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10-day Spring Fund Drive to Raise $839K

Hawai?i Public Radio kicks off its spring on-air fundraiser, “Challenge 2016,” on April 6 with $839,000 remaining to be raised. The campaign’s overall goal of $961,000 was significantly reduced by nearly 900 early donations (averaging $150 per gift). That original goal is the lowest for any drive since the spring of 2013, a direct result of the steady income stream provided by monthly donors. Challenge 2016 is also the 31st and final drive for Michael Titterton at HPR, who steps down as its President & General Manager on June 30.

Titterton said, “Every time we take to the air with our ringing phones and the even more ringing endorsements of community voices, we know we risk being an annoyance to some, so we strive mightily not to overstay our welcome. With the help of our supporters, we’ll make this spring's fundraiser as short as possible; but this drive, more than others before, has all sorts of reasons to remain tuned in throughout. I’m looking forward to introducing on the air my successor, José Fajardo, and letting him test drive this wonderful vehicle we have for celebrating Hawai?i and its public radio station.”
 
The theme of Challenge 2016 is “The Radio-Philes: The Truth Is Out There,” a takeoff on the TV series  “The X-Files.”  For the first time, the station will be running a contest during the drive, and rewarding a dedicated listener with a grand prize of two free round-trip tickets on Alaska Airlines. To participate in "The Radio-Philes Mystery Message Contest" listeners will need to assemble the daily clues, announced at intervals throughout the drive. The complete quote and the author of the "Mystery Message" must be submitted online by the end of the drive. One winner will be selected at random from the correct submissions. Contest details can be found on the station’s website, www.hawaiipublicradio.org.
 
Additional incentives for new and renewed membership include exclusive events such as dinner at Chef Mavro, tours of Shangri La, concerts with Kuana Torres Kahele, tickets to performing arts events around the state, and the ever-popular Hawaiian Airlines frequent flyer miles. Quantities of these thank you gifts are limited and may be available with pledges during select times only. For the complete list of gifts, see hawaiipublicradio.org/2016-gift-list.
 
From April 6 until the conclusion of the anticipated 10-day drive, the station opens its K?heka Street facility to approximately 150 on-air guests, spokespersons for their business or nonprofit organization, as well as more than 500 volunteers, who staff its phone banks. This year, HPR has committed to making the fund drive a “zero-waste” event. Waste management is being directed by Mindy Jaffe of Waikiki Worm Company, with recycling supplies courtesy of Lanikai School.

Pledges may be called in to
HPR-1: (808) 944-8800; toll-free (888) 970-8800
HPR-2: (808) 941-3689; toll-free: (877) 941-3689

Donations accepted online here.

HPR FAQs:
Number of Sustaining Members (monthly donors): 4,196 (33% of total membership, as of 2/28/16)
Total number of HPR members: 12,602 (as of 2/28/16)
HPR's annual budget: $4.88 million  (compared to $4.15 million in 2013)
Number of facilities in its statewide network: 13 (compared to 8 in 2013)
Electricity costs: $31,000/month
Cost of NPR news magazines: $27,000/month (Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition)
Revenue breakdown:
          63% from membership support
          27% from program sponsorship/underwriting
          7% Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)
          3% Foundations, station events, miscellaneous

Read original press release here

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