CBC Distributes Azaleas, Honors A.J. Fletcher Winners, in 31st Annual Celebration

On Saturday, October 22, 2016, CBC distributed azaleas to the winning nonprofits in the 31^st annual WRAL Azalea Celebration at the CBC transmitter site off 5033 TV Tower Rd. Approximately 100 groups from all across the state of NC came to pick up their plants.

Every group is eligible to receive 50 azaleas to help beautify their ground, and CBC distributed 5,000 azaleas this year.

“We had an excellent variety of groups apply, and pick up plants,” said Corp Property Management Manager Tim Grissom. “There were schools, churches, and garden clubs working to improve their towns’ appearance. Like in the past we have a large number of schools apply, and we are always excited to see the kids get involved with improving their school grounds.”

North Carolina nonprofits are invited to apply each year to receive azaleas from Capitol Broadcasting Company. Applications are generally due in September, and winners notified a few weeks later. Pick up happens in mid-October each year.

“We had a beautiful sunny day to distribute the plants, and everything went very smoothly,” said Grissom of the 2016 distribution. “Having done this program for 31 years we have streamlined the distribution and loading process with help for volunteers.”

WRAL-TV, FOX 50, WRAL.com, MIX 101.5 WRAL-FM and NC Beautiful all work together to sponsor the annual program.

As part of each year’s celebration, three organizations are selected for a special honor. Three years after winning azaleas through the WRAL Azalea Celebrations, the organizations are invited to apply for the A.J. Fletcher Awards. The three groups determined to have done the best jobs taking care of their plants and implementing them into their landscape received a prize of additional azaleas and a cash award.

Grissom presented the awards to the winning organizations. He and the CBC Corp Property Management team worked with volunteers to help load azaleas for all of the organizations.

“It’s always a fun day, and I enjoy meeting, and talking with the different groups,” said Grissom. “I like to listen to the many ways the groups plan to use the plants to beautify their grounds, and their excitement of being chosen. This is such a great program, and has helped so many groups over the years that would not have had the funding to achieve the project on their own. 31 years down, and we are already planning on ways to make the 32^nd Azalea Celebration even better.”