“Sustain KUAC” KUAC Spring Fundraiser brings over $80,000 in Community Support to KUAC!
During the KUAC Spring Fundraiser, we focused on bringing new donors and new sustaining donors into the KUAC family. Over three days of sustaining fundraising to support Interior Alaska’s public broadcasting station, we were again amazed by the generosity and enthusiasm that our supporters exhibited. The 2015 spring grand total added up to a preliminary $72,500 (which doesn’t include the challenge dollars)!
More than 385 gifts were made to KUAC between April 10-12, including 49 new donors & 103 sustaining, monthly gifts. The 2015 spring fundraiser average pledge was an incredible $188.
Our biggest fundraising incentive was, once again (again!), the tremendous “challenge” put forth by Jack Wilbur, CFO and Chris Miller, President of Design Alaska. Through their combined efforts, KUAC received nearly 100 total new sustaining pledges, each with a match of $100 for a total of almost $10,000. KUAC continues to be astounded by the response to this new way of giving and we have Design Alaska to thank for making it so much more powerful.
Challenges from Nicole Stewart and Sourdough Fuel & Food Marts, Fairbanks Sand & Gravel, IBEW’s Craig Van Amberg, Nadia Bacon’s Beat Beethoven, Alaska Women of Caliber and Don Hampton & Anne Ruggles New Donor Challenge added even more community spirit.
Our University of Alaska community joined in with phone bank volunteers and on-air talent from numerous departments and campus organizations, including the UA Museum of the North, the Geophysical Institute, School of Journalism, Cooperative Extension, SNAP & ACCAP, OIT, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, General Counsel, Music Department, Office of Admissions & Registrar, UAF eLearning & Distance Education, Faculty Development, Advanced Institution Laboratory, UA College Savings Plan, UAF Student Recreation Center and University Women’s Association.
We saw a parade of folks from all around the community– including performances from the Fairbanks Youth Orchestra and the UAF Music Department, plus volunteers from a range of businesses and services, government and military agencies, education and religious organizations including: Fairbanks Children’s Museum, Contra Borealis Dancers, Peace Corps Alumni, Eielson Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team, The Cole Family, Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Access Alaska, The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Northern Alaska Environmental Center, North Star Ballet, Water Wagon, Spruce Tree Montessori, Dark Winter Nights, APEA/AFT, Fairbanks Arts Association, Alaska Women of Caliber and our own KUAC Community Advisory Council.
We extend heartfelt thanks to the businesses and organizations that made this fundraising drive extra-tasty and energized us with food and drink donations:
Alaska Coffee Roasting Company, Fairbanks Bottled Water Company, Fairbanks Distributors, Fred Meyer, LuLu’s Bread & Bagels, LUNCH, Odom Corporation, River City Café & Espresso, Sourdough Fuel & Food Marts, the UAF Pub, and UAF Catering Services. Even our volunteers and staff brought in goodies and helped with pick-ups over the course of the week: Joan Busam, Lori Neufeld and Lisa Sporleder, thank you all!
More than 200 folks came in to volunteer. We signed up three new KUAC Kids Club members, hosted a puppy from service training group “The Other Paw”, and overall reaffirmed the importance of KUAC in its ever-expanding community. What a great way to spend a weekend!
Hard to imagine all of this fun? See the Facebook photos from the 2015 Spring Fundraiser!
