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HPR Fall Pledge Drive Raises More Than $630,000

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Hawaiʻi Public Radio’s fall fundraising campaign successfully ended on October 28, 2020 with $636,543 in contributions from donors residing in Hawaiʻi, on the continental US, and around the world. Of the 2,277 individuals contributing, 721 were first-time supporters. 

 
This was the first full-length fund drive in more than a year, as the scheduled Spring Pledge Drive was postponed due to the emerging coronavirus pandemic.“Despite the challenges presented by this year, the loyalty and generosity of station members and the local business community has assured HPR’s services have continued without disruption,” said José A. Fajardo, the station’s president and general manager. “The successful conclusion of our Fall Pledge Drive is an affirmation by our listeners of the station’s value and their desire to have HPR working and thriving in our community now and in the future.”

Pledge drives are key to HPR’s financial wellbeing, as 94% of the station’s funding comes from the community. Only 6% of the station’s funds are from federal sources, via the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

In addition to generating operating funds for the station, the pledge drive also resulted in approximately 8,100 meals provided to needy families across the state, through a partnership with Hawaii Foodbank, Maui Food Bank, Hawaii Food Basket, and Hawaii Foodbank Kauaʻi.

Throughout 2020, HPR has delivered reliable, fact-checked news from its own local news team, NPR, and other sources, with coverage of stories such as Hurricane Douglas, the COVID-19 pandemic, and local and national elections. It has also provided listeners with an oasis of classical music on HPR-2, as well as jazz, blues, and eclectic music on HPR-1.

Although the drive has concluded, contributions are always gratefully welcome at members.hawaiipublicradio.org, as well as through the free HPR mobile app. 

Gough brings more than 15 years of marketing experience to her position at HPR. She most recently served as Director of Marketing at Hawaiian Ola, producer of Hawai‘i-made organic beverages. Prior to that, Gough spent five years at Whole Foods Market, where she oversaw marketing and community engagement for their Hawai‘i stores. She also served as one of the founding co-chairs of Generation Listen, an HPR initiative established with the mission of engaging younger listeners with the station.
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