The CBS Local Media stations in Philadelphia — CBS 3, The CW Philly, KYW Newsradio 1060, 98.1 WOGL, 94 WYSP, SportsRadio 610 WIP and The Big Talker 1210 AM WPHT — helped raise more than $575,000 during a 14-hour phone bank today to support the relief effort for Haitian Earthquake victims.
The funds raised came from more than 4,000 phone calls that poured into the CBS 3/CW Philly studios and from local businesses that made contributions including Wawa, Exelon Corporation, the Philadelphia Eagles, Aqua America, Cigna, CheckPoint Systems, SCA Americas, the Philadelphia Insurance Company and the Honnickman Foundation.
Spearheaded by CBS 3/CW Philly Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan, who anchored the entire 14-hour stint — volunteers and on-air personalities from the CBS stations, the Red Cross and Wawa staffed the phone bank from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. with appeals at the top of every hour and in news segments on CBS 3 and The CW Philly. Contributions benefitted the Red Cross International Response Fund.
“We are just overwhelmed at the generosity of our viewers and the business community of Philadelphia,” says CBS 3 /The CW Philly President and General Manager Jon Hitchcock. “They have exceeded all of our expectations.” Marc Rayfield, Senior Vice President and Market Manager for the CBS Radio Stations in Philadelphia, adds, “I’m pleased to see our listeners come through with such a tremendous response. It was extremely gratifying to play even a small role in this important relief effort.”
Tom Foley, Chief Executive Office of the Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter of the American Red Cross, says, “The CBS stations really stepped up to help the victims in Haiti. I’m amazed, but not surprised, by the commitment and swiftness of their response. The money raised by the generosity of CBS viewers and listeners will save lives.”
The Philadelphia CBS stations created Operation Brotherly Love in 2001 as a way to mobilize the Delaware Valley’s response to the 9/11 disaster. Under that same banner, the stations later raised $300,000 for Tsunami victims and more than a $1 million plus for Katrina victims in 2005.
