Murray, KY- WKMS listeners and underwriters surpassed the station’s spring fundraising goal on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 by contributing over $130,000 in support for this Murray State University regional service for western Kentucky, northwest Tennessee, and southernmost Illinois.
Development Director Asia Burnett says, “This is a testament to a wonderful community of public radio listeners we have in this region. They value the programming and ensure that it continues, not only for themselves, but for over 30 counties of listeners. That’s a powerful audience!” Community support enables the station to provide NPR news, classical music, and other national and local public radio programming by paying for programming subscriptions, equipment maintenance, and a myriad of business expenses. Community support for WKMS also leverages funding assistance from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Murray State.
During the drive donations came from listeners in 12 states, including one online gift from Sweden. Listeners in Murray and Paducah combined contributed nearly 50 percent of the total. Residents of Cadiz, Martin, TN., and Hopkinsville, in that order, served as the next largest contributing cities. Membership Coordinator Jenni Todd reports, “The station gained 69 New Members and 52 Sustaining Members during the campaign. We are so pleased to grow our membership and meet new listeners when they call in to give their first donation to WKMS.” In April and May, over 100 student and community volunteers helped the station by taking pledges from listeners by phone or by joining WKMS staff on-air. Many local restaurants supplied food for the staff and volunteers.
Special drawing winners include: Sean Mestan of Princeton (Bikes from BikeWorld of Paducah); Joy Thomas of Murray (Handcrafted Walk the Willow chair by Justin Roberts); Harry & Barbara Conley of Murray (Ultimate Date Night Package); and John Heiss of Mayfield (The Big Green Egg from Akridge Farm Supply/Ace Hardware of Eddyville and Fredonia).
WKMS also salutes those who provided corporate matching grants for the fundraiser. Included are: Ashland of Calvert City; Eddy Grove Vineyard of Princeton; Grand Rivers Tourism; Madisonville Community College; FNB Bank of Mayfield, Murray, Paducah, and Cadiz; Big Apple Café, Cellar Door Wine & Spirits, Farmer & Robertson Family Dentistry, Fidalgo Bay, Gear Up Cycles, Grey's Properties, McConnell Insurance, MSU Town & Gown, Murray Woman's Clinic all of Murray; American Quilter's Society, Dr. Patrick Withrow of Baptist Health, Etcetera Coffeehouse, Paducah Bank, Purchase Area Family Magazine, Rehab Associates, SEVA Fitness, and Yeiser Art Center all of Paducah; and Advanced Cosmetic Surgery of Hopkinsville.
A full schedule of WKMS programming is available online at wkms.org. The station serves over 30,000 listeners in the Four Rivers Region of western Kentucky, southernmost Illinois and northwestern Tennessee with non-stop news and music. Stations include 91.3 WKMS-FM, Murray; WKMS HD-1 and All-Classical HD-2; 90.9 WKMD and WKMD HD-1 and HD-2, Madisonville; 89.5 WKMT, Fulton; and All-Classical 92.5 Paducah, 99.5 Murray, and 105.1 Madisonville. WKMS also offers both channels WKMS HD-1 and HD-2 at wkms.org, where program schedules and more are available. Information’s also available at 1-800-599-4737.
Contact: Membership Coordinator Jenni Todd (270-809-4748 or jtodd14@murraystate.edu)
