Appreciation Over the Airwaves
Radiothons Raise Money and Awareness for Fisher House Story by Randall Bloomquist
Did you know that Fisher House Foundation has an air force? Actually, it’s more of an on-air force. Radio stations across the country are supporting Fisher House Foundation by spreading the word about its mission, and raising funds to support existing houses and build new facilities. Those efforts generated nearly $600,000 in donations and priceless media exposure for the Fisher House message in 2010. Clear Channel Radio, the nation’s largest radio broadcaster, is especially supportive of Fisher House. On Veterans Day, 800 Clear Channel stations participated in a daylong fundraising and awareness campaign that raised $265,000 in donations from listeners, and matching funds from USAA Federal Savings Bank, presented by their president David Bohne. The stations conducted interviews with former Fisher House residents, aired public service announcements, and prominently featured Fisher House on their Web sites. Clear Channel’s national radio stars, including Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck, all lent their talents to the effort. Several Clear Channel news-talk stations also ran Fisher House campaigns in the weeks leading up to Memorial Day. Among the stations that participated in the “Heroes Month” initiative were WRVA-Richmond, WIOD-Miami, WOAI-San Antonio and WFLA-Tampa. “We’re thrilled to have the support of Clear Channel’s nationwide network of stations and their amazing top-tier talent supporting our military families,” said Ken Fisher, chairman of Fisher House Foundation. “When Americans learn about the Fisher House mission, they respond. Radio is a powerful tool for telling our story.”
“We’ve seen first-hand the positive impact the Fisher House program has had on our military families, and it’s a cause we feel strongly about,” said Clay Hunnicutt, senior vice president of programming at Clear Channel Radio. Fisher House continues to benefit from its long-term relationships with two other news/talk stations, Citadel Broad-
more news-talk stations joining the foundation’s “air force” and country radio beginning to take an interest in supporting its work. Don’t be surprised if the next time you turn on the radio, your favorite deejay or talk host is urging listeners to support our military families by donating time and/or money to Fisher House.
“When Americans learn about the Fisher House mission, they respond. Radio is a powerful tool for telling our story.” casting’s WMAL-Washington, D.C., and Greater Media’s WTKK-Boston. WMAL has raised $3 million for Fisher House in the past six years via its annual holiday season “Operation Fisher House” campaign. In 2010, D.C. personalities Rick Fowler, Fred Grandy, Bryan Nehman and Chris Plante championed the cause with passionate appeals for support. WTKK-Boston personality Michael Graham leads that station’s annual December radiothon, which features appearances by local and national celebrities, as well as an online auction. Together these two independent events raised over $175,000 in less than a combined total of 21 hours of air-time. The bond between Fisher House and radio is growing stronger in 2011 with
Fisher House Vice President Derek Donovan presents Jimmy Barrett of WRVA 1140 News Radio in Richmond, Virginia Fisher House Foundation’s prestigious “Patriot Award” for the station’s dedicated support of Fisher House and military families. To Derek’s right are General Manager Ruth Soutermire and talk-host Doc Thompson. THE PATRIOT • WINTER/SPRING 2011
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