By Kyle Peveto, Page Editor
KACU surpassed their goal and raised more than $27,630 in the semi-annual pledge drive that ended Wednesday.
The drives, which run for seven days each semester, provide one-third of the $200,000 operating costs of the station each year. ACU and the corporation for public broadcasting provide the other two-thirds of the cost.
Volunteers worked 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Oct. 9 to Wednesday, except Saturday and Sunday, when the drive only lasted five hours.
The drive ended Wednesday at 4 p.m.
When contributors phoned in pledges, a mix of individuals and corporations matched the amount they donated, said Terri Patterson, membership director for KACU. Pledges received in the mail are not matched.
About 200 students volunteered to take pledges over the week after teachers offered some incentives to work.
“I’m in Media Issues (journalism and mass communication class), and they said we get extra credit for it,” said Lauren Hart, freshman integrated marketing communication major from Austin.
About 100 others volunteered from the community to speak on the air or provide other services.
Volunteers included school superintendents, city officials and Mayor Grady Barr.
KACU’s theme for the drive was “KACU is Cooking,” and gifts given to those pledging reflected that.
For a gift of $35, the giver was thanked with a KACU coffee mug. For $60, givers received a cookbook. Givers received a bottle of olive oil and the cookbook for a donation of $120.
When givers added $10 to a basic gift, they were given CDs by various classical, jazz, folk and new age artists. KACU gave Abilene Philharmonic tickets for gifts over $120 and Grace Museum memberships for those over $60. Sharon Allen, of Lytle Land and Cattle Co., will give a dinner party for those who contributed over $500.
KACU is a not-for-profit station operating at 33,000 megawatts, and it is the National Public Radio affiliate for Abilene.
KACC began operation 50 years ago but could only be heard on campus and was used mainly for training and teaching students about broadcasting, said John Best, program director for the station.
The station in its current format opened in 1986, and it has been a National Public Radio affiliate ever since then.
NPR’s most popular program is A Prairie Home Companion, a variety show with stories, songs and comedies.
