WAMC's First Million Dollar Fund Drive a Success

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Alan Chartock and Joe Donahue

ALBANY, NY (02/08/2011)(readMedia)-- WAMC Northeast Public Radio finished its winter fund drive at 9:34 a.m. on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 A total of $1,048,971 was raised and pledges were still rolling in.

It was the first million dollar fund drive for WAMC, an increase made as a result of threatened state and federal cuts for public radio and television as well as increasing costs. With the same forward thinking that has made the radio network what it is today, the difficult decision to increase the amount of the fund drives was made by WAMC's President & CEO, Alan Chartock, along with the board of directors and senior staff, back in December of 2010. "Talk about humility. We are in awe of all of our listeners and members who in difficult times once again proved their love and loyalty to the station," says Alan Chartock.

The last several drives raised just over $800,000 each and lasted approximately six days. The accomplishment of raising an additional $200,000 in the middle of a few bad winter storms only made the achievement more gratifying for Chartock and the staff. "Sometimes, said Alan, "I think that the harder it gets, the better it goes. We have tremendous debts to people like Pete Seeger, Natalie Merchant, James Taylor, Sam Waterston and about 9,000 members in this drive alone. I am still stunned by it all."

In consistent and enthusiastic WAMC fashion, the on-air fund drive began at 6 a.m. on Monday, January 31, 2011. Dedicated WAMC members and listeners locally and nationally called and pledged on-line all day and into the night to help make this happen. In the end, over 8,660 generous pledges were recorded, including those from WAMC's Cyber Drive, which began two weeks prior to the on-air portion.

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 6 am to midnight every day. Members walked in during snow and sleet to be sure every seat was filled to insure the success of the fund drive. Hundreds of regional businesses and organizations donated items, services, and food to the drive, wanting to be a part of the WAMC community and are dedicated to the care and feeding of all who helped. WAMC's fund drives are never possible without the combined efforts of all the contributing sponsors and supporters. For a listing of supporters, visit online at 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.

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, 90.3 FM, Remsen-Utica; WAMQ 105.1 FM, Great Barrington, MA; WWES 88.9 FM, Mt. Kisco; 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 wamc.org.

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.org