In Sioux City, Iowa, KGLI(FM) and KSEZ(FM), iHeartMedia properties, raised $40,000 in their Children’s Miracle Network radiothon.
