Make A Difference Day
For many years, one of Entercom's most valued and important traditions has been “Make a Difference Day.” On Make a Difference Day, members of the Entercom team join hands to assist our communities in so many ways: painting, sorting food and clothes, raising money, cleaning parks, helping build homes, and more. Together we accomplish so much for so many worthy organizations committed to great causes in our communities.
2010
Corporate | Gainesville | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
2009
Corporate | Denver | Gainesville | Greenville | Kansas City | Portland | Rochester | Sacramento | Seattle | Wichita
2008
Austin | Corporate | Denver | Gainesville | Greenville | Kansas City | Memphis | Madison | Portland | Sacramento | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
2007
Greensboro | New Orleans | Seattle | Wichita
2010
CORPORATE MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2010
This year our Make A Difference Day for the Bala Cynwyd (Corporate) office incorporated the spirit of Entercom's 1Thing Program. We had an outdoor adventure on Friday, June 11th.
Organization: Cobbs Creek Environmental Education Center.
We helped widen trails, removed invasive plants, and weeded.
Mission: CCCEEC's mission is to help community members establish a personal connection to local ecology by giving them the skills to understand- and influence-both their immediate environment and the global ecology. CCCEEC strengthens environmental education in urban schools through hands-on activities, research, and teacher training and provides a point of entry to rewarding careers in science and the environment, especially for people of color.
GAINESVILLE/OCALA MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2010
This year's make a difference took place on Friday, June 4th in Ocala at Interfaith of Marion County in their food distribution warehouse. We had eight members of our team assist in the sorting and distribution of food. Interfaith is responsible for sorting and distributing food for thirteen food distribution organizations in Marion County.
We sorted food that was collected by mail carriers for their annual "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive, and two of our team actually distributed food in the pantry. As you can see from the pictures, we made quite a dent in these pallets of food! We sorted through a total of six pallets of food, checking for expiration dates, leakages and putting them in the appropriate category of food.
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2010
For the fourth year in a row, Entercom Wilkes-Barre/Scranton celebrated Make a Difference Day by taking part in the local United Way chapter's eighteenth Annual Day of Caring on Thursday, May 13th. During this community-wide event, Entercom Wilkes-Barre/Scranton joined 42 companies and over 700 volunteers to contribute to the completion of 64 projects at local non-profit agencies and organizations. Our team of volunteers spent a beautiful day at Ricketts Glen State Park, comprised of 13,050 acres in Luzerne, Sullivan, and Columbia counties in Pennsylvania. We helped clear brush from the levee of the lake at the park, cut overgrown weeds along the roads, painted the boat rental building, and assisted in the development of access trails in the park.
2009
CORPORATE MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2009
Make a Difference Day for the Bala Cynwyd office took place on Friday, August 14. Participants had the opportunity to assist Philabundance, an outstanding non-profit agency dedicated to improving the lives of Philadelphia-area residents. The charity works to end hunger and malnutrition in the Greater Philadelphia region by rescuing surplus food and distributing it to local organizations serving people in need. The Food Bank has grown from its first year of distribution of one million pounds of food to 140 charities, to a current annual average rate of eight million pounds of food, channeled to 700 service agencies and congregations. In 2007, the organization distributed 24 million pounds of food to low income residents at risk of hunger and malnutrition.
DENVER MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2009
Denver Million Trees Initiative
Entercom Denver volunteered their services for an organization called Million Trees Initiative. They worked at Bible Park, a uniquely eco-friendly facility that uses a herd of grazing sheep to keep the grass trimmed rather than lawn mowers.
The Entercom team planted about twenty five (25) trees, then spent the remainder of the day spreading several truckloads of mulch around the new trees and cleaning up the park.
GAINESVILLE/OCALA MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2009
For Make a Difference Day this year, 98.5 KTK and 97.3 THE SKY volunteered their services at Peaceful Paths on Friday, May 29th. Peaceful Paths is the certified domestic abuse network that serves survivors of domestic violence in Alachua, Bradford, and Union counties. Peaceful Paths provides a wide range of services including emergency shelter, transitional housing, crisis hotline, victim advocacy, children's programming, education and training, counseling and support groups, community awareness and intervention, violence prevention programs, and batterer's intervention programming.
This year's activities required both indoor and outdoor work, described below.
Indoor: Help with sorting and organizing at the thrift store.
Outoor: Volunteers worked on two shelter projects at the 2131 NW 6th Street Shelter: Landscaping, laying sod, spreading mulch, trimming limbs, cleaning the roof, and pressure washing; and organizing the storage space.
GREENVILLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2009
2009 Hands On Greenville Day (H.O.G. Day)
H.O.G. Day is the largest day of service for the state of South Carolina -- and it's big! On May 2, 2009, Hands On Greenville celebrated 15 years of volunteerism. Volunteers were spread throughout Greenville and surrounding areas to repair cabins at campgrounds for the disabled, paint playground equipment and murals at our public schools, landscape the grounds of local shelters, and beautify nearby state and city parks. Companies large and small created teams to participate and reap the benefits of teamwork, camaraderie and the feeling of making a difference.
ETM Greenville worked at The Child Care Resource & Referral of Upstate SC
CCR&R, a program of United Way's Success By 6®, promotes the affordability and availability of quality child care services through our partnerships with parents, child care providers, businesses, and community organizations. We are a member of the South Carolina Child Care Resource & Referral Network and funded in part by the South Carolina Department of Social Services' Child Care Division.
CCR&R offers child care providers access to valuable training, technical assistance, and supplies to increase the quality of care. This year Hands on Greenville had 190 projects in the upstate and had over 4,400 volunteers to help with this year's project. This is double the number they had last year.
KANSAS CITY MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2009
Entercom Kansas City volunteered at the RoseBrooks home for battered women and children, where participants sorted clothes and other donated items. These items joined the inventory of RoseBrooks’s in-house store for the women and children who come to the shelter. Volunteers also sanitized the children’s play area, helped out in the kitchen by cleaning and preparing meals, mowed and weed-whacked the lawn, painted common areas, and helped clear out a storage area. Participants had great fun and the staff at RoseBrooks were deeply appreciative, saying that the Entercom Kansas City volunteers were the best ones they had ever had.
PORTLAND MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2009
Entercom Portland spent Make a Difference Day packing food at the Oregon Food Bank. Forty-two team members processed 10,773 pounds of corn, the equivalent of 8,370 meals. That's 199 meals per volunteer! Entercom Portland also donated 108 pounds of food directly to the food bank.
ROCHESTER MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2009
Entercom Rochester made a difference on August 26th at Gilda’s Club, helping them prepare for the 50th Anniversary Gala being held at the Clubhouse later that evening. The club has provided free social and emotional support for people living with cancer and their families since 1959, when it was known as Cancer Action. The organization has over 1000 members and only 7 full-time staff, but the industrious volunteers from Entercom made short work of all the lifting, loading, cleaning, chopping, basting, cooking, kebab assembly, and even computer advice.
Program Manager Annette Leutung expressed her thanks and the success of the event in an email the next day. “What you all did yesterday was incredible...I don't ever remember seeing such enthusiasm in the completion of tasks in those 7 years! And the sheer numbers of you! We couldn't have done what we did without all of you there yesterday.”
SACRAMENTO MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2009
On May 12th, Entercom Sacramento led the charge in cleaning up a large area of American River Conservancy. This land that has been cluttered with years of trash. This project has been 20 years in the making, and the team was proud to help the American River Conservancy bring this trail into reality.
The American River Conservancy's mission is to protect and enhance natural habitats where biodiversity can flourish; and to promote, through environmental education, a broad ethic of stewardship, assuring healthy ecosystems now and for future generations. The Conservancy acquires critical wildlife and plant habitat by purchasing or accepting donations of land from will landowners. Imagine being able to travel on foot, bicycle or horse from the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area all the way to the rural beauty of the South Fork American River in the Coloma Lotus Valley. Imagine doing so on a trail dedicated to recreation and the enjoyment of oak woodlands, conifer, chaparral, and the riverside. That long-held hope is now on its way to being a reality. The final land parcel that completes the 20-mile route was sold by a couple who decided to protect its natural habitat for the public to enjoy.
SEATTLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2009
Seattle Northwest Harvest
Entercom Seattle volunteered for Northwest Harvest, a non-profit agency supporting food banks across Washington State. Northwest Harvest is able to provide one of the most efficient hunger response programs in the state. They strive to provide healthy, nutritious food to those who need it most, with more than 60% of the food they distribute being fruits and vegetables. Northwest Harvest supplies "18 million pounds of food each year to more than 300 food banks, hot meal programs, and elementary schools across Washington" (NWHarvest.com). They approach their goal to fight hunger in Washington State in a manner that respects the dignity of those they serve, which is a goal that Entercom Seattle hoped to emulate by lending a helping hand.
WICHITA MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2009
On Monday, October 19th, Entercom Radio Wichita volunteered at a faith-based charity called the Lord’s Diner. The mission of the Lord’s Diner is simple: “To recognize Christ, to love one another, to share life in the breaking of Bread.” The organization provides hot meals to families in need, serving approximately 500 people per night, every night, 365 days a year.
Before Entercom employees could volunteer at the Lord’s Diner, they had to become certified for Food Handlers Cards, a process that required several employees to attend a two-hour licensure class.
Volunteers could choose to serve, bus, fill up drink glasses or wash dishes. Once the doors opened at 5:30pm, the Entercom Wichita volunteers worked nonstop until nearly 8:00 pm. The families just kept coming. The volunteers found it tough to witness that this takes place every single day in their city. There was nothing easy about the work, but the gratification the volunteers received was immeasurable. Participants in M.A.D.D. 2009 felt they truly made a difference. Several employees now want to volunteer at the Lord’s Diner on a regular basis.
2008
AUSTIN MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2008
The Entercom Austin team spent their 2008 Make a Difference Day working with the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas (CAFB), an organization that provides food and grocery products to 370 partner agencies throughout Central Texas. Staffers worked in Product Recovery - checking, cleaning and sorting over 27,000 pounds of food recently donated by the 2008 Austin Reggae Festival. Mix 94.7’s JB and Sandy and Majic 95.5’s Kim and Alex broadcast live during the day, bringing much-needed exposure to the food bank. In total, the group was able to package 15,201 pounds of food, which will provide 12,163 much-needed meals to families throughout the region.
CORPORATE MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2008
The team from Entercom Corporate spent their 2008 Make a Difference Day working with SHARE - Self-Help Resource Exchange - a non-profit organization that distributes high-quality, affordable and nutritious food as a way to build community and strengthen families. Families can purchase a package of food containing meat, fresh fruit, vegetables and kitchen staples for less than $20. With each package purchase, families also receive two hours of community service. During their time at SHARE, the corporate team helped sort and organize food items for family care packages.
DENVER MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2008
Pencils, pens and paper are necessities when it comes to school supplies, but some families are unable to afford even the basics as their children head back to school. For Make a Difference Day 2008, Entercom Denver helped Volunteers of America collect and sort nearly 200,000 school supplies. “Stuff for Students” benefitted children in 19 Denver Metro school districts, providing backpacks full of items all kids need to get the school year off to a great start.
GAINESVILLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2008
Employees at Entercom Gainesville's 98.5 KTK and 97.3 The Sky spent their 2008 Make a Difference Day building a home at the Agape Place Habitat for Humanity development in Marion County, Florida. Staffers painted exterior walls, hung lattice around the foundation base, installed interior shelving and put up an exterior porch fence for the future home of Marquita Jackson, located in Ocala, Florida.
GREENVILLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2008
The Entercom Greenville team spent their Make a Difference Day working with Homes of Hope, an organization that both refurbishes existing homes and builds new homes for families in need. Through home ownership, affordable rental housing and transitional housing, Homes of Hope strives to help 50 families each year that would otherwise be homeless or living in unhealthy conditions. Monnie Whitson, of the TK & Monnie Morning Show on Magic 98.9 summed up the experience perfectly: “I felt even more connected to our Entercom family...to be able to give back...is truly an honor.” The Greenville team was so moved by their time with Homes of Hope that they are already planning additional days of service later this year.
KANSAS CITY MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2008
For Make a Difference Day 2008, the folks at Entercom Kansas City worked with Front Porch Alliance, a non-profit faith partnership based in the city's urban center. The group helped inner city residents with a variety of projects, including building a children's playground and painting homes.
MEMPHISA MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2008
On November 12, Entercom Memphis helped “Make a Difference” by assisting the Mid-South Food Bank in warehousing, checking, sorting, and putting together donated food. The staff worked in shifts between 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. until the work was accomplished. Serving 312 charitable feeding programs in 31 Mid-South counties, The Mid-South Food Bank fights hunger by efficiently collecting and distributing wholesome food, while educating the community about the problem of hunger and advocating on behalf of hungry people.
MADISON MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2008
For Make a Difference Day 2008, Entercom Madison helped the folks of Spring Green, Wisconsin recover from summer floods that ravaged their community. The team split into three separate crews, using sandbags to create a perimeter of protection around homes threatened by standing water. The crews also collected sandbags that had been stacked at other sites and developments, emptying them so that the sand could be reused for additional maintenance purposes. While the next day brought a lot of sore muscles and strained backs, volunteers were happy to have provided relief to a local community in need.
PORTLAND MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2008
For Make a Difference Day 2008, the staff at Entercom Portland visited Power's Marine Park for a service day of removing invasive species and litter from this important urban natural area. Projects in the park are part of a wider effort in restoring natural areas along the Willamette River to improve wildlife habitat and water quality.
SACRAMENTO MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2008
The team from Entercom Sacramento spent their 2008 Make a Difference Day helping to renovate and restore the offices of Volunteers of America, as well as the organization’s Yale Street Center. Established locally in 1911, Volunteers of America Greater Sacramento operates 42 regionally managed human services programs, including food and shelter, counseling, independent living and parenting skills, substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation, job training and housing.
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2008
The folks at Entercom Wilkes-Barre/Scranton joined the United Way's “Day of Caring” for their 2008 Make a Difference Day. Day of Caring is a one-day community-wide event, where hundreds of area volunteers come together to build a better community, one project, one day at a time. Entercom staffers spent the day at Camp Kresege, a local YMCA camp, raking, weed whacking, painting and cleaning in an effort to prepare it for the upcoming summer season.
2007
GREENSBORO MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2007
For their annual “Make a Difference Day,” Entercom Greensboro recently sponsored Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day®, teaming up with volunteer healthcare providers, in-home care agencies and other local organizations to provide free on-site health screenings, blood pressure tests and stroke assessments for area residents.
NEW ORLEANS MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2007
Entercom New Orleans staffers spent Make a Difference Day day at the city’s Second Harvest Food Bank, sorting and bagging food for distribution to families in need throughout southern Louisiana. Additionally, WWL’s own Spud McConnell broadcast his show live from the food bank, increasing awareness of the organization and its mission throughout greater New Orleans.
SEATTLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2007
For its annual Make-a-Difference Day, Entercom Seattle spent the day cleaning up a portion of the city’s Kinnear Park. In coordination with Seattle City Parks, staffers removed non-native invasive plant species and trash from the lovely, but neglected, park in Seattle’s Queen Anne district. The group hopes to return next year and plant more trees as an ongoing part of the park’s remediation.
KISW did its part to help local families served by Northwest Harvest, a Washington-based hunger relief agency. For the second year in a row, the station spearheaded the annual “Rock Out Hunger” food drive, where listeners exchanged a grocery bag of non-perishable food for a free concert ticket to Ozzy Osbourne and Rob Zombie.
KISW distributed over 2,000 concert tickets throughout the day, and “Rock Out Hunger” set the Northwest Harvest record for a single day, single location food drive by collecting 38,336 lbs of food.
WICHITA MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2007
For their cluster’s “Make a Difference Day,” the folks at Entercom Wichita helped teach children with disabilities how to ride bicycles without training wheels in a program called “Lose the Training Wheels.”
