Festival of Stars Radiothon Has Raised More Than $3.6 Million in the Past 17 Years Benefiting Hospitalized Arkansas Children and Their Families

LITTLE ROCK, AR, January 12, 2022 — Cumulus Media announces that the statewide Festival of Stars Toy and Donation Drive and Radiothon, presented by Cumulus Little Rock on Friday, December 10, 2021, raised $363,249 for Arkansas Children’s, making the holidays brighter for the patients and families of Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Arkansas Children’s Northwest, the state’s local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. All toys and monetary donations collected during the statewide Festival of Stars Toy and Donation Drive and Radiothon are critical to support patients and their families at Arkansas Children’s during the holiday season and throughout the year.

Broadcasting live from 7am-7pm. on Friday, December 10, 2021, Cumulus Little Rock stations hosted this year’s Festival of Stars Radiothon and featured on-air talent from KLAL/Alice 107.7 FM, KURB/B98.5 FM, KARN/News Radio 1029, and KIPR/Power 92 Jams. Cumulus Media listeners enjoyed inspirational stories of hope and healing from patients and families at Arkansas Children’s throughout the 12-hour broadcast and were invited to drop off toys, give on-line, or become a Miracle Maker with an on-going gift of $20 per month. The Festival of Stars Radiothon has raised more than $3.6 million in the past 17 years.

Randy Cain, Operations Manager, Cumulus Little Rock, said: “If you were to ask any of my staff members at Christmas time or in the middle of July, in year 3, 10, or 17: When has your radio career been the most meaningful and impactful? They would answer resoundingly, “During the Arkansas Children’s Radiothon”. There could not be a more rewarding endeavor for our stations than caring for Arkansas’ kids and their families. We’re looking forward to our 18^th Radiothon in 2022.”

ABOUT ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S

Arkansas Children’s, Inc. is the only healthcare system in the state solely dedicated to caring for Arkansas’ more than 700,000 children. The private, non-profit organization includes two pediatric hospitals, a pediatric research institute and USDA nutrition center, a philanthropic foundation, a nursery alliance, statewide clinics, and many education and outreach programs — all focused on fulfilling a promise to define and deliver unprecedented child health. Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) is a 336-bed, Magnet-recognized facility in Little Rock operating the state’s only Level I pediatric trauma center; the state’s only burn center; the state’s only Level IV neonatal intensive care unit; the state’s only pediatric intensive care unit; the state’s only pediatric surgery program with Level 1 verification from the American College of Surgeons (ACS); the state’s only magnetoencephalography (MEG) system for neurosurgical planning and cutting-edge research; and the state’s only nationally recognized pediatric transport program. Additionally, ACH is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in four pediatric subspecialties (2021—2022): Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Nephrology, Pulmonology and Urology. ACH is one of only five hospitals in the nation that have achieved Magnet Status, ACS Level 1 verification and a Beacon award from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW), the first and only pediatric hospital in the Northwest Arkansas region, is a level IV pediatric trauma center. ACNW operates a 24-bed inpatient unit; a surgical unit with five operating rooms; outpatient clinics offering over 20 subspecialties; diagnostic services; imaging capabilities; occupational therapy services; and Northwest Arkansas’ only pediatric emergency department, equipped with 30 exam rooms. Generous philanthropic and volunteer engagement has sustained Arkansas Children’s since it began as an orphanage in 1912, and today ensures the system can deliver on its promise of unprecedented child health. To learn more, visit archildrens.org.

ABOUT CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $7 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity’s Miracle Balloon icon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children’s hospitals need community support and identify your member hospital at CMNHospitals.org

About Cumulus Media 

Cumulus Media (NASDAQ: CMLS) is an audio-first media company delivering premium content to over a quarter billion people every month — wherever and whenever they want it. Cumulus Media engages listeners with high-quality local programming through 410 owned-and-operated radio stations across 85 markets; delivers nationally-syndicated sports, news, talk, and entertainment programming from iconic brands including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, CNN, the AP, the Academy of Country Music Awards, and many other world-class partners across nearly 7,300 affiliated stations through Westwood One, the largest audio network in America; and inspires listeners through the CUMULUS Podcast Network, its rapidly growing network of original podcasts that are smart, entertaining and thought-provoking. Cumulus Media provides advertisers with personal connections, local impact and national reach through broadcast and on-demand digital, mobile, social, and voice-activated platforms, as well as integrated digital marketing services, powerful influencers, full-service audio solutions, industry-leading research and insights, and live event experiences. Cumulus Media is the only audio media company to provide marketers with local and national advertising performance guarantees. For more information, visit www.cumulusmedia.com.  

Contact:

Lisa Dollinger, Dollinger Strategic Communication for Cumulus Media, 512.633.4084, lisa@dollcomm.com.

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News/Talk radio station 105.9 FM WMAL in Washington, DC, raised $393,622 last Thursday and Friday, December 2^nd and 3rd in the annual two-day WMAL Operation Fisher House Radiothon benefiting the Fisher House Foundation. The total amount raised exceeded amount raised through the 2020 Operation Fisher House Radiothon by $25,000.

WMAL listeners have donated nearly $8 million dollars over the last 16 years to support the efforts of the Fisher House Foundation, which provides housing to families of injured military members who are undergoing treatment. Group homes at Bethesda, Walter Reed, the VA, Dover AFB, and more than 60 locations across the country provide a comfortable place for loved ones to live while remaining close to their injured family members. This year’s fundraising event was held from Thursday, December 2^nd through Friday, December 3^rd, and featured popular WMAL hosts’ interviews with families of injured veterans that have benefited from the donations made in past WMAL Operation Fisher House Radiothons.  

“WMAL’s partnership over the last 19 years has been incredible,” said Chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation Ken Fisher. “Their generous audience has given nearly $8 million, having a tremendous impact on military and veteran families. We are forever grateful.”

Bill Hess, Program Director, WMAL, and VP/NewsTalk, Cumulus Media, commented: “The stories are compelling and inspiring, and the response from our WMAL listeners demonstrates the strong relationship between our talent and listeners. It’s the perfect start to the holiday season”.

For more information or to donate to the Fisher House Foundation, visit: https://www.wmal.com/fisherhouse/.

About Cumulus Media

Cumulus Media (NASDAQ: CMLS) is an audio-first media company delivering premium content to over a quarter billion people every month — wherever and whenever they want it. Cumulus Media engages listeners with high-quality local programming through 412 owned-and-operated radio stations across 85 markets; delivers nationally-syndicated sports, news, talk, and entertainment programming from iconic brands including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, CNN, the AP, the Academy of Country Music Awards, and many other world-class partners across nearly 7,300 affiliated stations through Westwood One, the largest audio network in America; and inspires listeners through the CUMULUS Podcast Network, its rapidly growing network of original podcasts that are smart, entertaining and thought-provoking. Cumulus Media provides advertisers with personal connections, local impact and national reach through broadcast and on-demand digital, mobile, social, and voice-activated platforms, as well as integrated digital marketing services, powerful influencers, full-service audio solutions, industry-leading research and insights, and live event experiences. Cumulus Media is the only audio media company to provide marketers with local and national advertising performance guarantees. For more information visit www.cumulusmedia.com.

Contact:

Lisa Dollinger, Dollinger Strategic Communication for Cumulus Media, 512.633.4084, lisa@dollcomm.com.