Radio and television broadcasters constantly serve local communities. Stations air lifeline emergency information; support our military; raise millions for hospitals and cancer research; collect food, clothes and toys; devote free air time to election coverage; and promote education.

Submit your station's public service to Suzie Raven.

Gray’s NBC affiliate WMTV-TV Madison, Wis., collected a record 4.18 million meals for the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin during the 2017 “Share Your Holidays” campaign held throughout November and December. The food bank serves approximately 500 people each month. Watch video here.

NY Radio Raises $1.1 Million to Fight Hunger

Entercom’s WCBS-AM, WINS-AM, WFAN-AM and WFAN-FM New York partnered with WhyHunger to raise awareness about hunger and poverty through its annual Thanksgiving radio tradition, “Hungerthon.” The campaign includes exclusive online auctions and radio promotions that continued through December 13. For the second year in a row, “Hungerthon” raised $1.1 million to invest in long-term solutions to hunger that will enrich communities and nourish people.

WXYZ Collects 16,800 Pounds of Food

Scripps’ ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV Detroit held its 9th annual “Together We Can” food drive October 24 - November 17 for Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan. During The 25-day event, WXYZ collected more than 16,800 pounds of nonperishable food items, helping the food bank reach more than 500 local soup kitchens, shelters and pantries. “One in six people in Michigan struggle with hunger, so it’s more important than ever that we help those in need throughout our community, especially during the holiday season,” said WXYZ Vice President Mike Murri.

WOIO and WUAB Collect Thousands of Toys

Raycom’s CBS affiliate WOIO and MyNetworkTV affiliate WUAB Cleveland partnered with local organizations to benefit thousands of children throughout Northeast Ohio. The seventh annual “Share your Holidays” fundraising event, held December 4-8, raised nearly a ton of non-perishable food, over 2,000 coats and truckloads of new, unwrapped toys.

WMIT-FM Listeners Provide 71,000 Meals Through Local Missions

Blue Ridge Broadcasting Company’s WMIT-FM partnered with seven local rescue missions to provide 71,391 meals through their “Hope to the Hungry” campaign on December 5. WMIT-FM gave listeners the opportunity to “give where they live,” apportioning donations to rescue missions in Asheville, Charlotte, Henderson, Hickory, Shelby, Waynesville and Greenville.

Country Cares for St. Jude Kids’ Radiothons Raise Thousands

Beasley Media Group’s WQYK-FM Tampa, Entercom’s WUSN-FM Chicago and Cumulus Media Inc.’s WIVK-FM Knoxville all partnered with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to host “Country Cares for St. Jude Kids” radiothons, raising funds for the treatment and elimination of childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. WQYK-FM raised $300,620; WUSN-FM raised $723,106; and WIVK-FM raised $307,319.

WBEN-FM Hosts "Adopt a Family" Program

Beasley Media Group’s WBEN-FM Philadelphia held their annual “Adopt a Family” radiothon in partnership with Volunteers of America on December 5. WBEN-FM’s radiothon successfully solicited the ‘adoption’ of over 700 families. Additionally, the radiothon helped to raise over $50,000 to benefit hundreds of families in the surrounding community through Volunteers of America Delaware Valley’s “Adopt a Family Program.”

WCSX-FM Hosts "People Helping People" Event

Beasley Media Group’s WCSX-FM Detroit held their third annual “People Helping People” campaign to assist local families facing challenges this holiday season. The campaign was able to connect 35 families with listeners who were eager to help, as well as distribute $5,000 to other families in need. WCSX-FM and their listeners were able to reach 60 families with the 2017 “People Helping People” promotion.

Beasley’s WMGC-FM Launches Bikes for Kids

Beasley Media Group’s WMGC-FM Detroit launched its “Bikes for Kids” holiday collection with four live broadcasts on November 20. The station’s morning personalities BIGG, Foolish and Shay asked their listeners to donate new bikes to benefit local children. With collections held on December 1, 8, 15 and 16, WMGC-FM was able to provide 130 new bikes to children in the community. “There is nothing like the generosity and big hearts of the people of Detroit,” said WMGC-FM’s Morning Personality BIGG. “That has inspired us to weave our way into it. Giving a bicycle to kids in need for the holidays is a way we love to do it!”

KNXV-TV Raises Over $600,000 for Arizona Families

Scripps Television Station Group’s ABC affiliate KNXV-TV Phoenix held their 16th annual “Operation Santa Clause” from November 16 through December 20. KNXV-TV collected food, toys, clothes and monetary donations to benefit local families in need through St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Phoenix, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC) and Military Assistance Mission (MAM). The campaign raised a total of $611,636.

WGN-TV Collects 37,000 Toys for Charity

Tribune Broadcasting Company’s WGN-TV Chicago held its 15th annual “Drive-Thru Toy Drive” on December 8. For the first time, WGN-TV partnered with Chance the Rapper’s youth empowerment charity, SocialWorks. The five-hour fundraising campaign collected a record 37,000 toys for children and families throughout Chicago.

Seattle Radio Raises $817,000 for the Kids

iHeartMedia’s KBKS-FM Seattle raised $817,000 in a radiothon held on December 13. In 15 years, “Bender’s One Big KISS for Seattle Children’s Hospital Radiothon” has raised more than $15.7 million. “This wouldn’t happen without the amazing Bender and Molly on 106.1 KISS FM,” said Michele Smith of the Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation board of trustees. “They have such passion for Seattle Children’s and I think it really shows in the way their listeners contribute to the hospital every year.”

KUPL-FM Raises $207,000 for St. Jude

Alpha Media’s KUPL-FM Portland, Ore., raised $207,410 with its fourth annual St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital radiothon on December 7 - 8. Numerous families and kids shared their stories during the live broadcast. “It takes teamwork to bring this event to life and through our collective efforts, we are that much closer to stomping out cancer,” said Content Director MoJoe Roberts.

WPBG-FM Raises $182,000 for Children’s Hospital of Illinois

Alpha Media’s WPBG-FM Peoria, Ill., raised $182,000 in its “Drive for Miracles” radiothon, held December 7 – 8. Morning show personalities Riley and Nancy Flagg broadcast live from the hospital. In 16 years, the event has raised nearly $4 million for the Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria, which serves children regardless of their ability to pay. “Several of our team members have personal experience with the Children’s Hospital of Illinois, so this is a genuine passion for all of us,” said Market Manager Mike Wild.

WNSH-FM NYC Raises $113,000 for Children’s Miracle Network

Hubbard Radio’s WIL-FM St. Louis exceeded their goal of collecting 10,000 toys in the “Bikes, Balls and Barbies” drive for the local Salvation Army. The 36-hour toy drive, held December 1 - 2, was broadcast live and on Facebook Live. The entire WIL-FM on-air staff participated and welcomed special guests, including Kim Hudson of Tribune’s Fox affiliate KTVI-TV.

“Hubbard Broadcasting continues to be the platinum standard for live, local talent with an unfaltering dedication to our community,” said Program Director Scott Roddy. “Bud and Broadway and the entire New Country 92.3 Home Team worked tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most: kids! I continue to be humbled by our community’s response and so grateful for our generous followers who made this happen.”

Broadcasters Cover California Wildfires

Wildfires devastated southern California in early December 2017, with fires spreading to approximately 31,000 acres in about nine hours. As the fires raged, local radio and television stations provided lifeline coverage of the event. The New York Times described the harrowing experience of KTLA and Entercom’s KNX-AM reporters here.

“You could breathe that smoke coming through the air vents. You’d feel like if you were to cough you would be coughing ash,” Traffic reporter Mark Kono of Tribune’s CW affiliate KTLA told The New York Times. “But if we can get the shot, we’ll do it.”

Cumulus Radio Raises $500,000 for Wildfire Relief

Cumulus’ KFOG-FM, KGO-AM, KNBR-AM, KSAN-FM, KSFO-AM, and KTCT-AM San Francisco announced on January 2nd that they raised $500,000 for the Bay Area Fire Relief Fund, bringing much-needed relief to victims of the massive Northern California wildfires. The stations distributed $150,000 to the American Red Cross, Northern California Chapter; $150,000 to United Way Bay Area; and $200,000 to Redwood Empire Food Bank.

Radio Assists Local Veteran

Impact Radio Group’s KQBL-FM Boise recently helped a veteran in need through its work with local veteran services organization The Tillery Fund. KQBL-FM invites listeners to nominate military families and veterans in need through the “Adopt-A-BULL Family for Christmas” program. This year, they found a medically retired veteran in his early 30s, who is married with three young children and faces a six-month backlog while waiting for disability paychecks. The family relies solely on a wood-burning stove for heat, but they were out of wood. Immediately after KQBL-FM personalities Kevin and Brenda shared his story, they heard that a nearby vacant property had five trees that had already been cut down. The property owner happily agreed to donate the wood. Two days later, 50 volunteers spent four hours to cut and deliver 15 cords of wood, which can keep the family warm for more than two years. Watch video here.

2018 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award Winners Announced

Columbia Journalism School announced the 16 winners of the 2018 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards on December 7. Among the awardees were ABC News, CBS News, Scripps' ABC affiliate KNXV-TV Phoenix, TEGNA's ABC affliliate KARE-TV Minneapolis, TEGNA's CBS affiliate KHOU-TV Houston, NBC-owned KNTV-TV San Jose and Tribune's Fox affiliate WITI-TV Milwaukee. These stations in particular reflect the outstanding work that broadcasters are doing to investigate and foster discussion around this year’s most critical issues, ranging from race and religion, to civil rights, education and immigration. More information on the individual efforts of the above broadcast stations can be found here.