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04 May 2020

RADIO CARES: FEEDING AMERICA EMERGENCY RADIOTHON DRIVES $500,146 TO FEEDING AMERICA IN NATIONWIDE FUNDRAISER TO FIGHT HUNGER IN THE U.S.

Radio Cares, a charitable organization created in response to the hunger crisis in America during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced today that together with over 10,000 radio stations across the U.S., it raised $500,146 for Feeding America, the largest hunger relief organization in America in the one-day Radio Cares: Feeding America Emergency Radiothon on Thursday, April 30, 2020. The nationwide broadcast event, which kicked off Thursday at 12:00 NOON ET, and culminated at 11:59pm, continued with its fundraising effort through the weekend, drawing donations from all 50 states. The radiothon closed with a $20,000 donation from Scott and Sandi Borchetta and Big Machine Label Group, to pass the half-million dollar mark of total funds raised. All funds raised go directly to Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund. The funds raised will provide 5 million meals for Americans living with hunger.

The Radio Cares: Feeding America Emergency Radiothon was heard on radio stations across the U.S. in an historic industry effort to raise money for Feeding America and its 200-member network of local food banks across the U.S. Donations were made through the official event website, www.radiocares.org and by texting “Feed” to 95819.

The charitable initiative was developed and led by Ron Stone, President & CEO, Adams Radio Group, and Brian Philips, EVP, Content & Audience, CUMULUS MEDIA/Westwood One. The movement came together in less than three weeks.

Ron Stone, President & CEO, Adams Radio Group, said: “I will be forever grateful to every broadcaster that made the decision to participate in this historic Radiothon. Together we accomplished something that had never been done before in our 100 plus years, a nationwide radio event to raise money to help those who truly need our help. It is my sincere hope that this is the first of many annual events to come.”

Brian Philips, EVP, Content & Audience, CUMULUS MEDIA/Westwood One, said: “For us, it is impressive that this money is the sum of so many smaller individual contributions; sacrifices from determined people who made up a democracy of giving, at a time when money is tight.”

Philips noted: “Listeners answered the call from their favorite stations, large and small, unified by the cause of American hunger. Our listeners represent the most generous cross-section of America. There exists a bond among them that no crisis can break. Cumulus is always proud when what we do moves people.”

Scott Borchetta, President/CEO, Big Machine Label Group, commented: “All executives and artists at the Big Machine Label Group have had a long-standing relationship with Feeding America and we’ve led programs that have sent more than 50 million meals to Feeding America food banks. Arguably, now more than ever, they need our support and we’re proud to answer the call.”

Feeding America established the COVID-19 Response Fund on March 13th. Since then, Feeding America has distributed $112.4 million and over 94 million pounds of food to food banks across the U.S., helping provide nearly 79 million meals to people facing hunger. Feeding America announced earlier this month that an estimated $1.4 billion in additional resources will be needed over the next six months to sustain operations and continue to provide food for people struggling with hunger—a 30% increase to the baseline six-month operating costs of its 200 member food banks nationwide. U.N. experts foresee a second pandemic on track to follow COVID-19 – a global hunger pandemic. Now, more than ever, U.S. food banks need cash donations to continue to meet the needs of the growing number of people struggling to feed themselves and their families.

For a list of stations and companies that participated in the Radio Cares: Feeding America Emergency Radiothon, please visit:  https://radiocares.org/thank-you/. Major sponsors and organizers of the Radio Cares: Feeding America Emergency Radiothon include: Benztown, Vipology, Gen Media Partners, Marketron, McVay Media, LeadsRX, and Dollinger Strategic Communication.

Attribution infographic by LeadsRx | PDF | HD Image

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO DONATE TO FEEDING AMERICA: Visit www.RadioCares.org.

Media Contact:  Lisa Dollinger, Dollinger Strategic Communication for Radio Cares: Feeding America Emergency Radiothon, 512.633.4084, [email protected].