Kokomo IN Radio: WWKI We Care Raises $411K+

It was another successful year of fundraising for WWKI 100.5 FM's We Care, which announced a total of $411,820.16 raised for 2015.

The organization announced the total Wednesday morning on Hit Country 100.5, with the final figure tallied from money raised during numerous fundraisers held throughout the year, including a 48-hour telethon, Trim-A-Tree Festival, We Care Store and a Wrap-Up auction.

Becky Varnell, a veteran volunteer for the organization, said announcing the total of We Care's 2015 efforts provoked tears of compassion for what the money will do for the community's members.

Hit Country 100.5 WWKI is involved annually in giving We Care a voice on its radio airwaves. John Spilman, vice president and general manager at Cumulus Media, says the partnership between WWKI and We Care is one that represents how radio and fundraising can work together to serve local communities.

“We’re grateful to be part of We Care’s beginnings and our continued involvement with an organization that has such an impact on the heart of our community,” Spilman said. “We Care started Monday with $411,000 in the bank, then gave it all away. That really hits home.”

Presenting the final check for We Care today! pic.twitter.com/5lPDeMvoLZ

— WWKI 100.5 FM (@HitCountryKI) December 16, 2015

Along with We Care's sanctioned fundraisers, community members host their own fundraisers to contribute to the organization. We Care Park is perhaps one of the brightest of those fundraisers, with a multi-million light display spanning nearly a mile. Kokomo resident Mike Wyant's donates every dime raised from We Care Park to the organization. This year, that amount was $62,000.

We Care is unique in that all money raised goes directly to five of Kokomo's nonprofit organizations – with no administrative costs being removed from the fundraising total.