Bank helps KRCU set fund-raising record

KRCU FM 90.9 raised $10,000 in a record 7 hours and 12 minutes Wednesday, reaching the station's goal of ending its on-air pledge drive the same day it began.

The public radio station received a big push from Wood & Huston Bank, which pledged $5,000 if the station could raise $5,000 on its own in a single day. KRCU went over the top at 1:12 p.m. Wednesday, dispelling fears that preoccupation with Tuesday night's storms in the area could hurt the response. The opposite was true.

"People were very generous," said Mary Kay Poljan, the station's development director. "... I was really worried about it. We found that people who weren't affected maybe were more generous."

Poljan said the station also received substantial contributions from Hilltop Creations in New Hamburg, Mo., and from the Southeast Missourian newspaper. The rest of the $5,000 was raised from 23 individuals. The station's previous single-day fund-raising record was $4,200.

KRCU had postponed its scheduled pledge drive at the end of March because war coverage by National Public Radio left little time for fund-raising breaks. Instead, the station conducted a mail campaign that brought in $20,000 of the $30,000 goal.

Wood & Huston not only pledged $5,000, but also provided 12 employees as on-air and phone volunteers Wednesday.

"Sometimes it is easier to write a check than commit time," Poljan said. "They were willing to do both, and people responded to that."

Barry Randolph, president of Wood & Huston, said the bank became involved with the KRCU campaign through its marketing person. "We were looking for opportunities to spend our money in a good way.."

The bank wanted the station to be responsible for raising part of the money, and also wanted its staff to be personally involved, said Randolph, who spent part of Wednesday on the air.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182