Montana Public Radio Concludes 2021 Spring Pledge Week

MISSOULA – Montana Public Radio’s annual spring fundraiser concluded this week with over $560,000 in listener pledges.

At the end of the pledge drive at 9 a.m. Monday morning, the tally reached $566,540 for the six-day event, nearly 81% of the $700,000 goal. There was a total of 3,832 listener pledges during the on-air fundraiser, which ran April 5-12.

“Thanks again for supporting your local, listener-powered Montana Public Radio,” said Anne Hosler, MTPR’s interim development director. “We’re so grateful for your contributions.”

“The work of producing outstanding news, music, information and children’s programming continues thanks to donations from our listeners,” said Ray Ekness, director of the University of Montana Broadcast Media Center. “Our entire staff is truly humbled by the support of our MTPR listeners.”

The drive included the popular “Pet Wars,” where dogs continued their reign at the top by outnumbering cats 594 to 486. The friendly pet competition also included many pledges for chickens, parakeets, guinea pigs, horses, goats 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 make great radio for our listeners.”

MTPR needs to raise $2.1 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.

MTPR 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); 90.9 and 91.7 Dillon (KDWG and K219DN); and 89.9 Great Falls (KGPR).

Learn more at http://mtpr.org.

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Contact: Anne Hosler, MTPR interim development 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.