Channeling my inner Jerry Lewis

[Greg Goodfellow]

I'm hosting a radiothon on WRSG, beginning at 6 tonight and running until AT LEAST 6 Saturday night to benefit the TCHS choir. They're $1200 short of their goal to go to Nashville May 5-8 for a competition. I'm concerned that the choir teacher may yet again have to cover the shortfall. I'm banking heavily on wvbroadcasting.net to entertain me during this time. Don't let me down!

[Scott Reppert]

Call me if you need a Rip Taylor/Charlie Callas/Pat Paulsen-type to spice things up. I can go either way...

[Greg Goodfellow]

I was sure I could count on you, Scott!

As of right now, we have $1,125 in both actual monies collected as well as pledges. I've had several Chamber choir members stay all day and will continue through the night. I couldn't ask for a better group-it's certainly the best I've had over the last few radiothons.

I've had one family pledge $200.00 (and they're good for it). Their son sold quite a few boxes of doughnuts. His aunt called and pledged $50.00 if I would play a Michael Jackson song. I gave her "Thriller."

Once we hit that goal, we'll keep on going until 6 p.m. to give them some 'seed money' toward next year's trip.

[Greg Goodfellow]

After an expected lack of pledges overnight, we struggled just to make the $75.00 to hit our $1,200 goal. THEN, it all broke loose. I wish we had video in the studio. The choir sang an excerpt of "My Home Among the Hills" live, then recorded it later. They also did a rap-flavored liner, which is a keeper. We had a gentleman from North Dakota pledge $250 to take us to $2,000. The Wells Inn in Sistersville donated complete spaghetti and meatball dinners for pledgers fulfilling a ten-dollar pledge. We DOUBLED our $1,200 goal, but it STILL kept going! The eventual total was in excess of $2600! Unbelievably, the vast majority of pledgers sent their monies yesterday, so we should actually receive most of the pledged monies.

One of the choir kids said, "We don't do Michael Jackson." That led to a lady pledging $50.00 if they would sing an MJ song, then that was changed to an ADDITIONAL fifty dollars if I would sing as well. I gave the proper warnings and disclaimers, saying "Be careful of what you wish for..." Anyway, a great time was had by all. Several choir members stayed with me all day after school Friday, THEN stayed overnight. Most of them stayed with me all the way.

This radiothon definitely proved the power of Facebook, as there was NO other promotions going on. Choir kids that couldn't be part of the radiothon were connecting with everyone they knew, as well as the choir kids taking part.

There's MUCH more to say about this experience, but I'll leave it at that. This is BY FAR the BEST radiothon WRSG has ever had, in terms of exceeding goals, the behavior of the kids, and the overall response from our audience.

[Scott Reppert]

Congratulations on the success!! Maybe Rip and Charlie and Pat can partake next year!!!

[Greg Goodfellow]

You're on, Scott...I'm holding you to that!

[amayo]

Many congratulations on the success! I've done a fair amount of 'marathon' radio, and TV and I know it's tough!