Radio Sales Café

Happy Friday, everyone!

Earlier this week I was talking with RSC member Dave Birnie of Broken Bow, NE, and Dave was regaling me with stories of fundraisers his station had organized over the years (including one that involved him sitting in a bathtub full of jello). 

We agreed that it would be quite interesting to hear about fundraisers that other stations have done, so that leads to this week's poll question:

What is the best fundraiser your station has ever held for a nonprofit organization in your community?

Looking forward to your replies!

A couple of years ago, our Station PC and Breakfast Show host celebrated his 40th Birthday. To mark the occasion, he did a 40 hour breakfast show, LIVE!! The event was supported by many organisations locally, who donated "Money can't Buy" prizes and experiences, and throughout the 40 hour show, every hour we auctioned these prizes off on air. The office team worked in shifts, manning the phones and hosting local business supporters and celebrities who came in to support the event. The plan was to try to raise £10,000 for local respite care, we ended up making nearly double that and it was a great success. Hope this helps.

A little over a year ago the 9-year-old son of one of our on-air-personalities was killed in a freak accident at a baseball game. Naturally we all shared in his family's grief over their sudden loss. The boy's father is very well-known in our community, but like most DJ's, doesn't make a lot of money. The accident happened on a Thursday, so on Monday we simulcast all five of our radio stations on what we called "Marty's Monday." We asked people to come by the stations, or a local bank where we set up an account, and make a donation to help the family. In about 10 hour's time, we raised over $18,000. Some of that money was used for funeral expenses, and the rest to set up a permanent foundation in the name of Marty's son, Josh. It was very touching to see people drive by our office, some giving us hundred dollar bills, and one lady I talked to personally giving me a handful of change, saying it was all she had that day. Marty is still on the air daily on two of our stations.

Our best event is technically not a fund-raiser but it involves value. Our station has, for the past eight years, sponsored a community/county wide drive to fill the Salvation Army pantry in our city. We solicit addresses for several weeks prior to the big day and on that day our staff spreads out to pick up these items to deliver to the Salvation Army. This also involves extra volunteers, a local moving company provides a truck and boy scouts help unload the vehicles as they arrive. It becomes a big event for local and area schools and some have raised more than 2,000 items. This past year we put over 15,000 items in the overflowed pantry.

Our community population is about 26,000. This has become a big event for the entire town and we recently were notified that our state broadcasters association has awarded us their Annual Community Service Award. Not dollars but a ton of value and it really solidifies community awareness of your station.

WHUD held a Chocolate Festival in December 2001 where students from the BOCES/Putnam-Northern Westchester Culinary School made the World's Largest Brownie. Chef Stan Rupenski and about 50 students with other staff worked for three days to make the product. Proceeds where donated to families of victims from Windows on The World in the World Trade Center.

Don Bennett