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.
SEGMENT #1: The McConnell Foundation
GUEST: Josh and Jen McConnell, Founders/Directors
ISSUE: Children’s Health Services
When their son was less than 2 years old, Jen and Josh McConnell were told he has cancer. Treated at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, Bohdi was treated and cured. It motivated the couple to create the McConnell Foundation as a way of giving back, raising money for Pediatric Cancer Research done at the Children’s Hospital. Jen and Josh shared their story and discussed “Shining Stars: A Hollywood Gala.” The Sept. 14 event is being held to raise money to continue the cancer research. The McConnell’s shared details on the Gala and spoke of the importance they feel in giving back to the hospital that saved their son’s life.
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SEGMENT #2: Carolina Children’s Charity
GUEST: Sonya Beale, Executive Director
ISSUE: Children’s Health & Human Services
Established in 1987, the Carolina Children’s Charity serves Children under 18 in Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton and Dorchester Counties. Executive Director Sonya Beale explained how the Charity began and the services they provide to Lowcountry families. The Charity has provided $4.7 million dollars in services yet receives no government funding. The Charity hosts 4 major fundraising events, including Care, Give, Run their annual 5K on Sept. 21. Beale provided information on the event, including the activities that day, how people can register and provided examples of how of the funds raised that day would be used.
https://soundcloud.com/charleston-radio-group/lowcountry-forever-mcconnell-foundation-carolina-childrens-charity-aug-25-2024?si=2bf5b211f3f7422695029176810882c2&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
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!
