By Jenni Todd
Murray, KY – Media Release: WKMS Fundraiser Partners with Project Aids Orphan
Date: 2-21-11
Contact: Kate Lochte (kate.lochte@murraystate.edu or 800-599-4737)
Murray, KY -- Murray State's public radio service WKMS is partnering with a local non-profit in its first fundraiser of 2011. Each pledge benefitting WKMS also generates a gift to Project Aids Orphan (PAO) from The Cappock Family of Paducah.
Listener contributions to WKMS generate the station's operating budget, funding programming costs and more. WKMS provides two separate channels of 24 hour programming, one of which is news and a variety of music, the other all-classical music. The station has expanded its coverage area, now reaching as far southwest as Union City, Tennessee and as far northeast as Owensboro, Kentucky. Listeners in western Kentucky, southernmost Illinois, and northwest Tennessee depend on WKMS for news, music and cultural programs unique on the dial in the region.
Mike Cappock says his family's been involved with the PAO organization for years and this year decided they could do more. The Cappock Family's $1.50 gift to Project Aids Orphan for each WKMS pledge received represents what it costs to feed one elementary school student breakfast, lunch and dinner for one day. Cappock says this project is his family's community service project for the year. The Cappocks opted to sponsor school meals of beans and rice after discovering that 98% of students graduated primary school the pioneer year of the food program, compared to only 55% the year before. Cappock says, "It proves that if you help one person by paying it forward,' they will go on to help a multitude of others and improve our world."
WKMS appreciates the Cappock gift because it involves the station and its contributors in a locally-based community effort with an international impact. Project AIDS Orphan is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Paducah. The idea for PAO began when co-founders Paul Bilak of Paducah and David Okong'o of Kandaria, Kenya noted the dire needs of children who have been orphaned by the AIDS crisis. Kandaria is a poor community of about 6,000, many of whom live and suffer at or below the poverty level. With more than 300 elementary school children in need in just one community, Bilak notes that there are many heartbreaking stories, but "the stories of our successes are very encouraging." See more at www.projectaidsorphan.org.
See a schedule of WKMS programs at www.wkms.org, where there's a secure pledge page for making contributions online. Contributions may also be mailed to WKMS at 2018 University Station, Murray, KY 42071. Checks should be made payable to WKMS/MSU Foundation. Murray State's public radio service includes 91.3 WKMS, Murray; WKMS HD-1 and All-Classical HD-2; 90.9 WKMD, Madisonville; 89.5 WKMT, Fulton; 99.5 Paris, TN; and All-Classical 92.5 Paducah and 101.5 Madisonville. The station streams both WKMS HD-1 and HD-2 at www.wkms.org.