Portland OR Radio: KWJJ's Medical Debt Payoff Hits $4.1M

Audacy has helped eradicate over $4.1 million in medical debt for over 3,200 people in Oregon and Washington through “Nick and Kristen’s Medical Debt Payoff.” The event, in partnership with RIP Medical Debt, was hosted by 99.5 The Wolf (KWJJ-FM) in Portland and morning show hosts Nick and Kristen on November 14-18.

“This year especially, as Americans grapple with inflation and other economic factors, we’re honored to leverage our voice to help those in need of medical financial support,” said Kim Martinez, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Portland. “Once again, our listeners showed up to support their fellow neighbors, and together, we're able to serve our communities and spread some good.”

Last year’s “Nick and Kristen’s Medical Debt Payoff” helped eradicate over $3.5 million in medical debt.

RIP Medical Debt was founded in 2014 by two former debt collections executives, Craig Antico and Jerry Ashton. Over the course of decades in the debt-buying industry, Antico and Ashton met with thousands of Americans saddled with unpaid and un-payable medical debt and realized they were uniquely qualified to help these people in need. They used their expertise and compassion to create a unique way to relieve medical debt: they would use donations to buy large bundles of medical debt and then relieve that debt with no tax consequences to donors or recipients. From this idea came RIP Medical Debt, a New York based 501(C)(3). Over $7 billion in medical debts has been eradicated so far, providing financial relief for nearly four million individuals and families.