Until morning…

You won’t see a blog update until about 8am tomorrow morning when Amber Stearns takes over the big chair to wrap up our 15th annual WIBC Radiothon. But don’t let that stop you from calling our ValPak and REACH magazine Phone Bank to make your pledge in the overnight hours while Jersey Johnny’s at the helm. We’re hoping to be that much closer to our $225,000 goal by then.

And if you’re heading out the Colts/Broncos game tomorrow, look for the WISH-TV 8 personalities and our own volunteers at the WISHtree toy collection sites. When you donate a new, unwrapped toy or make a donation at the collection sites, you’ll receive a limited edition Colts poster! Help make Christmas bright for a child in need and you’ll enjoy the game that much more.

Thanks for listening to our 2009 WIBC Radiothon. Stay tuned for more in the morning….

It Has Begun!

The 2009 WIBC Radiothon is in full swing down here at the Emmis Communations building on Monument Circle. Big Joe Staysniak and Terri Stacy are wrapping up their show and we’re just about to draw the first prize package winner of the day. Thanks to our friends at Dunkin’ Donuts for not only feeding our volunteers breakfast, but also for donating the signed Adam Vinatieri hat and jersey for our Colts Fan Pack. Add in the two tickets to Sunday’s Colts game from The American Legion and you’ve got a package worth making that call to donate early!

So far, our total stands at $5,580 – not bad for a cold, December morning. But we need your help. Our goal this weekend is to raise $225,000 for our neighbors in need. We’re off to a great start. Don’t forget to check out our prize packages. There’s some great stuff out there – everything from Pacers tickets to Gerdt Furniture recliners to a couple of overnight stays downtown. Something for everyone! Oh, and don’t forget to check out our sponsor page. We have some generous business partners who’ve sponsored hours with matching funds as well as in-kind donations for those prize packages.

Don’t worry – you haven’t missed your chance to join us. To make your donation for men, women and children and need, go here or give us a call at 1-877-71-PEACE.

Thanks ValPak and REACH magazine!

We have a phone bank sponsor! Thanks to Jim Brantley and the folks at ValPak and REACH magazine for digging deep for their neighbors in need and joining us for our 15th annual WIBC Radiothon on December 11-13.

And as much as we appreciate the support, this sponsorship comes with some great perks. Each time a WIBC personality mentions the phone number or making a pledge, we’ll encourage listeners to “Call the ValPak and REACH magazine phone bank at 877-71-PEACE”. That’s a lot of mentions throughout 55 hours!

Looking for a great way to promote your business and give back to your community, too? We welcome you to join us as an hourly sponsor. With sponsorships starting as low as $500, we have options for even modest budgets. To learn more, you can call Kristen at 224-1019 or visit our event site at WIBCRadiothon.org.

Coming to a mailbox near you

Postal carriers all over Central Indiana have a package from me, just for you. It’s your 2009 Radiothon sponsorship information and have we got some great ways for you to help out your neighbors in need.

I just want to let you know that your partnership is truly appreciated. We help thousands of people – men, women and children right here in our state – each year because we have amazingly generous partners who know what it means to give.

This is a big year for Radiothon – our 15th year hosting our Marathon of Giving on WIBC! We’re looking forward to working with you. Go here to check out information on how you can sponsor an hour or donate an item(s) to be used in our prize packages.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” - Winston Churchill

Your generosity makes it happen

Do you realize that a week ago you changed lives? I’m not kidding. When you answered my call (or made that call yourself) you made a decision that will have a profound impact on someone’s life. If you were able to listen during our WIBC Radiothon last weekend, you heard the stories of women in our shelter, of volunteers who understand what it’s like to give to those who are struggling, of Angela who was able to turn her life around at our Harbor Light rehabilitation center. Your generosity makes that happen!

When you drop a dollar into a kettle on your way out of Walmart or when you set up an on-line red kettle to encourage giving and spread the word about how you support Salvation Army programs, you’re not just making a donation. When you give to The Salvation Army, you are making an investment in the lives of men, women and children right here in your community. That’s a better return than Wall Street these days!

Thanks for all you do to help us do what we do – it’s a partnership we don’t take for granted.

2008 Radiothon ends at $220,000+

That’s really what we had at the end of the event, $220,000!!!! (and we were excited when Advisory Board member Don Steel and our own Development Director Jeff Stanger announced that we passed the $217,000 mark.) And that doesn’t factor in online donations and kettle counts still to report, so we’ll be sure to post the official count when we have it. I just don’t know how to express how thankful we are to all of you who gave, and gave and gave (check out the photos here)! A simple “thanks” doesn’t seem like enough to cover the generosity, Read more