FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Calle Andrus, Communications Manager
216.916.6434 | calle.andrus@ideastream.org
WKSU’s Hunger Challenge Celebrates 25th Year; Will Be Hosted By Ideastream Public Media for Years To Come
CLEVELAND, Ohio (November 17, 2021) — Ideastream Public Media is hosting WKSU’s 25th annual Hunger Challenge on December 1, 2021. The annual event highlights how, through public service and community partnerships, public media can showcase organizations striving to make a difference in the community.
During the Hunger Challenge, Ideastream Public Media, which began operating public radio station WKSU on October 1, 2021, welcomes representatives from area foodbanks to take to the airwaves and talk about food insecurity throughout Ohio. When listeners choose to make a donation to WKSU during the Hunger Challenge, they can select meals as a thank you gift. Those meals are then donated on the listener’s behalf to a local foodbank. In past years, more than 20,000 meals have been donated.
“When Ideastream Public Media and WKSU joined forces in October, we made a promise to Northeast Ohioans that our combined organizations would continue to serve the entire region,” said Jenny Northern, general manager of Ideastream Public Media. “Maintaining WKSU’s long-standing Hunger Challenge is one way for us to demonstrate our commitment to serving all of Northeast Ohio while making a difference in our community.”
Wendy Turner, former general manager of WKSU and current general manager of Ohio public media services of Ideastream Public Media said, “The Hunger Challenge has been a successful tradition for 25 years. We are glad to preserve this community effort as Ideastream Public Media and WKSU move forward together.” Turner added, “We’re counting on our community to show their support for local journalism and make a difference for those in need.”
Ideastream Public Media’s 2021 Hunger Challenge partners include Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and Kent State University’s Flashes Fighting Hunger. Current sponsors of the Hunger Challenge include The J.M. Smucker Company, Diebold Nixdorf, Taproot Catering, Broken Rocks Café and Bakery, Akron Better Business Bureau, Lehman's, Oak Associates and Pine Tree Barn.
To contribute to the Hunger Challenge through December 1, 2021, visit ideastream.org/hungerchallenge.
About Ideastream Public Media
Ideastream Public Media is Northeast Ohio’s multimedia source for trusted local journalism, inspiring stories and quality entertainment. We are the home of Northeast Ohio’s PBS, NPR and classical music public broadcasting stations: WVIZ, WCPN and WCLV. In addition, Ideastream Public Media operates NPR member station WKSU, manages The Ohio Channel and the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau on behalf of all Ohio’s public broadcasting stations and produces the award-winning children’s series “NewsDepth.” Ideastream Public Media is indispensable and highly valued for its unique ability to strengthen our community. For more information about Ideastream Public Media’s rich legacy of innovation and credible content, visit ideastream.org.
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