The NAB Education Foundation announced the winners of the 12th annual Service to America Awards. The celebration recognizes outstanding community service by local broadcasters. Winners will be honored at the Celebration of Service to America Awards dinner on June 14, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.
“Day in and day out, broadcasters across America demonstrate a commitment to community service and charitable fundraising that no other business or technology can match,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “The NAB Education Foundation looks forward to honoring this latest group of radio and television stations for their outstanding programming initiatives and public service campaigns that shine a spotlight on the enduring importance of free and local broadcasting.”
This year’s Service to America top Television Award went to WRAZ-TV (FOX 50) in the Raleigh-Durham, NC television market. WRAZ-TV is owned by Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc., also based in Raleigh, NC. This award recognizes a television station for the totality of its efforts and its commitment to excellence in serving its community.
WRAZ-TV’s year-round efforts to serve their local community include “Get Real, Get Tested” an initiative that promotes the importance of HIV testing, “Fight NC Foreclosure” to assist homeowners faced with losing their homes, “What Color Do YOU Bleed?” to encourage donations to the American Red Cross, “eCycling” to promote electronics recycling, and “FOX 50 Family Fest” a free event featuring interactive family activities.
This prestigious national award recognizes the best in broadcasters’ efforts to serve their local communities. Tommy Schenck, VP and General Manager of WRAZ, was thrilled with the announcement. “This award confirms what our viewers already know. FOX 50 is committed to serving our local community and improving quality of life on many levels. We have created and developed numerous community campaigns during the past 12 years. We have a great team, and it’s nice to see them recognized for their hard work and commitment to the community. Everything we do in the community fits under the ‘do the right thing’ mantra, and our parent company and our owner Jim Goodmon set the bar high for all of our stations, radio and TV. We are very proud of all these efforts.”
Matt Donegan, National Sales Manager, attended last year’s black tie gala in Washington, DC as part of his scholarship to the NAB Broadcast Leadership Training Program (BLT). “I watched the 2009 winners and said to myself….we can win this,” Donegan said. He spearheaded the nomination process highlighting the various initiatives.
“These campaigns are a total station effort,” Schenck explained. “We are very proud of the entire FOX 50 staff. These social marketing campaigns have enhanced the lives of so many of our viewers. We are all honored to be recognized by the NAB.“
Thanks to FOX 50’s Christine Van Cott for this capcom story.
