WRAL-TV and Radio One Raleigh Raise Over $78,000 to Help Combat Hunger with 2nd Annual MEDIAthon

WRAL-TV’s David Crabtree (center) and Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s Jill Bullard accept another generous donation during the HungerFreeNC MEDIAthon at WRAL on Thursday, July 16, 2015.

WRAL-TV and Radio One Raleigh brought back an unprecedented daylong TV, radio, web and social MEDIAthon for a second year. On Thursday, July 16, 2015, the 2^nd annual HungerFreeNC MEDIAthon raised over $78,000 to help combat hunger in the Triangle. In addition to supporting the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, this year the event expanded to include five additional non-profits to benefit from the MEDIAthon alongside the IFFS: Farmer Foodshare, Action Pathways, Transplanting Traditions, Hawkeye Indian Cultural Center and Conetoe Family Life Center.

Staffers across WRAL-TV worked together to create the set, the website and online presence and produce the daylong MEDIAthon from the WRAL studios on Western Blvd. Raleigh One Raleigh personalities worked alongside the WRAL anchors making on-air pleas and encouraging viewers and listeners to give.

WRAL-TV Anchors Debra Morgan (r to l) and Foxy 107/104 Personality Karen Clark work on-air at the HungerFreeNC MEDIAthon on Thursday, July 16, 2015.

“When you hear how many of the people in our community go hungry every day, it’s staggering: 500,000+ people in our viewing area alone. I even questioned the number because I just couldn’t believe it,” said WRAL-TV Anchor Debra Morgan, who took part in MEDIAthon. “How rewarding to be a part of this effort to put food their tables. We also highlighted the good work being done by the organizations teaching people how to grow gardens and cook fresh food for a healthier life. You can’t help but be swept up by their passion. What an incredible rush of excitement when the phones started ringing off the hook!”

The monies raised will help create long term solutions for families who lack access to healthy food.

Thanks to all the WRAL viewers who gave during MEDIAthon. If you haven’t had a chance to give yet, donations are still be taking online at HungerFreeNC.org.

Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Phyllis Parish, WRAL-TV’s Debra Morgan and WRAL.com for these capcom photos.

Making final touches to WRAL's #HungerFreeNC set the night before MEDIAthon, a daylong fundraising effort to feed the hungry in the Triangle on Thursday, July 16, 2015.
WRAL-TV's Lynda Loveland accept another generous donation during the HungerFreeNC MEDIAthon at WRAL on Thursday, July 16, 2015.
WRAL-TV's David Crabtree (center) and Inter-Faith Food Shuttle's Jill Bullard accept another generous donation during the HungerFreeNC MEDIAthon at WRAL on Thursday, July 16, 2015.
WRAL-TV's Bill Burch volunteers on the phone bank during the station's 2nd annual HungerFreeNC MEDIAthon on Thursday, July 16, 2015.
Volunteers man the phone bank during WRAL-TV's 2nd annual HungerFreeNC MEDIAthon on Thursday, July 16, 2015.
WRAL-TV's Bill Burch volunteers on the phone bank during the station's 2nd annual HungerFreeNC MEDIAthon on Thursday, July 16, 2015.
WRAL-TV's Shelly Leslie volunteers on the phone bank during the station's 2nd annual HungerFreeNC MEDIAthon on Thursday, July 16, 2015.
WRAL-TV's David Crabtree (center) and Inter-Faith Food Shuttle's Jill Bullard accept another generous donation during the HungerFreeNC MEDIAthon at WRAL on Thursday, July 16, 2015.
WRAL-TV Anchors Debra Morgan (r to l) and Foxy 107/104 Personality Karen Clark work on-air at the HungerFreeNC MEDIAthon on Thursday, July 16, 2015.