By Andrew MorrisFriday 3 Jul 2015Station NewsReading Time: 2 minutes
Hope 103.2 staff, volunteers and listeners are celebrating after exceeding the Hope 103.2 June Appeal target. The tally sits at $1,104,753.
Supporters dug deep throughout the final day of tally room, taking the tally past the initial $850,000 goal by 4pm.
Station CEO Phillip Randall said he was overwhelmed by the support of donors.
“I’m so thankful that together we’ve been able to provide hope to Sydney,” he said. “I feel incredibly humbled, because nobody has to give, but they do. Not just small amounts, but sacrificial gifts. It’s inspirational.”
He said listeners showed they were really “owning” the station.
Listeners Getting Behind Hope 103.2
“I used to feel we were asking people for donations so we could do “our” ministry, but in the last 10 or 12 years a sense of community has built up, and now there’s a sense that we do this together with our supporters.” he said.
“People are constantly saying online, “This gift is for my radio station”. Listeners have got the concept that this station is theirs. There’s a sense of ownership.
“That is the reason why we’re able to do so much now for our community.”
Station mascot “Tally” the panda kept spirits high throughout the appeal with his comic antics, and volunteers came from across Sydney to take phone calls from donors.
Keeping The Radio Station On The Airwaves
The station’s community relations manager, Justin Kendall, said the June Appeal provides about 25% of the station’s annual funding.
“This appeal literally allows us to stay on air,” he said. “It’s the most cost efficient and effective way for us to raise money as a ministry, and it also gives us a chance to hear from thousands of listeners who have been impacted.
“If we want to grow and look at new ways of sharing the Christian message of hope, we can only do that with the support of listeners.
He said funds raised go towards the everyday running costs of a modern media ministry, as well as the life-changing on-air and online content.
The many channels of broadcast include Hope 103.2, Fresh, Inspire Digital, the website and social media channels, podcasting, and the satellite service.
“The fundraising goal increases each year, to enable the station to be more innovative and reach more people,” Justin said.
Getting More Active On The Web
“For example this year our supporters have enabled us to be more active online on the web and in the social media space, and to prepare for a digital future.”
Highlights of the appeal’s final days included the Wonder Woman Challenge on Monday, inspiring many women to phone in and donate, followed by Tuesday’s Men Of Courage Challenge, and the Buy A Seat On The Metaphorical Bus segment, inspired by listener Colleen, who plays Hope 103.2 on the school bus she drives.