Kansas Public Radio donations reach $200,000 during fund-raising drive

LAWRENCE -- Money talks, so Kansas Public Radio doesn't have to.

At 1:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, pledges from listener-members pushed the total donations past $200,000, the goal KPR set to conclude the station's fall fund-raising drive. After the goal was met, KPR returned to uninterrupted music and news programming. KPR is based at the University of Kansas.

RadioFest 2003 began Friday, Oct. 17, with more than $90,000 raised through a direct-mail campaign. Eight days later, almost $110,000 was raised through on-air appeals to new and renewing members.

"Everyone at the station is grateful to our listeners for another successful membership drive," said Janet Campbell, director of Kansas Public Radio. "The KPR staff works very hard to provide the high-quality news, music and entertainment programming that listeners have come to expect. The listener-members in turn provide us with the funds needed to keep the programming at that high level."

All funds raised during the spring and fall membership drives directly support programming services.

After the numbers were tallied Friday afternoon, 643 new members had pledged their support, 1,333 listeners had renewed their membership and $203,913 had been pledged through direct mail, on-air appeals or KPR's Web site. That total does not include challenge grants, in which a company or individual will donate money if KPR can raise a certain level of funding during a show. For example, Capitol Federal Savings and Loan added $50 to 20 pledges of $180 or more during "Morning Edition" Oct. 17. More than $11,000 was raised through challenge grants.

More than 100 people volunteered to answer phones during the eight-day on-air drive. Phones were staffed from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Area restaurants donated meals and beverages.

"Our listeners have come through again," Campbell said, "and we'd like to thank each and every one of them."