WAMC Fall Fund Drive Beginning Monday, September 22, 2008

ALBANY, NY (09/17/2008)(readMedia)-- WAMC/Northeast Public Radio will begin its annual fall fund drive on Monday, September 22nd. The goal is to raise $800,000.00. The money raised supports our award-winning local and regional reporting, programming from NPR and other sources, plus the day-to-day station operations of the station.

"This is the toughest economic situation that we have ever faced going into a fund drive. We know that our audience loves and values WAMC and what it does. The very existence of WAMC depends on this fund drive," says Dr. Alan Chartock, WAMC Northeast Public Radio's President.

WAMC's listeners look forward to the unique fund drive format, driven primarily by Chartock and the always engaging fund drive team. In fact, listener data shows that online and radio listening increases during the fund drive. Listeners will hear in-depth interviews with special guests, have opportunities to pledge for special gifts and premiums, enter drawings, and laugh at humorous anecdotes plus enjoy many more of WAMC's Fund Drive traditions.

"We look forward to hearing from each and every person at this crucial time in history," added Alan, who himself spends countless hours on the air and in the planning stages before and during the fund drive activities.

The WAMC Fund Drive also includes the Cyber Drive located at http://www.wamc.org/. This gives the WAMC listeners the opportunity to pledge on-line before and during the fund drive and all on-line pledges will be entered into a huge drawing with multiple winners. Every dollar raised on-line will go towards meeting the $800,000 goal, and will shorten the on-air portion of the drive.

The WAMC fund drive will begin Monday, September 22nd and will run from 6:00 a.m. through 12:00 midnight every day until the goal is reached. Many local, regional and national businesses and individuals help the station raise their funds and show their continued support of WAMC by generously donating items, food and services for on-air giveaways and drawings. Plus a fund drive would not be complete without mention of the hundreds of wonderful volunteers who will once again donate their time to answer telephones during the drive. WAMC is always looking for volunteers and donators. If you would like to volunteer your time, please contact Tania Droczak 800-323-9262 extension 189 or tdroczak@wamc.org. If your business would like to make a donation for the station to use as a pledge incentive during the fund drive, please contact Marcy Stengel at 800-323-9262 extension 195 or mstengel@wamc.org.

Listeners may make contributions during the fund drive at WAMC's secure website, http://www.wamc.org/, and by phoning (800) 323-9262 beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, September 22nd.

Money raised during the fund drive will support the following WAMC Northeast Public Radio's station network: 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; 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.

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