November 7, 2009 |
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Spirit FM raises funds and appreciation on–the–air
JANET SHELTON | FC TAMPA | The eyes of Carlos, Spirit FM’s “Big, Big House” co-host, stay fixed on a Spirit FM computer as he works to rally station listeners to give. With drive and energy that keeps him on his feet and leaves the chair behind him empty, the morning radio personality and two of his colleagues take turns pitching why people need to donate to the diocesan radio station. It was Wednesday. Shareathon, the station’s annual fundraiser, was halfway over. The half-million dollar goal was still a long way off. For five days, the week of Sept. 29, Spirit FM hosts and guests reminded people of the need to give financial support to the diocesan radio ministry. Listeners were asked to give “with the faith of a child,” to give in memory of others, to give in the name of their children’s future. They were asked to give a little and give a lot. Tote bags, a reflection book and other premiums came if they gave more. 
JANET SHELTON | FC The station had met all its hourly goals at the halfway point. But those goals came with uncertain moments. Earlier that morning, when it appeared meeting a goal was in question, a listener brought a boost by promising to match donations up to $2,000. The money was raised in under 15 minutes. Shareathon is a fundraiser and an appreciation-raiser. Through callers, the staff is constantly reminded of the importance of its ministry. Many people give year after year, and that shows they are connected to the station and its mission on a personal ownership level, said station manager John Morris. Before Shareathon started, the station contacted previous donors and asked for their support again. Those early donations put the station on a solid base for those first few days. Big donation times are the morning and evening drive times – when people are out in their cars. Some hours, Spirit FM will promote small donation, but when audience numbers are high, station hosts asks for larger donations and unroll special promotions and dollar-for-dollar matches. “Where there is a match, people like to call because their dollar goes further,” said Carlos, who goes by his first name alone on the air. For several years, it seemed Shareathon came at the most impractical time for giving. Hurricanes and other natural disasters gave donors “giving fatigue.” The crippling economy has affected the support. Radio personalities didn’t talk about any of that during the 2008 Shareathon. As Carlos pointed out, why give people a reason not to give? Spirit FM is a Christian radio station run by the St. Petersburg Diocese. Many of its supporters are not Catholic, and that point is driven home during Shareathon, when volunteers and donations come from people in Christian churches across its broadcasting area. “It’s awesome to see all the different churches and denominations (supporting us),” Carlos said. “We’re all coming together under one banner – Jesus Christ.” Spirit FM broadcasts over the airwaves, through the Internet and in high-definition format. It airs two programming options: Spirit FM, and Spirit FM Light, available on high-definition radios. It soon will not be heard except over the Internet in Citrus and parts of Hernando counties. The diocese recently sold WLMS-Lecanto, through which Spirit FM broadcasts to the Citrus County area. Listener numbers were negligible and support was low from listeners there. On Oct. 8, the Spirit FM signal stopped. On the Wednesday of Shareathon, Father Ken Malley, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Clearwater, celebrated a noon Mass in the Spirit FM studios. In his homily, he talked about the impact of the quiet, prayerful life of St. Thérèse “The Little Flower.” “You may not think your gifts will make a difference,” he said, talking about the saint’s lasting and worldwide impact. “But all our gifts make a difference when we put it to Jesus.”
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