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North Carolina Children's Promise radiothon/telethon set for Thursday, Nov. 20
North Carolina Children’s Hospital will reach out to more than 1 million people across the state Thursday, Nov. 20, in its seventh annual live fundraiser, which will be aired on radio and television.
Nov. 17, 2008
Curtis Media Group, Time Warner Cable partner with N.C. Children’s Hospital for N.C. Children’s Promise radiothon/telethon
North Carolina Children’s Hospital will reach out to more than 1 million people across the state Thursday, Nov. 20, in its seventh annual live fundraiser, which will be aired on radio and television.
That day, radio stations owned by Raleigh-based Curtis Media Group will broadcast the N.C. Children’s Promise live from the Children’s Hospital lobby. Extensive television coverage will be provided as well by Time Warner Cable’s News 14 Carolina, which is a full media partner in the Children’s Promise.
Curtis Media will once again provide entertainment on-site in the Children’s Hospital, to keep the energy of its on-air talent and more than 500 volunteers high. This will include in-person appearances by musical performers Jason Michael Carroll, Jo Dee Messina, Darius Rucker, Heidi Newfield and Jimmy Wayne.
Time Warner Cable will provide advance promotion on many cable networks. Time Warner Cable’s 24-hour local news channel, News 14 Carolina, will also promote the event and will run a special series of stories leading up to the radiothon/telethon. Starting Sunday, Nov. 16, News 14 Carolina anchors and meteorologists will be on location doing two live reports per hour throughout the day.
The radiothon/telethon, which will start at 5 a.m. EST and continue until 11:30 p.m., is the annual culmination of the N.C. Children’s Promise fundraising effort. Listeners and viewers can phone in their contributions at 1-866-9-NC-KIDS (1-866-962-5437) or make donations through the N.C. Children’s Promise Web site at www.ncchildrenspromise.org. Gifts can also be made in advance at the Web site, which includes more information about the event.
Curtis Media will offer an online auction of many items signed by celebrities. A few examples include:
- Guitars signed by Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, and several other well known musicians.
- A UNC basketball signed by Roy Williams.
- A jersey signed by Michael Jordan.
All auction items will be posted on e-Bay.
The radiothon/telethon is also a bilingual affair, thanks to Curtis Media’s 100,000-watt Spanish-language FM radio station, called “La Ley” or “The Leader.” Once again this year La Ley, which broadcasts at 96.9 FM, will actively seek radiothon donations from the estimated 400,000 Latinos who live within its coverage area. Spanish-speaking callers can phone in their donations to (866) 855-8355.
Some local businesses have already raised thousands of dollars for this year’s Children’s Promise. For example, Corks for Kids (led by Chapel Hill Wine Company) is contributing $80,000 and will serve as the sponsor of the phone bank; Pulte Homes is contributing close to $25,000 through their first annual charity golf tournament and their company is sponsoring the stage and hospitality suite; Time Warner Cable's annual golf tournament made North Carolina Children’s Hospital the beneficiary with a gift of $16,000; and Talecris is sponsoring the electronic total board with a sponsorship gift of $35,000.
SunTrust Bank is sponsoring the on-site donation collection box and will be providing a matching gift of $10,000 toward the event. Performance Subaru is sponsoring The N.C. Children's Promise Celebration drawing. All callers who make a $12 x 12 month credit card pledge or gift throughout the day will be entered into a drawing for a 13-month lease on a 2009 Subaru Forester.
Media contact: Danielle Bates, 919-843-9714 or danielle_bates@med.unc.edu