Home For the Holidays Radiothon

Albany Helping Hands on the Radio with kgal and KSHO

By: Jim Willhight, Albany, OR

John Donovan, Development Director of Albany Helping Hands is proud to announce the first Home for the Holidays Radiothon Fundraiser. This live on air Radiothon on KGAL and KSHO radio will spotlight the need for homeless funds with what is hoped to be the first of an annual event.

 “The Home for the Holiday’s Radiothon will emphasize the critical need for low income housing and services for the needy”  noted Donovan who further stated  “We have been close to shelter capacity since spring and are currently sheltering 102 from the harsh environment. ”

The Tuesday, November 24th live radio broadcast event is two days before the Thanksgiving Holiday and just following the National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week which is held each year the week before Thanksgiving to highlight the issue.  

John Donovan stated “we are pleased to form this partnership with Charlie Eads of Albany, owner of the two successful stations. Charlie Eads, a long time broadcaster, focuses on serving the local radio audience with KGAL and KSHO. This special event will assist in raising need operational funds for the Albany Helping Hands Shelter and Soup Kitchen.”

The live and locally produced radio programming will air during the peak audience morning drive 6 to 10 am.  Two stations will air fundraiser along with their regular programming. News Talk 1580 KGAL host Jeff McMahan will be joined by John Donovan and Emerson Smoker from Albany Helping Hands who will be anchoring fundraising. News Director Weldon Greig will join KGAL and KSHO during the broadcast with local news and weather.

Popular Unforgettable 920 KSHO the second station airing the 4 hour Radiothon will feature local radio personality Bill Diamond “spinning” the oldies. Jim Willhight, Media and Marketing Coordinator for Helping Hands noted “We will do things a little differently compared to other Radiothons. The on air fundraising talk will be mixed with the regular on air content for KGAL and KSHO. We won’t stop the programming for long periods of fund raising chatter.”

KSHO’s Bill Diamond added “In addition to being on the successful station’s radio airwaves locally on AM 1580 and AM 920, the live broadcast will also be available for listening worldwide via the station’s live web streams at www.kgal.com and www.ksho.net”.

Albany Helping Hands is offering businesses, churches and individuals a way to pledge donations prior to the broadcast. These contributions will be matched the day of event with telephone donations. We will utilize the stations phone lines at 541-926-8683, 541-926-KGAL and 541-451-5425 to take donations.  For more information on business, church, or individual sponsorships, contact John Donovan at 541-974-6709 or Jim Willhight 541-258-2654. More details at albanyhelpinghands.com.