MEMPHIS, Tenn. (April 16, 2012) –
Radio One syndicated shows and
inspiration stations raised more than $1
million through the fifth annual
Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids
national event to help
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
provide the best care to the world’s
sickest children at no cost to their
families.
The all-day radio
event on April 5 began at 6 a.m. with
the Yolanda Adams Morning Show
and ended at 11 p.m. with the CoCo
Brother Live show and other
syndicated inspiration shows and
stations in 11 participating markets
across the country, all asking listeners
to donate to St. Jude.
The Radio Cares
national event highlights St. Jude
patient testimonials and exciting radio
promotions. Since 2008, the Radio Cares
for St. Jude Kids program has raised
more than $14 million in cash and
pledges through the support of nearly 60
Radio Cares partner stations, including
Radio One affiliates, to help tens of
thousands of children like
eight-year-old Emmanuel, who was
diagnosed with retinoblastoma, an
aggressive eye tumor. Today, Emmanuel
and children like him live happy,
healthy lives because they are receiving
the best medical care and their families
will never have to pay St. Jude for
anything. Emmanuel and his family shared
their moving story live with listeners
in Houston and reminded them of why
their donations are important. It costs
$1.7 million to operate the hospital
each day and more than 75 percent of
that funding is from the generosity of
individual donors.
In Atlanta,
syndicated radio host CoCo Brother
generated a record-breaking $250,000
during his four-hour show.
“Our listeners
continue to show their support for St.
Jude in a big way, year after year,”
said Yolanda Adams of the Yolanda
Adams Morning Show. “They really
demonstrate through the spirit of giving
how their hearts are touched by these
beautiful patients and their personal
stories.”
This year’s event
also welcomed the support of the
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC),
composed of African-American
international Greek letter sororities
and fraternities, who launched a
Call to Service for St. Jude
campaign in March as a lead into the
annual radio event. Members of the
organizations also volunteered at Radio
One stations to answer phones and take
pledges during the national Radio Cares
for St. Jude Kids event.
“It is because of
the support of organizations like Radio
One, and the National Pan-Hellenic
Council, and people like Yolanda Adams
and CoCo Brother that St. Jude continues
to treat the world’s sickest children
with the best care, all while ensuring
that no family ever pays St. Jude for
anything,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO
of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital. “We appreciate their
commitment to the St. Jude mission of
finding cures and saving children as
well as the generosity of all the
listeners who have joined the fight
against childhood cancer and other
deadly diseases.”
Several celebrities
around the country volunteered during
the national radio event by answering
phones and speaking with radio
personalities about St. Jude.
Participating celebrities included R&B
singer/songwriter Musiq Soulchild,
award-winning gospel music artist James
Fortune and gospel music artist Dorothy
Norwood.
At the conclusion of the morning shows,
the 11 participating affiliate markets
continued the radio event into the
evening through the commitment of local
on-air personalities. Participating
stations were located in Houston, Texas;
Atlanta, Ga.; Raleigh and Charlotte,
N.C.; Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio;
Richmond, Va.; Detroit, Mich.;
Philadelphia, Pa.; Indianapolis, Ind.
and Washington, D.C. Donations can still
be made towards the Radio Cares for St.
Jude Kids event by calling
1-800-411-9898.
When St. Jude
opened its doors 50 years ago, it was
the first fully integrated children’s
hospital in the South. African-American
and white patients were treated in the
same rooms; they dined together; and
bathroom facilities were integrated. St.
Jude was the first to develop a cure for
sickle cell disease with a bone marrow
transplant and has one of the largest
pediatric sickle cell programs in the
country, treating about 800 children a
year. In addition, St. Jude shares these
discoveries with doctors everywhere.
About St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital:
Since opening 50 years ago, St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital has changed
the way the world treats childhood
cancer and other life-threatening
diseases. No family ever pays St. Jude
for the care their child receives and,
for every child treated here, thousands
more have been saved worldwide through
St. Jude discoveries. The hospital has
played a pivotal role in pushing U.S.
pediatric cancer survival rates from 20
to 80 percent overall, and is the first
and only National Cancer
Institute-designated Comprehensive
Cancer Center devoted solely to
children. It is also a leader in the
research and treatment of blood
disorders and infectious diseases in
children. St. Jude was founded by the
late entertainer Danny Thomas, who
believed that no child should die in the
dawn of life. Join that mission by
visiting stjude.org or
following us on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.
About Radio One:
Radio One, Inc. (www.radio-one.com)
is a diversified media company that
primarily targets African-American and
urban consumers. The Company is one of
the nation's largest radio broadcasting
companies, currently owning or operating
54 broadcast stations located in 16
urban markets in the United States. As a
part of its core broadcasting business,
Radio One operates syndicated
programming including the
Russ Parr Morning Show, the Yolanda
Adams Morning Show, the Rickey Smiley
Morning Show, CoCo Brother Live, CoCo
Brother's "Spirit" program, Bishop T.D.
Jakes’ “Empowering Moments”, the
Reverend Al Sharpton Show, and the
Warren Ballentine Show. The Company also
owns a controlling interest in Reach
Media, Inc.
www.blackamericaweb.com owner of the
Tom Joyner Morning Show and other
businesses associated with Tom Joyner.
Beyond its core radio broadcasting
business, Radio One owns Interactive One
www.interactiveone.com an online
platform serving the African-American
community through social content, news,
information, and entertainment, which
operates a number of branded sites,
including News One, UrbanDaily,
HelloBeautiful, Community Connect Inc.
www.communityconnect.com an online
social networking company, which
operates a number of branded websites,
including BlackPlanet, MiGente, and
Asian Avenue. In addition, the Company
owns a controlling interest in TV One,
LLC
www.tvoneonline.com a
cable/satellite network programming
primarily to African-Americans.
About the National Pan-Hellenic
Council:
The National Pan-Hellenic Council,
Incorporated (NPHC) is a strategic
alliance currently composed of
Historically African-American
international Greek letter Sororities
and Fraternities. Participating
organizations include: Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, Inc. Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority,
Inc., Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.,
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Phi Beta
Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity, Inc. NPHC promotes
interaction through forums, meetings and
other mediums for the exchange of
information and engages in cooperative
programming and initiatives through
various activities and functions. Our
common interest is service to our
communities and to all mankind.