A RECORD-SETTING RADIOTHON:
CHARLESTON MEDIA SOLUTIONS RADIO STATIONS RAISE $355,559 for MUSC SHAWN JENKINS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Charleston, SC (March 23, 2025) – Over Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21, hundreds of calls, texts and clicks added up to a record amount of donations, helping children and families from all over the Lowcountry.
Each year, three Charleston Media Solutions radio stations, 92.5 Kickin’ Country, Mix 95.9 and Star 99.7, broadcast live from the lobby of the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, raising money for South Carolina’s top-ranked hospital. This year’s two-day, 26-hour “Cares for Kids” Radiothon raised a record $355,559 – a $120,000 increase in donations over the previous year. The amount raises the five-year “Cares for Kids” Radiothon total to just over $1 million dollars.
Charleston Media Solutions President Paul O’Malley said, “We are humbled by the inspiring stories of the families and children at MUSC, and it is amazing to see how big a heart the Charleston community has in personally giving to these kids.”
The MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital treats more than 200,000 children each year. No child is ever turned away because of their family’s inability to pay. In addition to earning a number of other nationwide rankings, the hospital’s Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery program was recently named No. 2 in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
Charleston Media Solutions is a proud supporter of the Children’s Hospital and will return to downtown Charleston for a sixth “Cares for Kids” Radiothon in March of 2026.
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Charleston Media Solutions, owned by Saga Communications, operates six of the top radio stations in the Charleston, SC area; R&B WXST-FM, Star 99.7; Hot AC WMXZ-FM, Mix 95.9, Country 92.5 Kickin’ Country, Adult Hits 101.7 Chuck-FM, Gospel/Christian Heaven 100.1FM and Today’s Hits and Hip Hop WMXZ-HD2 99.3 The Box. CMS provides customized marketing solutions that drive consumers to Click Visit Call and Search local businesses.
PHOTO CREDIT: Kerry Brown
PHOTO: Charleston Media Solutions “Cares for Kids” Radiothon Check Presentation
From left to right:
Mimi Dorman, MUSC Children’s Hospital Fund, Gary Goldman, traffic, Hunter Meyer, PD of 92.5 Kickin’ Country, Tate Blanton, MUSC Children’s Hospital Fund, Harper Brown, MUSC Children’s Hospital patient, Jessica Chandler, mornings, 92.5 Kickin’ Country, nights, Tug Cowart, 92.5 Kickin’ Country, Paul O’Malley, Charleston Media Solutions Market President, Nikki Taylor, mom of former patient Hunter Taylor, Belinda Parker, nights, Star 99.7, Cush, afternoons, 92.5 Kickin’ Country, Tanya Brown, mornings, Mix 95.9, Emma Taylor, Hunter’s sister, Stephen Crumbley, Operations Manager, Charleston Media Solutions, Rick Quagliaroli, owner of Swamp Fox Insurance Agency, Geno Jones, middays, Star 99.7, Erik Taylor, Hunter’s father, Jay Shadix, mornings, Mix 95.9, TJ Phillps, mornings, 92.5 Kickin’ Country, Brooke Ryan, mornings, Mix 95.9, Ellison, middays, Mix 95.9, Brian Cleary, Charleston Media Solutions Promotions Director, Alex Jenkins, MUSC Advisory Board member, Matthew Chase, MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital heart transplant recipient.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2024
THE CHARLESTON RADIO GROUP HONORED FOR GIVING
Mount Pleasant, SC (November 15, 2024) – The Charleston Radio Group has been presented as the winner of the 2024 “Giving Award” by the Charleston Chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA).
The Giving Award recognizes the work of any individual or company based in the tri-county area that has influenced a local nonprofit through its leadership and marketing service. The Charleston Radio Group earned the honor through the 2023 “Cares for Kids Radiothon,” which benefited the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital.
This two-day event takes place in the lobby of the Children’s Hospital, as WCKN, 92.5 Kickin’ Country, WMXZ, Mix 95.9 and WXST, Star 99.7 broadcast live for 26 hours, soliciting listener donations. The 2023 Radiothon raised additional awareness of South Carolina’s top-ranked hospital and $170,901.23 – a 32% increase over the 2022 total.
In reacting to the award, Charleston Radio Group President Paul O’Malley commented “All of us at the Charleston Radio Group are honored and humbled to be a part of such a great effort that truly enhances the lives of these amazing kids. MUSC, our sponsors and our staff truly join forces for a higher cause and we look forward to 2025!”
The Association’s annual Spark Awards recognize the outstanding creative achievements of Charleston-area marketers. Finalists are selected from each category and voted on by American Marketing Association Chapter Boards nationwide.
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The Charleston Radio Group, owned by Saga Communications, operates six of the top radio stations in the Charleston, SC area; R&B WXST-FM, Star 99.7; Hot AC WMXZ-FM, Mix 95.9, country 92.5 Kickin’ Country, Adult Hits 101.7 Chuck-FM, Gospel/Christian Heaven 100.1FM and Today’s Hits and Hip Hop WMXZ-HD2 99.3 The Box. CRG provides customized marketing solutions that leverage on-air, online and on-site assets to deliver substantial results for local businesses.
Contact: Paul O’Malley, Market President
Telephone: 843-972-1103
Email: scrumbley@charlestonradiogroup.com
Website: www.993thebox.com
SEGMENT #1: South Carolina State Election Commission
GUEST: Syndi Bain, Voter Education Outreach Coordinator
ISSUE: Voting
Tuesday, Nov. 5 is Election Day in South Carolina and across our nation. Syndi Bain, Voter Education Outreach Coordinator with the South Carolina State Election Commission discussed voting in this year’s election. Bain explained how to check that your registration is current, where to go to location your polling place, and what specific elements you need to bring with you to vote. She also provided information on absentee voting and how early voting will work in the Palmetto State for this election. Additionally, Bain share details on how to help at the polls and the need for poll workers.
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SEGMENT #2: Lowvelo
GUEST: Chris Winn, Event Manager
ISSUE: Health & Human Services
Lowvelo is the annual bike ride that takes place in the Lowcountry on the first Saturday of November, to benefit the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. Chris Winn, the Lowvelo event manager, provided the details on this year’s Nov. 2 ride, which includes 5 different length rides. He explained how people can enter to participate in the rides, or take part on a stationary bike at the ride’s finish, or even virtually. Winn discussed the community partnerships the ride has developed, and the additional ways the event impacts the community. Plus, he shared how 100% of money raised by participants goes directly to funding cancer research and where those proceeds have made a positive impact.
https://soundcloud.com/charleston-radio-group/lowcountry-forever-sc-state-election-commission-lowvelo-oct-6-2024?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing&si=9e220f0933044d75a7fb4b080e8fee3b
CRG Radio Stations Partner with MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital
to Raise Record-Breaking $230,000+ in Most Successful Cares for Kids Radiothon to Date
The 2024 Cares for Kids Radiothon, the annual drive to raise funds for South Carolina’s #1 hospital – the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, raised more than $30,000 more than the previous year, which also broke the previous year’s record.
Charleston Radio Group’s 92.5 Kickin’ Country, Star 99.7 and Mix 95.9 were honored to be a part of the hospital’s most successful Radiothon to date. On-air personalities from each station from the morning drive to the afternoon drive were on-site for both days, broadcasting live to call for donations and capture the excitement of donations coming in via the phone bank, text line and online donation portal.
Below is the announcement of the final check total in a post from the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital Instagram account, shortly after the check was presented on the final night of the Radiothon:
And that’s a wrap on the 2024 Cares for Kids Radiothon! The force was strong with this one!
We are thrilled to share that, thanks to YOU, we raised a record-breaking $230,458! 🎉 Every dollar stays local, benefitting MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital!
We couldn’t do this without the support of @charlestonradiogroup, @925kickincountry, @mix959live & @star997fm. Beyond two full days of radio, comes many hours and massive effort to prepare. Their energy, passion and heart brings this event all together and we are grateful for their continued partnership.
Additional thanks to our event sponsors, volunteers for their time answering phones and all our patient families for sharing their personal stories.
And, of course, to our community for tuning in, donating and spreading the word. Our hearts are so FULL, Lowcountry. Thank you!
