Since the founding of Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s “Champions for Children” Radiothon in 2005, Randy Cain, Cumulus Media’s program director, has overseen it. Each year, he and on-air talent from Cumulus radio stations KURB, B98.5, and KLAL, Alice 107.7, share their time and talents, and “the first year, we raised about $80,000, and every year since it’s grown.”
That is to say, in recent years, their efforts have been raising about $300,000 annually.
The radiothon is broadcast from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 6 and 7 from the hospital lobby. The DJs participating this year include Lisa Fischer, Jeff Matthews, Becky Rogers, Kevin Miller, Heather Brown and Poolboy. In addition to B98.5 and Alice 107.7, other Cumulus stations also broadcast live throughout the two days for two- to three-hour segments, typically interviewing the hospital’s leaders and caregivers.
“A lot of the stories we put to music,” Cain says, adding that throughout the year, whenever there’s a patient at the hospital who is willing to share a story, Cain and his staff are called in to record it, putting the stories or montages to music. This year, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the radiothon, some former patients, now teens and a couple of them adults, will be brought back to share the rest of their stories.
“A lot of the work takes place throughout the year prior to the radiothon,” he explains.
During the broadcast, the radio personalities will interview current patients and their parents about their experiences at the hospital in between asking for donations from listeners. Those pledging to make monthly donations to the hospital of $15 or more are dubbed Miracle Makers.
“I have an amazing staff of storytellers,” Cain says. “It amazes me how they can ask just the right questions and share the sights, smells, sounds and feelings of what’s happening at the hospital.”
Cain, 52, and a native of Burdick, Kan., used to work on-air in the early days of the radiothon but now works back at the station making sure the technical aspects of the event run smoothly.
“The hospital’s motto is ‘Until no child needs us, we need you.’ That’s the message the hospital shares withus and we want to share with our listeners.”
He and his wife, Suzanne, have been blessed in that none of their children - Mallory, 14, Emma, 10, and Harrison, 8 - have ever been seriously ill and needed the hospital’s medical care, but “part of what drew me to the radiothon is that the degrees of separation are minimal here in Arkansas,” Cain says.
“Everyone you talk to knows someone who’s been helped by Arkansas Children’s Hospital,” and the children of on-air talent Matthews, Brown and Miller have been treated at the hospital.
“There are so many wonderful stories; it will make you feel good to know what we have in our state,” he says. “And this world-class facility is not just for Arkansans but kids come here from all over the world. And the hospital will never turn a sick child away because of an inability to pay.”
When the radiothon began, first as a three-day fundraiser, B98 was the sole station involved in it. A couple of years ago, Alice came on board, also broadcasting live from the hospital lobby. Other Cumulus stations - KARNFM, 102.9; KOKY-FM, 102.1; KPZK- FM, 102.5; KIPR-FM, Power 92; and KAAY-AM, 1090 - now also contribute stories on their stations about hospital administrators and caregivers.
Cain first moved to Arkansas in 1981, delivering records and books to Hastings stores, advancing to become manager of the Hastings store on Rodney Parham Road. He’d earlier received his broadcasting license in Salina, Kan., and in 1988, Cain joined B98, then with the call letters KZOU and known as Z00 98.
“I was the guy who wore the gorilla suit,” he says, with a chuckle, explaining that he worked on-air part time and also served as the station’s mascot.
In 1991, Cain was promoted to program director at the station.
When he’s not at work or working on the telethon, Cainspends his free time outdoors with his family or playing golf. He also serves on the board of the Salvation Army and attends Second Baptist Church in Little Rock.
Jennifer Selig, director of development with the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation, says Cain is a dedicated volunteer.
“Randy has enhanced this concept from the beginning and has worked tirelessly to make sure it’s a success for both the hospital and for his stations as well,” she explains. “He is very considerate and thoughtful in his work with us. Throughout the year, he keeps the hospital in the forefront of his efforts.”
Cain says that commercials continue airing throughout the telethon so the station is not losing revenue, and promotional partners and underwriters help pay for any additional costs such as running broadcast lines.
“We get to do something we love and the hospital benefits by our getting their message out,” Cain says. “As a radio group, our calling is to help the local community; that’s our first order of business. It’s such a community-building event, asking listeners to give 15 cents a day or $15 a month and see it turn into $300,000. It’s remarkable to be a part of something so much bigger than ourselves.”
High Profile, Pages 35 on 02/23/2014