WAMC, Doing Its Part to Help Our Japanese Neighbors

ALBANY, NY (03/21/2011)(readMedia)-- The twenty-two stations of WAMC Northeast Public Radio and the WAMC community raised $188,836 in eight hours with 2,364 generous pledgers. Funds raised will go directly to the Japanese Red Cross. This special one day fund drive was made possible thanks to a special waiver from the Federal Communications Commission, allowing the stations to raise money in partnership with the American Red Cross of Northeastern New York, Tech Valley Communications, Thomas Brockley with RBC Wealth Management and other community partners.

"Once again the WAMC community came through," says Alan Chartock, President and CEO of WAMC. "There wasn't a moment the phones weren't ringing and the empathy and love for those in need came roaring through."

WAMC is well-known for the success of its regular fund drives. Most recently, the station raised over one million dollars to support its programming. In 2005 a similar one-day fund drive raised over $500,000 for the American Red Cross to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. More recently, an evening of music by James Taylor which was simulcast on WAMC raised over $200,000 for Partners in Health, an organization working on the ground to provide assistance to victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

Member-supported WAMC Northeast Public Radio broadcasts news, informational and cultural programming to listeners in portions of seven northeastern states. WAMC is an award winning producer of regionally based programming and an affiliate of National Public Radio, American Public Media, and Public Radio International.

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, 90.3 FM, Remsen-Utica; WAMQ 105.1 FM, Great Barrington, MA; WWES 88.9 FM, Mt. Kisco; 90.1 WANZ Stamford, NY,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.; 97.3 FM, Cooperstown and on-line at www.wamc.org.