Radiothon Raises Record $1.6M for Phoenix Children’s Hospital
The 17th annual Give-A-Thon for Phoenix Children’s Hospital is still the top fundraiser of its kind in the country by collecting more than $1.6 million in donations during a 19-hour radio simulcast on KTAR News 92.3 FM and 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
This marks the second year in a row that Bonneville Media’s two stations have raised over $1.5 million.
“Once again Give-A-Thon is the largest children’s hospital radiothon fundraiser in the United States with another record breaking year,” said Steve Schnall, senior vice president and chief development officer for Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation. “It is truly amazing to watch this community respond with overwhelming generosity year after year to support our kids.”
Setting aside primetime KTAR News and Arizona’s Sports programming schedules for nearly two days, the Give-A-Thon for Phoenix Children’s featured emotional stories told by children and families whose lives are forever changed by the care they receive at the hospital, which receives high national rankings for a variety of pediatric services.
The theme of this year’s event was Champions of Hope, and listeners could call in and become Champions of Hope for a monthly donation of $20 or more. In exchange, a patient in the hospital received a teddy bear in the name of each champion.
“We couldn’t be more proud that the biggest children’s hospital radio fundraiser in the nation just got even bigger,” said Scott Sutherland, vice president and market manager of Bonneville Phoenix, which operates KTAR News, Arizona Sports and ESPN 620. “And it’s a tangible measure of how vital Phoenix Children’s is to our community and to our sponsors, whose volunteering and fundraising also set records this year.”
Funds raised during Give-A-Thon benefit the Hospital’s Hope Fund, which helps fund research, new clinical programs, cutting-edge technology, child- and family-friendly services, and the recruitment of world-renowned physicians to ensure that every child who needs care in the community receives the very best.
