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Volunteers are everything at Arc Radiothon
(by Trish Reynolds - May 05, 2008)
The “I Team” of volunteers manned the phones and computers during the nine-hour Arc Radiothon.
STAFF PHOTO BY TRISH REYNOLDS
On Friday, April 18, area business and community leaders took one hour out of their busy schedule and made it count as VIPs (Very Involved People) for the Arc. By participating in and manning a phone at the annual Arc Radiothon in Hackettstown, they helped raise money to benefit more than 1,100 developmentally challenged individuals.
WRNJ Oldies 1510, SASCO Insurance and Hackettstown Ford sponsored the Seventeenth Annual Radiothon for the Arc from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the showroom of Hackettstown Ford. Deirdre Bryant, ABC Radio Network correspondent provided line on-air coverage through the day, updating listeners and interviewing those participants who were calling out for pledges.
According to Arc Development Director, Kevin Guyette, involving local community is the key to personalizing this event, which has become one of Warren County’s largest networking outreach fundraisers.
Kevin Guyette, Arc director of development, on the air with Deirdre Bryant, ABC Radio Network.
STAFF PHOTO BY TRISH REYNOLDS
“Deirdre’s continuous updates and interviews with Radiothon VIPs, Arc staff and families, and our consumers helps put a ‘face’ on The Arc and helps WRNJ’s listeners understand these are real people – their neighbors, customers, and perhaps employees – who are all part of The Arc family,” she said. “Once they hear how important Arc services are to strengthening families who are affected by developmental disabilities, it’s immediately clear that their donation to Radiothon really can make a difference.”
The first Radiothon for the Arc went on the air in 1991. It has since become the largest fundraising event of the year. According to Bob Pruznicc, Arc’s executive director, “…the generous response of WRNJ’s audience over the years has sustained our system of interventions and maintained The Arc’s capacity to answer the needs of our deserving consumers and their families.”
This year the event raised approximately $62,000 through donations from $2 to a very generous $3,000 from a big-hearted indi-vidual. Volunteers manned phones in one-hour shifts, making calls to area personal and professional contacts. The most popular pledge was a $300 campership, which sponsors a child or adult with disabilities for one week at The Arc’s Camp Warren in Knowl-ton Township.
“Camp Warren is a 35-acre site that offers a safe and secure camp experience for a number of children and adults who never be-fore have had an opportunity to spend time away from home,” Pruznick added. “It also offers much-needed respite for their families, who often are overwhelmed by the care their child or adult family member requires.”
Established in the mid-1960s, Camp Warren offers arts and crafts, swimming, hiking, music, day trips, special event picnics, and more. Day and overnight camp sessions are available.
Sponsored by WRNJ Oldies 1510/AM and co-chaired by Norman Worth, president and general manager of WRNJ Oldies 1510, and Jim Travis, president of SASCO Insurance Services, Inc., Radiothon 2007 welcomes new and return VIPs who helped exceed this year’s goal of $60,000 by $2,000.
“The work The Arc does 52 weeks a year is certainly worthy of the two or three weeks’ work we do in support of Radiothon and The Arc,” said Worth. “Spending a little time asking friends to help support the cause and raise some money to send kids to camp is nothing compared to the relief that week gives to their families.”
VIPs are asked to bring their customer and contact lists, Rolodexes, Palm Pilots, (even Christmas card lists) to secure pledges. All mailing and follow-up is maintained by The Arc for ease of VIP participation.
“Radiothon is my give-back,” said Travis. “You know that old saying ‘There but for the grace of God?’ You do it because you can.”
Trish Reynolds' e-mail address is reynolds@northjersey.com.
Cutlines:
Arc Radio Kevin:
Kevin Guyette, Arc director of development, on the air with Deirdre Bryant, ABC Radio Network.
STAFF PHOTO BY TRISH REYNOLDS
Arc volunteers:
The “I Team” of volunteers manned the phones and computers during the nine-hour Arc Radiothon.
STAFF PHOTO BY TRISH REYNOLDS
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