Hope 103.2 staff, volunteers and listeners are celebrating after exceeding the Hope 103.2 June Appeal target.
The tally sits at $1,104,753.
Yes that’s over one million dollars for a community radio station.
Station CEO Phillip Randall says he is overwhelmed by the support of donors.
“I’m so thankful that together we’ve been able to provide hope to Sydney,” he said. “I feel incredibly humbled, because nobody has to give, but they do. Not just small amounts, but sacrificial gifts. It’s inspirational.”
He said listeners showed they were really “owning” the station.
“People are constantly saying online, “This gift is for my radio station”. Listeners have got the concept that this station is theirs. There’s a sense of ownership. That is the reason why we’re able to do so much now for our community.”
Station mascot “Tally” the panda kept spirits high throughout the appeal with his comic antics, and volunteers came from across Sydney to take phone calls from donors.
The station’s community relations manager, Justin Kendall, said the June Appeal provides about 25% of the station’s annual funding.
“This appeal literally allows us to stay on air,” he said. “It’s the most cost efficient and effective way for us to raise money as a ministry, and it also gives us a chance to hear from thousands of listeners who have been impacted.”
“If we want to grow and look at new ways of sharing the Christian message of hope, we can only do that with the support of listeners.”
Funds raised go towards the everyday running costs of a modern media ministry, as well as the life-changing on-air and online content.