MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Thanks to a strong community of devoted local listeners, iHeartMedia station K102 Minneapolis again hit the $1 million mark for a single radio event during its K102 Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon on Dec. 12-13.
In the 26 years K102 has been holding its radiothon for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, it has raised more than $23 million for the hospital, which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases
"I could not be more proud of the K102 staff, our Minneapolis-St. Paul listeners and everyone at St. Jude on this amazing accomplishment," said Jeff Tyler, iHeartMedia division president. "Working together over the past 26 years to help the children and families of St. Jude has been a privilege and a service that we all feel passionate about and is the right thing to do."
Along with Minneapolis, iHeartMedia stations KAJA in San Antonio, WTQR in Greensboro and WPOC in Baltimore also held radiothons Dec. 12-13, collectively raising $1 million.
St. Jude and iHeartMedia have enjoyed a longstanding partnership for more than 30 years, generating nearly $100 million in the past decade for the hospital by relying on the power of radio and the generosity of local listeners.
The K102 listeners learn about the far-ranging impact of St. Jude through the stories of patient families like the Witschens, who lost their son Dylan to brain cancer. Dylan made his parents promise they would continue to support St. Jude in his memory so that no child or parent would have to go through what they did. The Minneapolis radiothon also brings in volunteers such as Henry Hanten, who has helped out K102 for more than two decades and continues to support the radio event even after moving out of state.
The radio events were supported across iHeartMedia markets in conjunction with The Bobby Bones Show, iHeartMedia's nationally syndicated award-winning country morning show, which alone raised nearly $2 million. In addition to the radiothons, more than 100 country music artists including Reba McEntire, Florida Georgia Line, Brett Eldredge, Darius Rucker, Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett and others are lending their support to the This Shirt Saves Lives campaign, which has created a giving movement through the now-iconic T-shirt being shared in photos across celebrity social channels.
The social media push has attracted thousands of new Partners in Hope and sustaining donors in support of the life-saving research and treatment being done at St. Jude. A collection of artist and influencer social posts is featured at thisshirtsaveslives.org.
About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital:
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter and Instagram and subscribing to its YouTube channel.
About iHeartMedia:
iHeartMedia is the number one audio company in the United States, reaching nine out of 10 Americans every month – and with its quarter of a billion monthly listeners, has a greater reach than any other media company in the U.S. The company's leadership position in audio extends across multiple platforms including 850 live broadcast stations; streaming music, radio and on demand via its iHeartRadio digital service available across more than 250 platforms and 2,000 devices including smart speakers, digital auto dashes, tablets, wearables, smartphones, virtual assistants, TVs and gaming consoles; through its influencers; social; branded iconic live music events; and podcasts as the #1 commercial podcast publisher globally. iHeartMedia also leads the audio industry in analytics and attribution technology for its marketing partners, using data from its massive consumer base. iHeartMedia is a division of iHeartMedia, Inc. (PINK: IHRTQ). Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.
SOURCE ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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