Organizers of the “Save Our Voice” Campaign – a community effort to raise funds to help save the only African American owned and operated radio stations (1420 KRIZ, 1560 KZIZ and 1620 KYIZ) – announced that the campaign is building nationwide momentum.
“We have been actively running this campaign for two and one-half weeks now and we are seeing contributions coming in from all across the country,” said Rev. Ruth Saunders, co-coordinator of the campaign. “We received plenty of support from a lot of heavy lifters and now we just need a few heavy hitters to come through and make some donations.”
According to Saunders, donations from as far away as Connecticut, Georgia, and Florida have come in through the campaigns website (savekriz.com). In addition, national syndicated radio talk-show hosts Warren Ballentine and Rev. Al Sharpton have pledged their support to the campaign. Ballentine, whose show is back on 1620 KYIZ weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., has encouraged his radio listeners every day for the last two weeks to make a donation to the campaign.
“Some people have given as much as one dollar, and others have given as much as $1,000,” said Saunders. “We are asking people to give whatever they can to help save these radio stations, our voice and you truly cannot put a dollar amount on what these radio stations have meant to our community over the last 30 years.”
The goal of the campaign is to raise $1 million by Dec. 31. Organizers say that they have a ways to go in order to meet that goal, but claim the goal can be met with the help of the community.
“We are asking people to make a contribution and then to multiply their gift by reaching out to 10 people and encouraging them to make a donation and then challenge these individuals to reach out to 10 more people,” said Saunders. “If people do that they can see a $20 donation turn into thousands of dollars to help save these stations.
Contributions to the campaign can be made to: Kris Bennett Broadcasting Capital Campaign, 2600 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98144 or by going online to www.savekriz.com
