Tuesday, January 14, 2014

WQED Exceeds Campaign Goals

WQED'S 2014 SUSTAINER CHALLENGE EXCEEDS CAMPAIGN GOALS



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 January 13, 2014

CONTACT:
 George Hazimanolis
 412-622-1366
ghazimanolis@wqed.org

WQED’S 2014 SUSTAINER CHALLENGE EXCEEDS CAMPAIGN GOALS

PITTSBURGH—WQED is pleased to announce that its members helped exceed the goal for the 2014 Sustainer Challenge.

In 2013, WQED posed a challenge to new and renewing members who support Pittsburgh’s public multimedia company. If 2,014 people switched to or became a Sustainer between September 1, 2013 and January 1, 2014, WQED would eliminate on-air fundraising during Masterpiece Classic, including the fourth season of PBS’s acclaimed hit Downton Abbey, and cancel the first fundraising drive for Classical WQED-FM 89.3 slated for February 5 – 14, 2014. More than 2,100 new and renewing members switched to Sustainer memberships as part of the Challenge.

“This is a testament to the commitment that listeners and viewers have to strengthening their own communities and neighborhoods, by giving them access to quality radio and television that respects their intelligence,” said Barry Nelson, Senior Director of On Air Fundraising.

The Sustainer 2014 Challenge marked an unprecedented effort by the station to increase sustained giving, which provides an easy and convenient method to support WQED. Instead of contributing one sum annually or giving a one-time additional gift during the year, Sustainers make monthly gifts that automatically renew. In addition to being a more consistent revenue stream for the station, the Sustainer program also allows WQED donors to give something back to their community.

New and renewing members interested in becoming a Sustainer can call 888-621-6900 or go to www.wqed.org/sustainers.

 According to data included in an August 2013 report from PBS, Sustainers contribute four times the value of someone who makes a one-time contribution, have a renewal rate of 80% - 90% and are 30-50% more likely to be new members.

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 140 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. WQED changes lives by creating and sharing outstanding public media that educates, entertains and inspires. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; the Pittsburgh Concert Channel at WQED-HD2 (89.3-2FM) and online at www.wqedfm.org; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and iQ: smartmedia, WQED’s Educational initiative (www.wqed.org/edu).

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

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