WAMC's First Fund Drive of 2013 Meets $1,000,000 Goal

ALBANY, NY (02/12/2013)(readMedia)-- WAMC Northeast Public Radio ended another successful fund drive, raising over one million dollars in nine days, thanks in part to the more than $223,000 that was donated to the station before the fund drive even began. Specifically, a total $1,001,234 was raised from phone and online pledges coming in from the communities we serve and online from as far away as Germany. The early donation "Locked Box" Campaign was created last year to reduce the time span of the on-air fund drive by soliciting donations prior to the official start of each fund drive.

"Once again, the WAMC community- which includes our listeners, underwriters, volunteers, and entire staff- have rallied together to keep this amazing resource thriving," said Alan Chartock, WAMC Northeast Public Radio's President and CEO. "Their generosity of time, talents and funds exceeds my expectations every time, and we at the station feel enormously grateful for each and every one of these supporters."

The on-air fund drive began at 6 a.m. on Monday, February 4, 2013. Dedicated WAMC members called in and pledged on-line all day and into the night to help reach the daily and hourly goals and eventually our fund drive goal. Many friends and business of the station stepped up with challenge pledges to help increase the amount of money raised in a day part. As always, we welcomed new members into the WAMC family this drive, as well.

In addition to all the people who pledged during the on-air drive, hundreds of impassioned volunteers, also members, from all over the WAMC listening area answered phones, donating their time at the station's Albany studios from 6 am to 9 pm every day. Many volunteers of WAMC are fund drive veterans who dedicate their time and energy year after year to support the station that has become part of their daily lives. The fund drive presents the opportunity for supporters to see old friends, make new ones, and re-connect with the staff.

WAMC also thanks the hundreds of regional businesses and organizations who donated items, services, and food to the drive, happily caring for and feeding all who helped in the effort. WAMC's fund drives are never possible without the combined efforts of all the contributing sponsors and supporters. All of the items donated are appreciated and received with much gratitude. 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, membership to NPR and network programming as well as all of the station's other day-to-day operations.

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. To become a member go to: http://wamc.org/support-wamc

WAMC-FM 90.3 FM HD, Albany; WAMC, 1400 AM, Albany; WAMK 90.9 FM HD, 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; 106.3, Middletown; 102.1, Highland, NY and 90.9 FM, Milford, PA.; 97.3 FM, Cooperstown; 88.7 FM, Lake Placid, and on-line at www.wamc.org; www.facebook.com/wamcradio; www.twitter.com/wamcradio