FM side of the dial, we moved Live and Local to 4 pm, which created a block of related programs. Before this move, the FM format shifted from talk to music throughout the day. We hope you’re enjoying these changes. During our successful fall pledge drive, we received a number of positive comments about our programming and recent additions. Thank you for your comments and continued support of Illinois Public Media and the WILL stations. Please keep in touch by dropping me an email with your feedback or suggestions to willamfm@illinois.edu.
State of the Re:Union joins AM schedule The current narrative of our nation, says Al Letson, is that things are falling apart. And yet, when you zoom in close, you see that everyday people are doing extraordinary work to help each other, to engage their community and to overcome obstacles. That’s what State of the Re:Union, produced by Letson and airing at 1 pm Sundays on WILL-AM 580, is all about—telling those stories about the dreamers and doers in cities and towns across America. State of the Re:Union was created by Letson as an entry in the Public Radio Talent Quest, which aimed to identify a new generation of public radio on-air talent. The show was one of two winners awarded start-up funding, and Letson has produced four seasons of programs that look at how a particular American city or town creates community, the ways people transcend challenging circumstances and the vital cultural narratives that give an area its uniqueness. For more information, visit stateofthereunion.com/.
Gifts for all seasons At WILL, we tend to think primarily of membership gifts. The average single gift to WILL is a little more than $100. That number has remained stable for several years. We’re grateful for nearly 13,000 Friends of WILL whose gifts of all sizes keep our operating budget humming. Private support (from individuals and businesses, primarily from individuals) makes up more than 40 percent of our budget each year. Have you ever wondered, apart from your annual gift, what you can do for WILL? You might consider a gift of appreciated stock. Making a gift of stock you’ve owned for some time—that has increased in value—would translate into capital gains tax liability if sold. But, stock can make a very effective gift to a nonprofit organization like WILL. From a tax planning standpoint, it may in fact be better to give appreciated securities rather than make gifts of cash. If you give stock directly to a nonprofit like WILL/Illinois Public Media, the organization receives the full market value of the gift—no capital gains tax is assessed. Such a gift may allow you to make a donation bigger than you may have considered possible. If you own appreciated stock that you don’t have to rely on for your own income, please consider making a gift of stock for WILL. Please consult your tax or financial professional about tax-savvy ways to make gifts, or call Danda Beard at WILL, 217-333-9393.
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