WJBC-AM Chicago , Ill.

Below is a summary of WJBC’s 2009 community service efforts as submitted by the station as part of their Crystal Radio Award entry:

For 84 years, WJBC has been the talk of the town, serving as McLean County’s voice for local news, sports, talk and weather. In 2009, WJBC continued its commitment to be the voice of the community, providing more than 18,000 minutes of air time to community service projects and raising $6.5 million for charities. WJBC was instrumental in organizing a community-wide welcome home for local soldiers returning from Iraq, helped the local Relay for Life to be the most successful in the state and delivered Christmas gifts to more than 7,300 in need. WJBC is the voice of local radio, airing 17 hours of local programming and 48 local newscasts each weekday, and originating more than 200 local sporting events in 2009. WJBC is the voice of innovation, with a secondary internet stream to cover more sporting events and community meetings, and an interactive website providing local news, weather, podcasts and a free “Mobile Weather Alert” service. WJBC is the voice of the entire community, developing “WJBC en Espanol” to provide information to the under-served Spanish-speaking population. The people of WJBC are the voice of our community, with staff donating more than 1,250 hours in 2009 to station-involved and other service projects.

KBHP-FM Bemidji, Minn.

Below is a summary of KBHP’s 2009 community service efforts as submitted by the station as part of their Crystal Radio Award entry:

Bemidji is located in Northwestern Minnesota, between Canada and Minneapolis/St. Paul and is home to legendary folk hero Paul Bunyan and Babe, his Blue Ox, the 2009 “Frozen Four” Bemidji State University “Cinderella” hockey team and KBHP-FM. Like the mighty Lumberjack and the awesome University skaters, KBHP’s 100,000 watt signal sweeps across the area, responding to listener’s needs by raising $759,876 in 2009 for community organizations, collecting 16,560 pounds of food and 2,000 winter clothing items for needy families. KBHP’s weekday 20-minute public affairs program “Chat-About” enriched listener’s lives by examining issues of local concern featuring 254 guests representing 171 organizations. Loggers and hockey enthusiasts alike rely on KBHP for comprehensive weather reports, and current local, state and national news. In 2009, more than 4,450 minutes of local PSAs were broadcast valued at $125,000. The Annual “24 Hour Radiothon to End Child Abuse” provided awareness and education on child abuse, and raised $54,393 bringing its 21 year total to $764,063 dedicated to protecting children. KBHP is local radio, with a dedicated professional staff who contributed 1,700 hours in volunteer service. KBHP: serving communities, embracing localism, playing a vital role in the lives of our listeners since 1972.

Now is the time to begin collecting materials for your 2011 Crystal Radio Award entry. NAB is accepting entries from all radio stations beginning January 3, 2011. Entry information can be found here.