The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation has announced the winners of the 2018 Celebration of Service to America Awards, recognizing outstanding community service by local broadcasters. Winners will be honored at the Celebration of Service to America dinner, held Tuesday, June 12 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC.
“Local broadcasters play a crucial role in informing, supporting, and strengthening communities across our country,” said NABEF President Marcellus Alexander. “This year’s winners represent the ethos of broadcasting and the industry’s unwavering commitment to public service. We look forward to honoring these outstanding stations in the nation’s capital.”
The awards program, now in its 20th year, has established new categories based on market size. The awards will honor the following broadcasters:
President’s Special Award
The NABEF President’s Special Award recognizes historic and extraordinary achievement by an individual broadcast station or group of broadcasters.
In recognition of broadcasters’ service to their local communities before, during and after historic hurricanes and wildfires in 2017, broadcasters in Florida, Puerto Rico, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as those in California, Montana, Oregon and Washington, will receive special honors. Broadcasters nationwide will also receive recognition for their support of local communities during these natural disasters.
Service to Community Award for Radio – Major Market: KJLH-FM Los Angeles, Calif., “102.3 KJLH Women’s Health Expo” KJLH Radio
KJLH created the Women’s Health Expo to address the high rates of obesity, heart disease and breast cancer in the African American community. The expo is a daylong interactive event that gives thousands of women access to medical professionals, free health screenings, and vital information needed to maintain a productive and healthy life. For some of the women in the community, the expo is their only opportunity to receive free mammograms, diabetes and blood pressure screenings, and HIV/AIDS testing. The Women’s Health Expo was created 18 years ago in a small church as a resource for women to receive proper health care and has grown to host thousands of women in the Los Angeles and Long Beach Convention Centers.
Category Finalists: Cox Media Group Long Island, “Battling Breast Cancer,” Cox Media Group KTMY-FM Coon Rapids, Minn., “Project Down and Dirty,” Hubbard Broadcasting WFLC-FM Miami, Fl., “Hits 97.3 Campaigns for Conservation,” Cox Media Group WNIC-FM Dearborn, Mich., “Jay’s Juniors with 100.3 WNIC,” iHeartMedia, Inc.
Service to Community Award for Radio – Medium Market : WOWO-FM Ft. Wayne, Ind., “Penny Pitch” Federated Media
WOWO’s annual “Penny Pitch” campaign has been providing grants to individuals and not-for-profit organizations serving Northeast Indiana since 1948. The initiative aims to help those who are either disadvantaged or physically handicapped by supporting charities that have a similar mission. In 2017, the campaign raised more than $200,000 for The Shepherd’s House, which provides temporary housing for homeless military veterans living with addictions. The Shepherd’s House recently had its federal funding denied but the station generated enough money to keep the facility open for nearly six more months.
Category Finalists: WGY-AM, WRVE Schenectady, N.Y., “The River 19th Annual Cares for Kids Radiothon,” iHeartMedia WPLR-FM New Haven, Conn., “The 99.1 PLR Chaz and AJ Toy Drive,” Connoisseur Media WWOZ-FM New Orleans, La., “School Groove,” New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation
Service to Community Award for Radio – Small Market: KTXY-FM Columbia, Mo., “Y107 Miracles for Kids Radiothon” Zimmer Radio of Mid-Missouri, Inc.
KTXY’s 2017 Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Radiothon marked the 11th year Zimmer Radio and Marketing Group has partnered with CMN and the Missouri University’s Children’s Hospital. In that time, the station has raised more than 2.3 million dollars to help benefit sick children in mid-Missouri. The 2017 Miracles for Kids Radiothon raised over $250,000, and the initiative has won numerous Corporate Awards from the Missouri Broadcasters Association and is considered one of the top local radiothons by Children’s Miracle Network.
Category Finalists: KCLR-FM Boonville, Mo., “Clear 99 Honor Flight Radiothon,” Zimmer Radio of Mid-Missouri WFRE-FM, WFMD-AM Frederick, Md., “WFRE St. Jude Radiothon,” Aloha Station
