News
May 13, 2020WAMC Helps Community In Record – Breaking Fund Drive
In record-breaking time, WAMC/Northeast Public Radio reached its $1 million goal as the Locked Box replaced a traditional June Fund Drive due to the COVID-19 pandemic. WAMC reached the goal while spotlighting the work of various community organizations and the philanthropy of generous long-time supporters.
The WAMC Locked Boxed opened May 4, 2020 and concluded on May 12th at 11 a.m. WAMC started and ended the entire Locked Box and Fund Drive in just one day over a week, a record-setting pace. Given the social distancing limitations, WAMC was not able to hold a traditional drive. Instead, the Locked Box and Fund Drive were combined into one with the help of limited WAMC staff and an outpouring of support from listeners who mailed in and went online to make their contributions. We truly missed our wonderful volunteers, and hope to see them all for the October drive if it is safe to hold one.
The Seymour Fox Memorial Foundation once again asked the station’s listeners to donate to the Locked Box/ Fund Drive in honor of four community initiatives. As listeners gave to the station, The Seymour Fox Memorial Foundation provided funds to help the food insecure and homeless families through The Food Pantries of the Capital Region, Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area, The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and Family Promise of the Capital Region.
WAMC President and CEO Alan Chartock says, “We are thrilled and delighted with the extraordinary turnout for this drive. People love WAMC and we love them. As we have said so many times, we are all in this together! Thanks, thanks, thanks.”
Joe Donahue, Roundtable Host/Senior Advisor, adds: “Nothing about the last few months has been normal. With that said, we can always count on our audience for their joy, comfort and support. They always continue to ‘wow’ us with the love they show toward WAMC and the organizations we work with to assist food banks, food pantries and homeless shelters. Even a pandemic cannot stop the power of our listeners and for that we are forever grateful.”
WAMC is proud to work with wonderful local organizations during its drives, and will continue to shed light on the great work they do. WAMC is a listener-supported station and relies on contributions to stay alive. Its fundraising primarily occurs three times a year: February, June, and October. Each drive has a $1 million goal to support the general operations of WAMC/Northeast Public Radio.
