WASHINGTON, DC -- The NAB Education Foundation (NABEF) announced today the winners of the 10th annual Service to America Awards. Winners will be honored at the Celebration of Service to America Awards dinner on Monday, June 9 at The National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. The celebration recognizes outstanding community service by local broadcasters.
"The remarkable public service commitment demonstrated by radio and television broadcasters across America embodies the true meaning and spirit of localism," said NAB President and CEO David K. Rehr. "We are proud to recognize the efforts of this year's Service to America honorees, and we salute them for their dedication to serving the public interest."
This year's Service to America Awards will honor the following broadcasters:
Service
to America Television Award
This award recognizes a television station for the totality of its efforts
and its commitment to excellence in serving its community.
WYFF
Greenville, S.C.
Owner: Hearst-Argyle
During 2007, WYFF worked with more than 48 local community organizations on public service and community initiatives. At the core of the station's outreach is its Community Task Force program involving monthly meetings with community leaders to discuss local issues, concerns and ideas. WYFF also has long established relationships with the American Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, the Urban League and the United Way. Other station efforts include the South Carolina Shrinkdown, Safe Kids Upstate, Holiday Sunshine Fund and Virtual Toy Drive.
Service to America President's Special Award
Univision Communications and its local radio and television stations
Univision Communications Inc. became the first media company to launch an original, comprehensive national public service campaign designed to educate and prepare the Hispanic community for the transition to digital television. Launched on October 1, 2007, this national multi-platform public service campaign includes PSAs featuring some of Univision, TeleFutura and Galavisión’s most popular hosts, a Web presence, 30-minute television specials, local newscasts and local outreach efforts.
Service
to Children Awards
These awards spotlight television and radio stations for outstanding programs,
campaigns and public service announcements produced for the benefit of
children.
Radio
KSTP-FM Minneapolis, Minn.
Hubbard Radio
The annual "KS95 for Kids Radiothon," which raised more than $912,000 in 2007, is more than an annual event. It is a year-round partnership between KSTP, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare and Children's Cancer Research Fund that impacts children and families dealing with cancer and other health challenges. Since 1999, the annual 60-hour broadcast has raised more than $9.5 million.
Television
KRGV Weslaco, Texas
Manship Family Stations
Located near the Texas-Mexico border of the Rio Grande Valley, KRGV serves a unique population. Many families in this area live in poverty, and the needs of the children in this community are great. From providing coats, school supplies and library books to helping students prepare for college through its "Gear Up" and "Masterminds" efforts, KRGV helps provide opportunities for needy children to meet their potential.
Service
to America Friend in Need Awards
These awards honor broadcasters for outstanding service in the face of
natural disasters and other potentially life-threatening situations.
Radio
WYCT Pensacola, Fla.
ADX Communications
When WYCT learned that a local Naval Reserve Unit in their community was deploying to Kuwait, they decided to make them a part of the family. The station got to know the men and women of Battalion 11, broadcast their stories and saw them off when they left for the Middle East. For Thanksgiving, the station sent a member of their morning show to the Middle East to deliver "Letters from Home." In just three days, the station received more than 14,000 letters, far exceeding their goal of 3,000.
Television
KTVB-TV Boise, Idaho
Belo Corp.
In March 2007, KTVB News Group took on the issue of methamphetamine use and became the exclusive media contributor to "March Against Meth." The station dedicated 100 percent of its public service resources to this statewide month-long campaign to educate adults and children. Moreover, the campaign resulted in the Idaho Governor's involvement in launching the Idaho Meth Project and created new support for building the area's first detox center.
Service
to America Partnership Awards
Given to one television and one radio station, these awards recognize
broadcasters and their corporate or community partners for exemplary public
service.
Radio
Omni Broadcasting
Partner: Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota
Omni Broadcasting Company consists of ten FM radio stations and two AM radio stations in Central and Northern Minnesota. Each December, Omni stations broadcast the annual 24-hour "Radiothon to End Child Abuse." In 2007, Omni stations provided free airtime valued at $276,000. The 2007 radiothon raised over $220,000. More than $2 million has been raised since the partnership began in 1989.
Television
KTVK Phoenix, Ariz.
Belo Corp.
Partners: Fore Adoption Foundation and Aid to Adoption of Special Kids
Since "Are You My Family" premiered in June 2006, 59 children have been featured on the KTVK newscast and on the web. Of those, 32 have been matched with adoptive families - well over twice the rate at which these children are normally adopted. In 2007, the station also produced a special half-hour program to explain the adoption process. Because of the success of this special partnership, the state agency responsible for these children is considering expanding the strategy throughout the state of Arizona.
Service
to America College Radio Award
This award recognizes a non-commercial or commercial tax-exempt college
radio station for its efforts to serve its community.
WCRX
Chicago, Ill.
Columbia College Chicago
WCRX Radio, Columbia College Chicago, is deeply connected to the students and to the community it serves. From a food drive to benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository and its Job Outlook '07 to award-winning student produced PSAs and original programming, WCRX provides excellent student opportunities and experiences, creating future broadcast leaders. In 2007, WCRX won two student production awards from College Broadcasters, Inc. - one for best documentary and one for best PSA.
In addition to recognizing broadcasters for outstanding service to their local communities, NABEF's highest honor, the Leadership Award, will be presented to Quincy Jones. The Samaritan Award will be presented to Randy Owen who will accept the award on behalf of Country Cares for St. Jude Kids.
About
The Celebration of Service to America Awards
The Celebration of Service to America Awards are sponsored and produced
by NABEF with major support from Bonneville International Corp. and the
National Association of Broadcasters. In recent years, legendary rock
star Sir Elton John, former President Bill Clinton, First Lady Laura Bush,
Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani,
boxing legend Muhammad Ali, former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady
Rosalyn Carter, and former First Lady Nancy Reagan have been presented
with the Celebration of Service to America Leadership Award at the event.
Details about the Celebration of Service to America Awards are available
at www.nabef.org/ServicetoAmerica.
About
Bonneville International Corp.
Founded in 1964, Bonneville International’s heritage traces its early
roots to KSL Radio, which first went on the air in July of 1922 (originally
as KZN) in Salt Lake City and to KSL-TV, which had its on-air debut in
1949. Bonneville currently owns and operates 31 radio stations in the
Chicago, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Phoenix, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and
Salt Lake City markets, as well as KSL 5 Television (NBC affiliate) in
Salt Lake City. The company’s working motto is “Do good, do
well, make a difference, and have fun,” and it structures its innovative
and successful business model on the three principles of 1) building its
people, 2) making a difference in its communities, and 3) meeting aggressive
financial goals. Bonneville enjoys a long-standing reputation and is known
industry-wide for its values-oriented programming and its nationally recognized
and award-winning commitment to serving the communities where it broadcasts.
About
NABEF
The NAB Education
Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the public
interest in supporting and advocating: education and training programs,
strategies to increase diversity, initiatives stressing the importance
of the First Amendment, community service, philanthropy and timely broadcasting
issues.
About
NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association that advocates
on behalf of more than 8,300 free, local radio and television stations
and also broadcast networks before Congress, the Federal Communications
Commission and the Courts. Information about NAB can be found at www.nab.org.
