We were delighted that New York State Senator Richard Funke was able to attend our recent Serving New York Luncheon. Senator Funke is no stranger to NYSBA. He was a broadcaster in Rochester for 40 years and a member of the NYSBA Hall of Fame.
The following stations were recognized for their efforts:
WROC-TV – Willow Center for Domestic Violence
The mission of the Willow Domestic Violence Center is to prevent domestic violence and ensure every survivor has access to the services and support needed along the journey to a safe an empowered life. Their vision is a community free from domestic violence, where healthy relationships thrive.
WROC-TV has worked closely with the Willow Domestic Violence Center to tell its story. Through news stories and a major on air public awareness campaign, WROC-TV was instrumental in telling Willow’s story and re-introducing the Rochester community to this much needed organization and the services it provides. Congratulations to Louis Gattozzi, GM of WROC-TV and Jamie Saunders, Executive Director, Willow Center for Domestic Violence who attended and received awards.
WXXI Public Broadcasting – Hochstein School of Music and Dance
For nearly 40 years, WXXI Public Broadcasting and the Hochstein School of Music and Dance have worked in partnership to bring high quality classical music performances to the Greater Rochester Area. For eight weeks in the fall and eight weeks in the spring, WXXI’s Classical 91.5 and Hochstein offer weekly, free lunchtime concerts that feature performances by some of the finest artists from the Rochester region’s musical community. Broadcasting live from the Hochstein Performance Hall on North Plymouth Avenue, “Live from Hochstein” is the longest running live broadcast concert series in Western New York. The concerts give downtown business people, families, students and visitors an opportunity to enjoy classical music during their lunch hour, free of charge. Radio listeners and concert goers regularly hear live performances by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Hochstein and Eastman School Faculty, local ensembles such as Musica Spei and Madrigalia, and visiting artists-in-residence.
The Hochstein Performance Hall has hosted a number of PBS and NPR personalities over the years, including a live broadcast of NPR’s Talk of the Nation radio talk show. We are pleased to feature this long-standing partnership as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of WXXI. Congratulations to Norm Silverstein, President CEO WXXI Public Broadcasting Council and Peggy Quackenbush, Executive Director of the Hochstein School of Music and Dance, who accepted the awards.
13WHAM ABC/WUHF FOX & The CW Rochester (Sinclair Broadcasting) – “Fill the Bus Food Drive” with Food Link and Wegmans
Each fall, 13WHAM ABC, FOX Rochester & CW Rochester maintain their successful multi-year partnership with Wegmans and Foodlink by sponsoring the annual ‘Fill the Bus’ food drive. As an element of Foodlink’s Back Pack program, eligible children receive a bag in their backpack filled with enough healthy, kid-friendly meals to last them through the weekend. By alleviating their hunger, these children can focus on school and success.
For its commitment, the 13WHAM station group produces an annual PSA to drive awareness of the campaign, which airs across the three stations. Also, the annual kickoff is highlighted on Good Day Rochester – the stations’ morning news broadcast – during live, on-location reports. Regular updates on the event’s success are reported during the course of the food drive.
In its first two years, the Fill the Bus food drive brought in a total of more than 189,000 pounds of food. With the goal of collecting 160,000 pounds of food this past year — enough to fill 40,000 bags of food – the support of 13WHAM helped generate nearly 200,000 pounds of food donated to the program. Mark Dwyer, Communication Specialist for Foodlink and Chuck Samuels, General Manager of 13WHAM ABC, FOX Rochester & CW Rochester were on hand to receive the awards.
Entercom Radio Stations WBZA/WBEE/WCMF/WPXY/ – Lollypop Farm Animal Shelter
Entercom and Lollypop Farm began their partnership in 2015. After meeting with Adrienne McHargue, Director of Communications and Outreach, the stations uncovered different ways in which we could work together to increase the number of pet adoptions. There were short term opportunities targeted in June for Adopt-A-Cat Month and in October for Adopt-A-Dog Month with traditional radio campaigns. There was also a strategic long-term strategy created with WBEE in which the station highlights a weekly Pet of The Week campaign with Terry Clifford. Every Tuesday Lollypop Farm brings a pet that is up for adoption to the Entercom Studios and we film a brief interview that is uploaded to the WBEE Facebook page. Terry Clifford mentions the pet on the air and directs our listeners to check out her video on the station FB page. Since the stations have partnered with Lollypop Farm, WBEE has helped many animals find loving, forever homes with a nearly 100% adoption rate. In addition, Entercom have given Lollypop Farm a greater voice to our listeners by conducting Public Affairs Interviews that have run on all of our stations promoting various events throughout the year. Mike Kearney and Krystal VanAtta, from Entercom, were on hand to receive the awards.
iHeart Media (WHAM/WDVI/WHTK Radio) – “City School Supply Drive” with the Advantage Federal Credit Union
For the second year in a row, 100.5 The Drive teamed up with Advantage Federal Credit Union to collect supplies for the Rochester City School District at each of the AFCU Branches. Vice President, Diane Miller and her team helped to contact teachers from city school districts to pick up the supplies at AFCU to put to use in their classroom for the 2016-2017 school year. This year 100.5 The Drive and the Advantage Federal Credit Union City School Supply Drive was featured on 13 WHAM’s “Bright Spot” Segment. Ashley Pallini and Jessica Waydelis from the Advantage Credit Union as well as Lisa Dornan from iHeart Media were on hand to receive the awards.
WHEC-TV News10 – National Susan B. Anthony House and Museum
The National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House shares her story to gain voting rights for women and equal rights for all. Her home was the headquarters of the National American Women Suffrage Association when she served as its president. True to the mission of their namesake, the Susan B. Anthony House and Museum offers a variety of programs that promote equality and social justice. WHEC has been a major partner helping to promote our missions. For example they provided extensive coverage and promotions of their Annual Luncheon Celebrating Women’s Leadership. Sharon Salluzzo, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Susan B Anthony House and Derek Dalton, VP General Manager of WHEC-TV were on hand to accept the awards.
WRMM/WFLK/WZNE Radio (Stevens Media Group) – Veterans Outreach Center
Founded locally in 1973 by returning Vietnam veterans, the Veterans Outreach Centers is the nation’s oldest independent non-profit agency serving veterans of all eras. Today’s Veterans Outreach Center remains anchored in the community and offers a comprehensive portfolio of supportive services designed to meet the needs of veterans and their families. Through the generosity of their community, all of these programs and services are provided free of charge. The center provides comprehensive resources to current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families through direct service, community collaboration, and advocacy. Stevens Media proudly partnered with the Veterans Outreach Center to promote a number of events including: Flag Day campaign; Stars and Stripes Celebration; the “Pound the Ground” 10K run; and the Center’s Job Fair. Todd Baxter, Executive Director of the Veterans Outreach Center and Dino Kay from Stevens Media were present and accepted the awards.
WBSU Radio 88.1 “The Point” – Genesee County Animal Shelter “Pet Pick of the Week”
For the past two years WBSU 89.1 “The Point” has partnered with the Genesee County Animal Shelter in Batavia to feature a shelter pet as their “Pet Pick of the Week”. The pet has their bio read over air as well as their pictured featured on their website, 89.1thepoint.com and social media sites. To this day, every pet featured has been adopted by a loving home in the Greater Rochester area. Justin Sullivan from WBSU attended and accepted the award for the campaign.