(Beaver Dam) There is a lot of uncertainty out there nowadays but one thing you can count on this year: the 2020 Children’s Radiothon will be going on as planned on WBEV and 95X. The 27-hour marathon broadcast will be held during its traditional time slot beginning at 6am on Thursday, June 18th and concluding at 9am on Friday, June 19th. Now in its 23rd year, the Radiothon raises money for local non-profits that work with kids. Good Karma Brands Founder and Chief Executive Officer Craig Karmazin says this is a time when our community needs the Radiothon more than ever.
“Organizations are going to be strapped for money and strapped for resources while unemployment is at an all-time high,” he says, “This isn’t going to be us saying ‘hey we need you to give us money.’ Obviously, those who can we always appreciate that you can contribute, but it will be a great time to get back to the core of the Radiothon which is raising awareness for these organizations and seeing who in the community may want to help these agencies in other ways like through volunteering and other efforts.”
Because of the current health situation, some changes are anticipated. For example, it has yet to be determined if announcers will be live in the studio or broadcasting from their kitchen tables. Among the other challenges this year, finding auction items, many of which had traditionally been things involving travel and large group events. Karmazin says it is going to take some creativity to come up with auction items this year.
“We have the Brewers Radio Network,” he suggests, “you send in a video of your grandkid’s little league highlights and the Brewers announcers will record your little leaguer hitting the game-winning home run or pitching the strike out. There are so many creative things we can do and I think what we’ve seen is when we challenge our teammates they always are able to come up with great things and whenever we’ve challenged this community they’ve always stepped up.”
One thing that will not change is that every penny, 100-percent of any funds raised, will go directly to the non-profits. And this year, we have a record number of non-profits that will be part of the Radiothon.
The agencies include Big Brothers Big Sisters, Green Valley Enterprises, the YMCA of Dodge County, Clothes for Kids, the Watertown Family Center, ARC Dodge County, the PAVE domestic violence shelter, Community Care Preschool, the Dodge County Center for the Arts, Church Health Services, CARE for Recovery, Bo’s Heavenly Club House, the Gathering Source and – new this year – Marsh Haven Nature Center, Youth For Christ, Mayville Open Door and the Fond du Lac Area Foundation/ Beaver Dam Area Community Endowment.
Last year, the Radiothon brought-in $127,350.48, bringing the 22-year-total to $2-million-123-thousand-574-dollars…and change.
