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June Pledge Drive Inspires
WKAR-TV concluded its final on-air membership campaign of the fiscal year on June 8 with a total of $93, 355, considerably short of its $120,000 goal and last June’s total of $120,303. In addition, WKAR received an additional $4,575 for pledges on WKAR Create and $3,041 for WKAR World from a total of 58 viewers.
Jill Westmoreland Ayers, director of annual giving, said that despite the fact the goal was not achieved, there were things that occurred during the campaign that we could all be proud of.
“I have to admit that this is a first time in a long time that I felt what we do [during pledge] really makes a difference to people,” she said. “I was answering phones during Frontline's Bush's War and I got call after call from people who sincerely felt that PBS provides the best information available to them. One older lady was moved to tears when telling me what WKAR meant to her. Another was a young man, probably in his late teens or early 20s, who was watching the program with his father and together they decided that they wanted to support WKAR for the first time because they knew that only PBS could tell the real story.
“So, in spite of the fact that we didn't make our goal, being able to connect with our members like that, made this the best campaign ever for me. I feel proud about what we do.”
Westmoreland Ayers explained that for the first time in many years, a challenge grant was provided by Producers Circle and Sound Vision Society members to solicit new members. “We offered the challenge around Bush's War for new members with a dollar for dollar match,” she said. “We easily succeeded in getting the challenge met and ended up with 23 new donors and 10 expired members renewed.”
Another feature of the drive focusing on WKAR’s core programming schedule was its second Britcom Marathon. “Keeping Up Appearances is due to be renewed so we gave members an opportunity to vote on one of four Britcoms that could be purchased for the coming year, or they could vote to maintain Keeping Up Appearances.”
The winner of the marathon was Vicar of Dibley by three votes!
There are still ways in which you can make a new, renewal or additional gift to WKAR before the June 30 end of the fiscal year. One may pledge here, return a mailing they may have received recently, or call our member services department at (517) 432-9527.
published: June 16, 2008
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