4-5-2012
WBLS-FM in New York will be awarded the "Service to Community" award and WBHJ-FM in Birmingham will be honored with the "Service to Children" award from the NAB Education Foundation. More details on what both stations accomplished are listed below. The ceremony will take place at the Celebration of Service to America Awards dinner Monday, June 11, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
"Local broadcasters' public service efforts reach local communities in ways that other media entities cannot replicate," said NABEF President Marcellus Alexander. "The NAB Education Foundation proudly honors the recipients of this year's Service to America Awards for their unwavering commitment to enhancing the communities they serve."
SERVICE TO CHILDREN AWARDS
WBHJ-FM Birmingham, Ala.
Owner: Cox Media Group
WBHJ has put the spotlight on Birmingham's youth, making it their mission to promote education and community involvement, and answer to children in need. Through on-air promotions, liners and live and recorded breaks, WBHJ supported a plethora of initiatives such as the annual Back to School Rally, which supplies disadvantaged children with school supplies, and Diploma Day, in partnership with The Maranathan Academy, to encourage high school drop-outs to enroll in programs to obtain their GEDs. At the holidays, through Project Santa, WBHJ provided children in need with Christmas gifts. WBHJ also played a role in prevention, with on-air personalities visiting schools to speak about the importance of education and libraries to read to children as part of the summer Jamz Reading Program. In addition, WBHJ put an emphasis on creativity and community involvement by featuring sports teams, inviting youth to take over the JAMZ station for one night and through a Fall Festival for children and families.
SERVICE TO COMMUNITY AWARDS
WBLS-FM New York, N.Y.
Owner: ICBC Broadcasting Holdings
A lack of awareness and education about health has negatively affected the African American community. WBLS has strived to turn this around by creating a Community Health Initiative to bring health-related issues into the public eye. To raise awareness, WBLS provided listeners with a Health Minute covering such topics as high blood pressure, diabetes and sickle cell anemia. WBLS also placed calls to action, partnering with the Red Cross and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. to hold blood drives and raise awareness around blood shortages. Together, they collected enough blood to save over 3,000 lives. Other initiatives, such as the bone marrow drive, resulted in 400 donor registrations. WBLS, in partnership with the Harlem Chamber of Commerce, helped raise community awareness through the 5k Walk/Run for Health and also partnered with NBC 4 and New York Nonstop to host a Nonstop Day of Giving, raising close to $195,000 for City Harvest, equivalent to 720,000 pounds of food for those in need.
The Celebration of Service to America Awards are sponsored and produced by NABEF with major support from Hubbard Broadcasting Inc., Bonneville International Corporation and the National Association of Broadcasters. In recent years, Academy Award-winning actor Jeff Bridges, entertainment industry icon Quincy Jones, legendary rock star Sir Elton John, former President Bill Clinton, First Lady Laura Bush, Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, boxing legend Muhammad Ali, former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalyn Carter, former First Lady Nancy Reagan, and others have been presented with the Celebration of Service to America Leadership Award at the event. Details about the Celebration of Service to America Awards are available here.
Add a Comment Send This Story To A Friend
