WAMC Concludes Winter Fund Drive in Record Time

ALBANY, NY (02/06/2009)(readMedia)-- It has been said this is the worst economic decline the U. S. has seen in decades but regardless, WAMC/Northeast Public Radio listeners pulled together to end the station's winter fund drive at 6:07p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2009. A total of $807,428 was raised in this, the fastest $800,000 fund drive in the history of WAMC.

The on-air fund drive began at 6 a.m. on Monday, February 2, 2009 and ended in just under five days. 7,540 pledgers, an increase over the past drive, helped the station meet its goal. Dedicated WAMC listeners locally and nationally called and pledged on-line all day and into the night to help make this happen.

"WOW," said Alan Chartock, WAMC's President, "...this was the greatest fund drive in WAMC history! A record breaker! Less than five days in a time of extreme economic distress. We owe it of course to the volunteers, the staff, and especially to the members and listeners of WAMC. I greatly appreciate it!"

In addition to all the people who pledged during the on-air drive, hundreds of dedicated volunteers from all over the WAMC listening area answered phones, donating their time at the station's Albany studios from 6am to midnight every day. Also, hundreds of regional businesses and organizations donated items, services, and food to the drive, wanting to be a part of the WAMC community. WAMC's fund drive could not have been possible without the combined efforts of all the contributing sponsors and supporters. For a listing of supporters, visit online at http://www.wamc.org/.

WAMC's fund drives help support the station's award-winning local and regional reporting and programming as well as all of the station's other day-to-day operations.

WAMC/Northeast Public Radio is a non-commercial, listener supported public radio network broadcasting 24 hours a day to portions of seven New England and Middle Atlantic States. All broadcasts can also be heard on-line at http://www.wamc.org/.

WAMC-FM 90.3 FM, Albany; WAMC, 1400 AM, Albany; WAMK 90.9 FM, Kingston; WOSR, 91.7 FM, Middletown; WCEL, 91.9 FM, Plattsburgh; WCAN, 93.3 FM, Canajoharie; WANC, 103.9 FM, Ticonderoga; WRUN, 1150 AM, Utica; WRUN, 90.3 FM, Remsen; WAMQ 105.1 FM, Great Barrington, MA; 93.1 FM, Troy; 99.3 FM, Oneonta; 97.1 FM, Hudson; 107.1 FM, Warwick; 107.7 FM, Newburgh; 103.9 FM, Beacon; 96.5 FM, Ellenville; 106.9, Middletown; 102.1, Highland, NY and 90.9 FM, Milford, PA. and on-line at http://www.wamc.org/.