Public Radio Launches Spring Fund-Raiser

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — National Public Radio affiliate, KUAF 91.3 FM, will launch its spring on-air fund-raiser Saturday, March 24. With an eight day goal of $140,000, this campaign will be one of the most ambitious in the station’s 22-year history. The spring fund-raiser is one of two annual on-air campaigns.

“Together with $125,000 raised during last fall’s fund-raiser, these funds will provide KUAF with 22 percent of this year’s $1.2 million operating budget,” said Rick Stockdell, KUAF general manager. “We’ve conducted two on-air fund-raisers per year since spring of 1989, so this will be number 37.” In addition to the semi-annual fund-raisers, in 1987 listeners responded to a special on-air campaign by contributing $20,000 to fund the station’s conversion to 100,000 watts - the strongest signal allowed by the Federal Communications Commission.

Volunteers, drawn from a pool of approximately 75 people, will be on hand during the spring fund-raiser to answer phones and take payments and pledges. Dozens of area restaurants have contributed food and refreshments to feed volunteers throughout the eight-day event.

Unlike most public television and radio stations, KUAF does not use "premiums" - coffee mugs, tote bags, and other trinkets - to entice donations. “We like to use the money we raise on quality programming,” said Leigh Wood, KUAF membership director. “Our listeners have told us that they contribute to preserve good programming, and not for a tote bag they might receive.”

KUAF, with a weekly audience of more than 55,000 listeners, broadcasts throughout northwest Arkansas, and into southern Missouri, eastern Oklahoma and the River Valley.

For more information about the March 24-31 fund-raiser, or to volunteer, go to http://www.kuaf.com, or call (479) 575-7259.