MISSOULA – Montana Public Radio’s annual spring fundraiser, delayed two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, concluded this week with over $610,000 in listener pledges.
At the end of the pledge drive at 9 a.m. Monday, the tally reached $613,156, concluding the six-day event that raised more than 94% of the $650,000 goal. There were 4,495 listener pledges during the on-air fundraiser, which ran June 3-8.
“We are so thankful to our dedicated listeners who pledged their financial support to MTPR,” said Anne Hosler, MTPR’s membership director. “We are powered by them and will continue to produce great radio for them.”
“We are humbled by the support of our MTPR listeners,” said Ray Ekness, director of the University of Montana Broadcast Media Center. “They have truly made MTPR what it is today with outstanding news, music, information and children’s programming.”
The drive included the popular “Pet Wars,” where owners donated in honor of their beloved animals. Dogs returned to the top by outnumbering cats 645 to 412. The pet competition also included many pledges for chickens, buzzards, turkeys, owls and more.
“These funds will help us continue production of so many Montana-made programs,” said Michael Marsolek, MTPR program director. “We will continue to work hard for our listeners.”
MTPR needs to raise more than $2 million – 75% of the station’s total operating budget – from listeners, sponsors and events during its fundraising year. Listeners can continue to contribute online or via the mail if they missed making their pledge of support last week.
Montana Public Radio is a public service of UM and broadcasts on 89.1 Missoula (KUFM); 91.5 Missoula, city (K218AI); 91.9 Hamilton (KUFN); 89.5 Polson (KPJH); 90.1 Kalispell, Whitefish, North Valley (KUKL); 90.5 Libby (KUFL); 91.7 Kalispell, city (K219BN); 101.3 Swan Lake (K267BJ); 91.3 Butte (KAPC); 91.7 Helena (KUHM); 91.7 Dillon (K219DN); and 89.9 Great Falls (KGPR).
Learn more at http://mtpr.org.
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Contact: Anne Hosler, MTPR membership director, 406-243-4214, anne.hosler@umontana.edu; Michael Marsolek, MTPR program director, 406-243-4096, michael.marsolek@umontana.edu; Ray Ekness, Broadcast Media Center director and MTPR general manager, 406-243-4154, ray.ekness@umontana.edu.