WAMC HELPS PEOPLE IN NEED BOTH LOCALLY AND ACROSS THE GLOBE

ALBANY, NY (10/13/2015)(readMedia)-- WAMC Northeast Public Radio's Fall Fund Drive mobilized more than 5,800 listeners to feed the hungry throughout the Capital Region, provide light to Syrian refugees, and keep the radio station on the air. During its third and final Fund Drive of 2015, WAMC raised over one million dollars in nine days and generated awareness about the local hunger issue and the mounting global humanitarian crisis.

"I can't tell you how much it means to see everyone coming together to support OUR station," said Dr. Alan Chartock, WAMC's President and CEO. "WAMC is a great example of what an extended community can do if they set their minds to it. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped bring in one million dollars, starting with donors to the Locked Box, all the challengers and the listeners who pledged during the drive."

WAMC partnered with The Food Pantries for the Capital District to provide food to hungry families throughout the Region. Initially sponsored by MVP, WAMC listeners pledged support that provided more than 62,000 pounds of food for the hungry in just four hours. One of those listeners, the President of The Seymour Fox Memorial Foundation, was moved enough by this project to request that WAMC extend the program with the foundation's support. Over the next two days, WAMC listeners pledged another 62,000 pounds of food, making a significant difference to the local community.

Because half of all Syrians have been forced to flee their homes, spurring a humanitarian crisis with global implications, WAMC also partnered with the WakaWaka Foundation for the third time in the past two years to provide a solar-powered light/charging unit to uprooted Syrians. WakaWaka ('Shine Bright' in Swahili) develops, manufactures and markets high-tech, low-cost solar powered lamps and chargers that are essential both in the developing world and in the West. WAMC's listeners were able to pledge to WAMC and send a solar light to Syrian refugee family. This partnership resulted in the distribution of about 1520 lights to Syrian families, allowing listeners to make a difference in the global community.

"We have been overwhelmed by the WAMC community's desire to sustain not only WAMC, but also to help individuals in need. Our listeners helped fill the shelves of 53 local food pantries, and we sent over 1520 lights to Syrian refugees. That support, love and compassion only reflects how strong the WAMC community is when it comes together," said Joe Donahue, WAMC's VP of News & Programming and Host of The Roundtable.

WAMC's three annual Fund Drives are successful because of the combined efforts of listeners, donors, volunteers, sponsors and supporters. "WAMC is grateful to the volunteers who gave us their time and the businesses who donated items, services, and food in support of the Fall Fund Drive," added Chartock. "This enormous effort is not possible without their support." A complete list of supporters is available at wamc.org. Anyone interested in learning more about the Fund Drive or to get involved should contact Colleen O'Connell, Fund Drive Manager at 465-5233x189.

WAMC Northeast Public Radio is a non-commercial, public radio station and nonprofit organization that presents award-winning news and cultural programming 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. WAMC's listening area reaches parts of seven states, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire; as well as parts of Canada. With over 400,000 monthly listeners, WAMC ranks among the most-listened-to public radio stations in the United States. WAMC is a member of National Public Radio and an affiliate of Public Radio International. For more information on WAMC, please visit www.wamc.org or call 518.465.5233.

WAMC-FM 90.3 FM, Albany, NY; WAMC, 1400 AM, Albany, NY; WAMK 90.9 FM, Kingston, NY; WOSR, 91.7 FM, Middletown, NY; WCEL, 91.9 FM, Plattsburgh, NY; WCAN, 93.3 FM, Canajoharie, NY; WANC, 103.9 FM, Ticonderoga, NY; WRUN, 90.3 FM, Remsen-Utica, NY; WAMQ 105.1 FM, Great Barrington, MA; WWES 88.9 FM, Mt. Kisco, NY; WANZ 90.1 FM, Stamford, NY; WANR 88.5 FM, Brewster, NY; 103.9 FM, Beacon, NY; 97.3 FM, Cooperstown, NY; 106.3 FM Dover Plains, NY; 96.5 FM, Ellenville, NY; 102.1 FM, Highland, NY; 97.1 FM, Hudson, NY; 88.7 FM Lake Placid, NY; 106.3 FM, Middletown, NY; 90.9 FM, Milford, PA; 107.7 FM, Newburgh, NY; 90.1 FM Oneonta, NY; 99.3 FM Oneonta, NY; 95.9 FM Peekskill, NY; 93.1 FM, Rensselaer-Troy, NY; 92.9 FM Scotia, NY, 107.1 FM, Warwick, NY, and online at www.wamc.org, www.facebook.com/wamcradio, and www.twitter.com/wamcradio.