Urban Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids Raises $1.7M+

Radio One and a network of 51 gospel, R&B and hip-hop stations raised $1.7 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital during Urban Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids March 1st and 2nd.

"Radio One is proud of the effort of our stations, syndicated programs, employees and our highly engaged and loyal listeners for responding to our radiothon in support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital," said Colby Tyner, Vice President, Programming, Radio One. "This partnership is a decade in the making and once again, we exceeded our financial goal. Our mission to represent the community is powerfully demonstrated with this radio event across our stations, proving the continued power of radio to emotionally connect with its listeners and move them to action."

During the event, thousands of Radio One listeners across the U.S. called in or went online to become St. Jude Partners in Hope and joined the #ThisShirtSavesLives  movement by pledging to make a monthly donation of $20 or more. Several popular on-air personalities participated in Urban Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids, including syndicated hosts Tom Joyner, Erica Campbell, Willie Moore, Jr. and Darlene McCoy.

The on-air push coincided with a social media campaign encouraging listeners, employees, and talent to participate by wearing and sharing photos in their THIS SHIRT on their social media channels. To join the THIS SHIRT SAVES LIVES movement, visit: www.thisshirtsaveslives.org.

"It's inspiring to think about the major impact the urban music industry has had on St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and I am so grateful to all of the women and men in gospel radio and fellow artists and friends in the industry who lend their support to the Urban Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids program," said Richard C. Shadyac, Jr. President and Chief Executive Officer of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. "The funds raised are further evidence of the urban music industry's continued commitment and the significant role it plays in helping some of the world's sickest children."

Since its inception, Urban Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids has raised more than $12 million. Radio One stations encourage listeners to become St. Jude Partners in Hope by making a $20 monthly pledge. The on-air talent helps share the mission and vision of the hospital through testimonies from local patient families, updates on new research and new advances in treatment. St. Jude launched the first national broadcast with Radio One stations in Atlanta, Detroit, Washington, DC, Raleigh, N.C., Indianapolis, Houston, Richmond, Va., and Charlotte in 2008. This year, five additional stations were added to grow the footprint and expand further into the UAC format.