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During the past nine years, KCVM-FM in Cedar Falls, Iowa, sent 116 families of chronic or terminally ill children on an all-expenses-paid trip of a lifetime. Magical Mix Kids, a charity founded by the station and operated by its staff, fundraises throughout each year to fly more than a dozen families to Disney World. A doctor and nurse travel with the family to provide health care. In 2007, nearly $80,000 was raised through an auction attended by 600 guests, a chili cook-off and donations from listeners and clients. Station staff put more than 400 hours of work into organizing and managing the fundraisers. Nearly three dozen community members volunteered beside them. The result: huge smiles from 16 families who visited Disney World, many pairs of Mickey Mouse ears and unforgettable memories. In a thank-you letter Bob Harms, a parent of a Magical Mix Kid, said to the station:, "Thanks, a million times again, for the best six days of Ronald’s life. It was a trip of a lifetime for that little man." The station has been recognized by the Waterloo Exchange Club with a Golden Book of Deeds award and was a 2008 National Association of Broadcasters Crystal Award winner.
As temperatures dropped near the single digits, KMEG-FM in Sioux City, Iowa, appealed to its viewers to help make sure no child was without a winter coat. The community showed its generosity, donating more than 1,000 coats and setting a new record for the station’s annual “Coats for Kids” campaign. The campaign is a group effort between the station and other community leaders, including Mercy Medical Center and St. Luke’s Health System. In addition to providing airtime to promote the effort, the KMEG studios were used as a donation drop-off location, along with 17 other spots in the community. "Not only is this one of the coldest winters we’ve seen, but with the downturn in the economy more kids need coats than ever,” said General Manager Scott Eymer. “Because of Siouxland’s generosity we’ll be able to give more kids coats with this new, record-setting collection.”
KIMT-TV in Mason City, Iowa, works to inspire its community to get involved with good causes through its "Giving Your Best" campaign. The campaign, which launched in 1997, supports several outreach efforts for nonprofits. Twice each year, it funds and organizes a family fair where thousands of residents have the opportunity to learn about local organizations. Every month, it awards someone who exemplifies volunteerism, getting the word out about the good deed through news stories and repeated vignettes. Since many teachers spend their own money to keep their classrooms going, the campaign started "Tools for Schools," which donates durable goods, such as white boards and books, in response to letters students send in nominating their classroom. The station supports "Giving Your Best" with more than $1 million worth of air time each year. "The campaign acts as a catalyst to change things for the better," said KIMT’s Steve Martinson.
When tornadoes devastated northeast Iowa in the spring of 2008, killing seven people and flattening hundreds of homes, KWWL-TV in Waterloo, Iowa, responded by organizing a "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" disaster relief drive. The one-day fundraiser began at 5 a.m. the day after the storm and by 10 p.m., Eastern Iowans had contributed more than $335,000 to help survivors in the aftermath. Donations poured in throughout the day by phone, online and "drive-through" style in the parking lot of the KWWL studio. A half-hour telethon special in the evening featured Gov. Chet Culver, who thanked the station for its fundraising efforts on the air. Money raised went to the Hawkeye Chapter of the American Red Cross, a lead organization in recovery efforts. "Pulling this off in less than 24 hours was a challenge, but the incredible response made all of the work worthwhile," said Jon Okerstrom, KWWL news director. "Storm survivors were coming up to our crews thanking them for what we were doing."
At the 10th Annual Teen Challenge Golf Marathon, WHO-AM in Des Moines, Iowa, broadcast live, and on-air personalities put their athletic abilities to the test to raise funds for Iowans overcoming addictions. One case in point: Mark Allen, the WHO morning sportscaster, took out an iron at a par three hole and hit three balls for each listener who called in a pledge of $50 or more. By the 100th hole in the marathon, more than $126,000 had been raised for Teen Challenge of the Midlands, a faith-based live-in program to help teens and adults trying to turn their lives around and become sober. All team spots were sold out for the event, thanks in part to WHO’s media sponsorship, which included three months of promotional announcements, live mentions and feature stories about people who have gone through the program and beat their addiction. "WHO has helped us transform Teen Challenge from one of the state’s best kept secrets to an organization that many citizens now recognize and think highly of," said Pastor Warren Hunsberger, the regional director of Teen Challenge of the Midlands. "Our golf marathon is our principle fund-raising event, and WHO has put it on the map."
Whether it’s mentoring young children or highlighting the efforts of star teachers, KSUX-FM in Sioux City, Iowa, exemplifies how local radio can support education. Station personalities make yearly visits to area schools and universities on career day. They also head into the classroom to read to school children and have acted as mentors to Girl Scouts. The station doesn’t stop at supporting students. It also celebrates teachers that are making a difference in students’ lives. From September through May, the station recognizes an "Educator of the Month" and broadcasts live from a celebratory breakfast in the teacher’s honor. In June, KSUX uses its Web site and on-air announcements to encourage students and listeners to vote for an "Educator of the Year." The station works with local business to provide awards, including $1,000 for use by the school of the winning teacher.
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.
For more examples of how Iowa’s local radio and TV broadcasters are serving every local community, please contact the Iowa Broadcasters Association .