Topic: Neighbors in Need
More than 350 volunteers put on their Santa hats for WBKR-FM in Owensboro, Ky., last year as part of the station’s 31st annual "WBKR Christmas Wish" program. The volunteers read each wish request from a family in need, verified its accuracy and handed it off to an on-air personality who encouraged listeners to "adopt" the family by fulfilling their Christmas wish. Community members were able to apply for the program through WBKR’s Web site. Between online applications and those received by mail, more than 1,400 requests arrived at the station. To grant as many wishes as possible, WBKR conducted an on-air auction to raise additional funds during the last week of the effort. When all was said and done, the community of only 100,000 people had donated nearly $100,000 in cash and another $100,000 worth of donated toys and merchandise. The giving spirit of WBKR listeners made it possible for the wishes of 1,280 families to come true.
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