What is the Radiothon?
People from throughout East Tennessee are invited to help make a difference in the lives of countless area children by supporting the 9th annual Star 102.1 Radiothon for East Tennessee Children's Hospital at West Town Mall in Knoxville Thursday and Friday, Apr 22 and 23. Star 102.1 morning personalities Marc & Kim and Frank will broadcast live from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.
The Radiothon will feature compelling interviews with Children's Hospital patients and their families, while Marc & Kim and Frank will encourage listeners to "tune in for children" and make a personal pledge to help Children's Hospital. Listeners also will be encouraged to come by West Town Mall to experience Radiothon firsthand and share their own stories about children they know who have been helped by Children's Hospital.
Unlike many fund-raising events, the Star 102.1 Radiothon offers an opportunity for people in the community to meet the children and parents who will benefit from their generosity.
Children helped by Children's Hospital live in your neighborhood, attend local schools and participate in the same activities as your children or grandchildren. Marc & Kim and Frank hope their listeners will hear these children's stories, know that Star 102.1 is trying to tell East Tennessee more about what Children's Hospital does, call to share their own stories and help buy much needed equipment for the hospital by donating money during the Radiothon.
Children's Hospital is here to help children from across the street or from throughout the region, and every child is helped regardless of their family's ability to pay. All funds raised from the Star 102.1 Radiothon will be used in ways that directly affect the children served by Children's Hospital through programs including
Home Health Care.
Last year's Star 102.1 Radiothon for Children's Hospital raised more than $198,000 to purchase equipment for various departments and services at the hospital. The goal for this year's event is $200,000.
Since it began, the Star 102.1 Radiothon has raised more than $1.2 million for Children's Hospital.
To volunteer to help during the Radiothon or for more information, contact the Children's Hospital Community Relations Office at (865) 541-8165 or e-mail slinkous@etch.com.
How you can help!
Can you do a dollar?
These tough economic times are affecting everyone, and non-profit organizations providing much needed assistance to the community are among the hardest hit; fund-raising is a tough sell as the economy worsens. But what if everybody did just a little bit to help, rather than a few having to do a lot? What if everybody in this area - from Crossville to Knoxville to Sevierville and everywhere in between -- gave $1 to East Tennessee Children's Hospital to support the life-saving and life-changing care that this specialized hospital gives to every child that needs medical help - no matter their race, religion or ability to pay for the medical care received? Star 102.1 is asking everyone in East Tennessee who has been touched by Children's Hospital to give $1 to help this great medical facility for our children. All the money will be "counted" at the Star 102.1 Radiothon for Children's Hospital. It's easy to help. Call Children's Hospital at (865) 541-8165 or send an email to eliston@etch.com and we'll help get you started. Then you can send the dollars you collect to: Radiothon $$$, c/o Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 15010, Knoxville, TN 37901-5010.
Come Dip and Decorate!
The great folks at Krispy Kreme have come up with a way to make raising money at this year’s Radiothon delicious! That’s because Krispy Kreme is turning the Dippin’ Doughnut Station into the Dippin’ Donation Station, just to help Children’s Hospital and increase donations to the Star 102.1 Radiothon.
This special doughnut station allows kids of all ages to decorate their own doughnut with a variety of yummy toppings – from chocolate sauce to colorful sprinkles. Then instead of paying for the tasty treat, Krispy Kreme asks that each doughnut dipper contribute whatever they can to Children’s Hospital.
So get your taste buds ready and visit the Dippin’ Donation Station to benefit Children’s Hospital at the Star 102.1 Radiothon. The doughnut fun will take place midday during the Star 102.1 Radiothon at West Town Mall on both Apr 22 and 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Buy an icon:
Local businesses are selling paper icons to benefit the Radiothon. Icons sell for $1 each, and purchasers can write their name on the icon, which is then posted in the place of business where it was purchased.Proceeds of the sales benefit the Radiothon. Icons are currently available at Ace Hardware on Clinton Highway and Krispy Kreme Stores in Knoxville. Check back soon for more participating businesses.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteers from throughout the East Tennessee community will staff phone banks, take calls and record pledges, and fill a variety of other volunteer roles during Radiothon. If you would like to be a Radiothon volunteer, call Children's Hospital at (865) 541-8166 or send an e-mail to slinkous@etch.com for details and to sign up.
Click here or call (865) 656-KIDS to make a pledge!
We want to top last year's fund-raising total of $198,000 at the Radiothon for Children's Hospital! A variety of incentives will be offered to encourage participation and donations for the Radiothon. You can make a pledge by phone during the Radiothon or in person at the Radiothon site near JCPenney at West Town Mall.
Stop by and visit:
We hope people from throughout East Tennessee will stop by Radiothon at West Town Mall to listen, share their own Children's Hospital stories and donate money if they desire. Unlike many fund-raising events, Radiothon offers visitors an opportunity to meet the children and families who will benefit from your generosity!
Children's Hospital would like to extend a thank you to our many Radiothon sponsors and supporters:
Star 102.1
Radiothon is hosted by Star 102.1, "your #1 hit music station" with a weekly listening audience of 150,000. Star 102.1 is also a long-time supporter of Children's Hospital through a variety of events each year, in addition to the Radiothon.
Children's Miracle Network
Children's Miracle Network
is an international non-profit organization dedicated to helping children by raising funds and awareness for 170 children's hospitals throughout North America, including East Tennessee Children's Hospital. Each year these hospitals treat more than 17 million children with diseases, injuries and birth defects of every kind. One hundred percent of every dollar raised in a community through Children's Miracle Network events such as the Radiothon stays in that community to help the children served by that area's participating hospital.
Independent Order of Foresters (IOF)
Independent Order of Foresters (IOF) has been a proud sponsor of the Children's Miracle Network since 1990. The IOF is a million-member international fraternal benefit society that provides benefits and a range of financial products and services to its members and serves communities through fund-raising activities, local projects and volunteerism, with a particular emphasis on helping children. IOF has underwritten the entire Radiothon effort for the Children's Miracle Network since 1998. As the international title sponsor of Radiothon, IOF helped raise more than $50 million in the United States and Canada in 2006 for Children's Miracle Network hospitals and the children they serve.
WBIR TV Channel 10
WBIR TV Channel 10 is a longtime supporter of Children's Hospital. As the broadcast sponsor of the local broadcast of the Children's Miracle Network Telethon since its inception in 1983, Channel 10 has helped Children's Hospital over the past 28 years to raise more than $30 million just through that one event. Channel 10 also serves as a major sponsor of the annual Fantasy of Trees holiday fund-raiser, which raised more than $350,000 for Children's Hospital this past November.
West Town Mall
West Town Mall,
the site for Radiothon again this year, is located on Kingston Pike at Morrell Road in West Knoxville. The mall features five department stores, a six-level parking garage, a nine-screen Regal Cinemas with stadium seating and a wide variety of other merchandisers 
(including jewelry and accessories; books, cards, gifts and toys; apparel for men, women and children; home furnishings; music, electronics and video; shoes; specialty shops; and sporting goods).
