WASHINGTON, DC - The NAB Education Foundation (NABEF) announced today the winners of the ninth annual Service to America Awards. Winners will be honored at the Celebration of Service to America Awards dinner on Monday, June 11 at The National Building Museum in Washington, DC. The celebration recognizes outstanding community service by local broadcasters.
"Day in and day out, local radio and television broadcasters across America provide a remarkable commitment to serving the public interest with local news, entertainment and charitable endeavors," said NAB President and CEO David K. Rehr. "This year's honorees have gone above and beyond the call of duty and we are proud to recognize their efforts."
This
year's Service to America Awards will honor the following local broadcast
stations:
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
WLEN-FM Adrian, MI
Owner: Lenawee Broadcasting
WLEN serves children of all ages in their community every day through a variety of public service campaigns and programs, including station internships for high school students and the sponsorship of a daily ninety-minute elementary school broadcast.
Television
WCIV Mt. Pleasant, SC
Owner: Allbritton Communications Company
WCIV's commitment to children includes a project entitled "Lowcountry's Promise" that highlights the needs of a failing school. This program generated concern from mentors and volunteers throughout Mt. Pleasant and helped drastically improve the schools in their community.
Partnership
Awards
Given to one television and one radio station, this award recognizes broadcasters
and their corporate or community partners for exemplary public service.
Television
KMOV St. Louis
Owner: Belo Corp.
Partner: Variety
KMOV's nineteen-year partnership with Variety, the children's charity of St. Louis, has raised nearly $50 million dollars toward services for children with special needs. In 2006, the partnership raised more than $3.4 million with a television project titled "For the Love of the Kids."
Radio
KGO-AM San Francisco
Owner: ABC/Disney
Partner: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
KGO has raised over $14.5 million for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through their Radio Cure-A-Thon. The station involved all staff members during this radioathon and broke a 25-year record last year, raising $1.3 million dollars in 24 hours.
Friend
in Need Awards
These awards honor broadcasters for outstanding service in the face of
natural disasters and other potentially life-threatening situations.
Television
KYTV Springfield, MO
Owner: Schurz Communications
After the deaths of two Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers, KYTV created public service announcements to inform viewers of state laws for approaching emergency vehicles. These announcements have resulted in a state-wide public education effort that has informed citizens and saved lives.
Radio
KFI-AM Burbank, CA
Owner: Clear Channel Radio
During the Esperanza Fire, one of the worst fires in the history of Southern California, KFI-AM provided round-the-clock-local news coverage and updates. After the deaths of five U.S. Forest Service firefighters the station held a fundraiser and raised more than $75,000 in aid to assist their families.
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.
WLKY Louisville
Owner: Hearst-Argyle
WLKY demonstrates its commitment to Louisville through their support and involvement in over twenty causes and activities. From promoting health awareness to supporting children's programs such as Wednesday's Child, WLKY's wide range of pledges enriches the community.
About
the Service to America Awards
The Service to America
Awards are presented by NABEF with major support from Bonneville International
Corporation and the National Association of Broadcasters. Awards will
be presented to local radio and television broadcasters across the nation
for outstanding service to their communities. This year's Leadership Award
winner is legendary rock superstar Sir
Elton John, for his extraordinary humanitarian efforts
in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. In recent years, NABEF has recognized
former President Bill Clinton, Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, First
Lady Laura Bush, former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalyn
Carter, former First Lady Nancy Reagan, boxing legend Muhammad Ali and
former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Details about the Service to America
Awards are available at www.nabef.org/servicetoamerica.
About Bonneville International Corporation
Founded in 1964, Bonneville International Corporation
owns and operates 32 radio stations in the Chicago, Washington, D.C.,
Seattle, Phoenix, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Salt Lake City markets, as
well as KSL-TV (NBC affiliate) in Salt Lake City. Bonneville's motto is
"Do good, do well, make a difference, and have fun." In addition
to competing aggressively in major-market broadcasting by structuring
its business model on the three principles of building its people, making
a difference in the community, and meeting aggressive financial goals,
Bonneville has a tradition of award-winning commitment to the communities
it serves.
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.