This time of year is a critical fundraising time for the Broadcasters Foundation of America.
The organization, which helps broadcast people who have hit hard times, has issued an “11th Hour Emergency Appeal” to benefit its Guardian Fund.
Chairman Philip Lombardo and Vice Chairman Stu Olds put out the word. Their letter is below.
Dear Colleague:
WE NEED YOU NOW … MORE THAN EVER!!
“It seems to me I’ve heard that song before. It’s from an old familiar score …”
And in these uncertain times, practically every pleading and importuning that comes each day in our morning mail begins (or ends) with this understandable and all-too-familiar cry.
While we’re not doubting for a minute the urgency of the many solicitations you receive at this time of year from all the other worthy charitable causes abroad in the land and in your own local community … we urgently hope you will look kindly on our unique humanitarian Mission to assist the hurting and almost forgotten broadcasters who have fallen on hard times all across the nation.
The Guardian Fund of the Broadcasters Foundation of America has been a “Foul Weather Friend” to hundreds of present and former colleagues. In the last few years, your Foundation has dispensed over $3,000,000 to 387 recipients in great need in 33 states since it grew as a labor of love (and necessity) out of the original Broadcast Pioneers, founded by the legendary H.M. Kaltenborn and guided carefully and lovingly over the years by Lowell Thomas, Ward Quaal, Ed McLaughlin and Jim Delmonico.
We provide emergency assistance to the less fortunate in our broadcasting family, restoring dignity and bringing life’s necessities to many retired colleagues and those who have run afoul of the turbulent cyclical winds of today’s economic climate.
Some — like you — had illustrious careers and did quite well until, through no fault of their own, they were overtaken in the prime of their lives by a sudden catastrophic illness for which their families were ill-prepared. Many were without health insurance or government assistance of any kind. Some were almost destitute.
We’ve assisted widows struggling to hold shattered families together following the untimely death of a spouse from a devastating disease. And, working with state associations, the Foundation was there to help fellow broadcasters and their families get back up following natural disasters like Katrina, Ike and the California wildfires.
As in the past, all major Gifts to the Guardian Fund are acknowledged in our Annual Report which is widely distributed to several thousand active broadcasters , corporate leaders and media professionals all across the nation.
Individual and Corporate contributions are fully deductible and may be made to the Guardian Fund of the Broadcasters Foundation of America, an officially certified and registered 501(c) 3 national Public Charity.
Please send whatever you can … to our new national office in New York City c/o our President Jim Thompson.
THE BROADCASTERS FOUNDATION of AMERICA
Guardian Fund
125 W. 55th Street – 21st Floor
New York, NY 10019
212-373-8250
broadcastersfoundation.org
Signed,
Philip Lombardo
Chairman
Stu Olds
Vice Chairman
