Bull Country 99.5 FM will host a 30-hour radio-thon Thursday and Friday to raise money for the United Ways of Pullman and Moscow.
The Community Cares Radio-thon will start at 6 a.m. Oct. 11 and continue until 10 a.m. Oct. 12. Whitney Mueller, Inland Northwest Broadcasting research and development director, said they set a monetary goal of $2,000.
“There is no minimum donation, but I’m hoping people will give at least $5 or $10 … if you can give $50 or $100 you should give it up because it’s a great cause,” Mueller said.
Mueller said earlier this year Bull Country DJ Bre Earl came up with the idea of sponsoring a radio-thon to raise money for the United Way organizations. Although radio-thon fundraisers are not a new concept, Mueller said no other radio stations in the region are hosting them.
“Community service is inherent in our business and we can’t make money without giving back,” she said.
During the radio-thon, Earl and other DJs will be joined by guests from the community such as the City of Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson, Pullman United Way President Ev Davis and Moscow United Way Renee Ellsworth. University of Idaho President M. Duane Nellis will be on the show at 9 a.m. Friday.
Mueller said the radio-thon hosts’ intent is to paint a picture of the United Way organizations that shows the community how everyone benefits from the agencies involved. Member agencies of the United Way organizations include Boy Scouts of America, Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse, the Sojourner’s Alliance and many more.
“I guarantee that you personally or someone you know has benefited from United Way and the radio-thon is a chance for those people to say thanks,” Mueller said.
Volunteers will answer the phone during the fundraiser to write down each caller’s contact information and the amount they are pledging. The proceeds from the fundraiser will be divided equally between each community’s United Way organizations.