WMUK begins spring fund drive
April 16, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University's public radio station, WMUK 102.1 FM, has begun its spring fund-raising drive with a goal of $150,000.
Phone pledging for the annual on-air drive runs April 20-26, with a promise to immediately return to regular programming if the goal is reached sooner. Listeners are already supporting the station with mail-in and online pledges, and by April 9, WMUK was one-third of the way to its goal. Internet donations are increasing popular, station officials report, with secure pledging available through the Web site <www.wmuk.org>.
"This is a very important campaign to us," says Floyd Pientka, general manager. "It begins out 51st year and will help set the pace for 2002 programs." The spring on-air drive pays for programming from National Public Radio, Public Radio International and the BBC, as well as funding local and regional productions.
In 2001, its 50th anniversary year, the station also launched a capital equipment and endowment campaign. In July, WMUK received a $450,000 challenge grant from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation for the capital campaign, which also has produced 126 donations and pledges. "We are happy that our donors understand the difference between the capital campaign and the on-air fund drive for program support-and the need for both," says Pientka. "Right now, we're working to make our fund-drive goal as quickly as possible to minimize interruption of our regular programming."
Media contact: Jessica English, 269 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu