“This was my first Radiothon with MIX101.5, and I was in awe speaking and interacting with these amazing children. You quickly realize that the true Heroes are the kids.”
— WRAL-FM Morning Show Producer Casey Tate
The big reveal: The 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon raised $563,504 for Duke Children’s Hospital! (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
The 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital was a first for three WRAL-FM staffers and the last for another dedicated morning show personality. The two-day April event ended as a success for all, raising $563,504.08 from generous MIX listeners.
WRAL-FM Morning Show Co-Hosts Gene and Julie Gates and Morning Show Producer Casey Tate took part in their inaugural MIX Radiothon this year.
“This was my first Radiothon with MIX 101.5 and I was in awe speaking and interacting with these amazing children,” said Tate. “You quickly realize that the true Heroes are the kids.”
He was very impressed with the facilities and the people he met.
WRAL-FM’s Casey Tate at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
“No one ever wants to go to a hospital for any reason, but I was amazed at how the staff and workers make it their commitment to not only make the kids feel safe but the entire family as well,” said Tate.
Fox concluded her 17-year stint at WRAL-FM with Radiothon, an event for which she has a great passion. She announced her retirement the Monday after the event wrapped.
“I’m just so glad I got to spend the weekend with my heart, at Duke Radiothon. That was a good closing for me,” she told MIX listeners.
Duke Children’s Hospital staffers presented WRAL-FM’s Vanna Fox with a special gift for her retirement…a Miracle ‘Dollhouse’ for the playroom at the hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
“When I tell people I have the best job in the world it is true. I always remind myself that every radio person that knows about MIX would crawl on their knees to have my job!” she said. “But my heartbeat has been our Radiothon for Duke.”
The staff at Duke presented Fox with a special gift at the conclusion of Radiothon, a dollhouse dubbed ‘Vanna’s Miracle Home’ which will be placed in one of the hospital playrooms.
“This event is one that everyone looks forward to,” said Tate. “For two days we were all able to come together with one goal in mind and that is make these kids’ lives better. And I know that we accomplished that.”
Thanks to Chris Rief Photography for these capcom photos.
WRAL-FM’s Gene Gates at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Members of the Duke Football Team volunteer on the phone bank at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Members of the Duke Football Team volunteer on the phone bank at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
WRAL-FM’s Jim Kelly chats with his co-worker Vanna Fox at her last MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital.(Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
WRAL-FM’s Vanna Fox, a huge supporter of Duke Children’s Hospital, participates in her last MIX 101.5 Radiothon in 2015. She retired the following week. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Dr. Allan Kirk, chair of the Department of Surgery at Duke Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Ann Reed, chair of the Department of Pediatrics, talk to MIX 101.5 viewers on air during the 2015 Radiothon. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Donna Jones, a lifelong patient at Duke Children’s Hospital, shares her story during the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Donna Jones, a lifelong patient at Duke Children’s Hospital, shares her story during the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
The annual MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital took place in the hospital lobby on Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25, 2015. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
The annual MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital took place in the hospital lobby on Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25, 2015. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
WRAL-FM’s Gene Gates at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Volunteers work the phone bank at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Debbie Krzyzewski Savarino, Director of External Relations for the Duke mens basketball team, and Reagan Pruitt from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina talk to WRAL-FM’s Gene and Julie Gates on air at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Paxton Phelps shares his story at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
WRAL-FM’s Julie Gates at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
WRAL-TV’s Dr. Allen Mask pitches in at MIX 101.5’s 2015 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
A young friend helps out on the air at MIX 101.5’s 2015 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
WRAL-FM’s Julie & Gene Gates at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
WRAL-FM’s Casey Tate gets help from a young friend with an on-air plea at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Volunteers work the phone bank at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
WRAL-FM’s Jim Kelly talks about why Duke Children’s Hospital is so important to him and his family during the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Grant and his little sister, Claire, talk on-air about the three years he spent in and out of Duke Chidren’s Hospital at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Claire, whose big brother has been a patient at Duke Chlidren’s Hospital, helps out WRAL-FM’s Gene Gates at Radiothon. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Grant is a happy, active middle-schooler, but that wasn’t always the case. From ages 7 – 10, he received monthly infusions in the Valvano Day Hospital at Duke Children’s to treat a rare immune disorder. He helps out on the phone bank at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
WRAL-FM’s Casey Tate at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
WRAL-FM’s Casey Tate at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
WRAL-FM’s Casey Tate at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
WRAL-FM’s Jenny Clements helps coordinate the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital behind the scenes. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Volunteers and Duke Children’s Hospital staffers work the phone bank at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Volunteers work the phone bank at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Volunteers and Duke Children’s Hospital staffers work the phone bank at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Getting ready for the final check unveiling at the 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
The big reveal: The 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon raised $563,504 for Duke Children’s Hospital! (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
The big reveal: The 2015 MIX 101.5 Radiothon raised $563,504 for Duke Children’s Hospital! (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Duke Children’s Hospital staffers presented WRAL-FM’s Vanna Fox with a special gift for her retirement…a Miracle ‘Dollhouse’ for the playroom at the hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Duke Children’s Hospital staffers presented WRAL-FM’s Vanna Fox with a special gift for her retirement…a Miracle ‘Dollhouse’ for the playroom at the hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)
Duke Children’s Hospital staffers presented WRAL-FM’s Vanna Fox with a special gift for her retirement…a Miracle ‘Dollhouse’ for the playroom at the hospital. (Photo by Chris Rief Photography)