Granite Staters, Celebrities, Elected Officials, and News Radio 96-7 & News Radio 610 Team Up with Veterans Count to Support Military Families
Manchester, NH – The Inaugural Make 12 Hours Count Radio-thon for Veterans Count, a program of Easter Seals, was a motivational day that raised $125,000 to help local service member and their families! This groundbreaking 12-hour Radio-thon was broadcast on News Radio 96-7 in Portsmouth, News Radio 610 in Manchester as well as nationwide on iHeartRadio.com. Presented by LTC Partners, the administrator of the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program and BENEFEDS, the donations poured in on a day officially proclaimed by NH Governor Maggie Hassan as “Veterans Count Day”.
“The outpouring of kindness for veterans and their families from our neighbors throughout New Hampshire was truly inspiring,” said Easter Seals NH President & CEO Larry Gammon. “That kindness, combined with the support we received from sponsors, volunteers and especially the dedicated people at News Radio 96-7 and News Radio 610, were indispensable in raising significant funds to help our service members through challenging times.”
Jeff Pierce, Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeart Media- New Hampshire was equally thrilled: “We are overwhelmed by the response to this effort! Thanks to the dedication of New Hampshire Today host Jack Heath and the entire iHeart- New Hampshire Team coordinating with the team at Easter Seals -Veterans Count, this is the most successful Radio-thon we have ever had.”
The Radio-thon featured 12 hours of compelling content about the challenges faced by military families and how Veterans Count provides support. Additionally, the broadcast included testimonials from clients, sponsor recognition, celebrity endorsements and check presentations. Hosted by NH radio legend Jack Heath, the Radio-thon was broadcast live with donations ranging from a $25,000 pledge from Donald Trump and a $10,000 donation from former NH Governor Craig Benson to a piggy bank filled with dollars and change from a young listener.
NewsRadio 610 and 96-7 wish to thank the hourly Supporting Sponsors: Autofair, Granite Group Benefits, Grappone Automotive, Kittery Trading Post, Manchester Harley Davidson, New England Dragway, Service Credit Union, Toyota of Portsmouth, and Walmart. Thank you also to all event and phone bank volunteers as well as incentive sponsors, food sponsors, and to the companies who participated in grassroots fundraising efforts.
The proceeds from this Radio-thon will directly impact the lives of service members of all eras and their families. Since 2007, more than $2 M in donations has provided 8,300 individuals with services including suicide prevention, employment, homelessness, substance abuse treatment, transportation, and mental health issues resulting from post-traumatic stress disorder and/or traumatic brain injury. Additionally, Veterans Count provides financial assistance for food, home maintenance, utilities, housing, rent, fuel assistance, vehicle repair, child care, gasoline, and medical bills.
If you missed the Radio-thon and would like to make a donation to help NH veterans and their families, please click here.
If you were unable to listen in on our Veterans Count Radio-thon on March 25, just click here to listen to some of the amazing and inspiring client testimonials as well as interviews with Governor Hassan, Donald Trump, Seth Myers, and many more!
Former Adjutant Gen. of the NH National Guard Kenneth Clark (ret) helps to man the busy phone bank.
Phone bank volunteers took calls from more than 400 donors from around the state.
NH Radio Legend Jack Heath lead the charge to pull of this monumental effort.