Big Joe Staysniak, co-chair of this year's WIBC Radiothon, was in studio as the 58 hour event wrapped up.

The 16th Annual WIBC Radiothon to benefit The Salvation Army wrapped up on Sunday after 58 hours of programing which encouraged listeners to pledge their support. At the end, $141,164 was raised at the event.

This year’s final total was a little behind last year’s, but it still translates to more than 31,000 meals and more than 1,500 safe nights of shelter for those in need in our community. Of course The Salvation Army would not be able to provide these needs without the generosity of everyone who called in and made a pledge. Thank you!

We also need to thank all of our sponsors: J. Wickham Consulting – Title Sponsor, Val Pak Reach – Phone Bank Sponsor, and Markey’s Rental and Staging – our Toteboard Sponsor. Also, a big thank you to our hourly sponsors: Perkins Nichols Media, Finance Center Federal Credit Union, Planned Investment, Dellen Automotive, Hurst Beans, Central Indiana Roofing and Restoration, Jocham Harden Dimicck Jackson, Northwest Kiwanis, The Mutual Fund Store, Klipsch Audio Technologies, One America, Wilson Kehoe Winningham, Ruth’s Chris, Walmart, Cartridge, Specialist Inc. Firestone, Drug and Opiate Recovery Network, and Seamless Restoration.

This year’s Radiothon Co-Chairs were Big Joe Staysniak of 1070 theFan and WIBC, and Tom Zupncic VP of Marketing of the Indianapolis Colts. Zup was able to get some great prizes this year including an autographed Peyton Manning helmet, autographed Peyton Manning football, Dwight Freeny and Reggie Wayne autographed footballs, game tickets and on lucky donor will get to lead the team out of the tunnel on the Lucas Oil Motorcycle a the January 2 Colts vs. Titans game. Our thanks to Zup and big Joe for all of their help.

Last but certainly not least, we need to thank our long time partner and friends, WIBC. For 16 years now they’ve given us hours of air-time and dedicated support to the ministries and programs of The Salvation Army. Because of your love for this community, we can again serve those who hurting.

Thank you to all for a great Radiothon and we will see you next year!

We appreciate WCT’s generosity and support as we set our sights on having enough pledges to provide 50,000 meals and 2,500 safe nights of shelter for Hoosiers in 2011. And by Sunday lunch, our volunteers will have put in dozens of hours to help out their neighbors in need.

Thanks to all of our generous meal sponsors for helping out this year. Know of an area restaurant or bakery that would be willing to provide breakfast either Friday, Saturday or Sunday of Radiothon (12/3-5)? If you do, have them call Kristen at 224-1019.

Got an idea for a prize package? Give Kristen a call at 224-1019.

Markey’s makes sponsoring look easy, don’t they? We’d love to include your business in this year’s Radiothon. To sponsor an hour or donate items for prize packages, give Kristen a call at 224-1019.

Thanks, IU Sports Properties for your support. And, go Hoosiers!

My name is Donna. My life has been saved! This is a literal statement because the abuse from my husband had progressed to the point where he was going to kill me. And even worse than that he would have done so in front of my three children. He had never abused the children before, but the signs were all present and I knew it was just a matter of time before he started on them too.

People say, “Leave him! Go!” But where do you go? There was nowhere in the area to go, no shelters. How are you supposed to get out safely? And if you have children it becomes even more complicated. You leave on the spur of the moment whenever the opportunity becomes available to you.

Then you find out all of the shelters are full, no rooms available. I left home in the middle of the night with my three children with very few personal belongings. Who was there for us? The Salvation Army was there.

They had a room for us. In the middle of the night at 11:00pm they were there. My kids and I were finally safe. They first provided us with food, clothing, personal hygene items. After that they provided us with spiritual encouragement and hope. We stayed at The Salvation Army for several months until I was able to save up money for a safe apartment away from my abusive husband.

Currently I am still not at a place where I can give back, but when I am I will give generously so that The Salvation Army can be there for someone else in need. Thank you and God Bless.

Donna is a REAL woman whose REAL life was saved because she found refuge at our downtown shelter. Shelter that was available because people like you support our mission. The WIBC Radiothon isn’t just a fundraiser. It’s our best, most effective way to share stories like Donna’s with our community so we can gather enough support to keep those doors open.

Our goal this year is to raise enough support through Radiothon to provide 50,000 meals and 2,500 nights of shelter to Hoosiers in need in 2011. If you’d like to help, give Kristen a call at 224-1019.

(Names have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the client.  Donna* is currently enrolled in our Continuing Support Program and she continues contact with her case manager once a week.)

We still have several meals left available for sponsorship. So, if you’d like to help provide a meal for about 50 or so volunteers, we’d love to speak with you! Give Kristen a call at 224-1019.

The Salvation Army is serious about using your donations to change lives. In fact, about 85 cents of every dollar you donate goes straight into programs that help your neighbors in need with food, shelter and financial assistance. With only about 15 cents left to cover all of our operations, we rely on our community to help us with expenses for events like this. And Hoosier business partners have always taken on that challenge.  Thanks to GFS Marketplace, lunch on Saturday, December 4 is covered!

We still have several meals left available for sponsorship, so if you’d like to help provide a meal for about 50 or so volunteers, we’d love to speak with you! Give Kristen a call at 224-1019.

Just met with our friends from Jillian’s Indianapolis and we’re thrilled to announce the first prize packages of the season. If you’re not familiar, Jillian’s is like a Chuck E. Cheese for grown-ups, but better. You’ll enjoy great food and interactive video games, cosmic bowling and billiards. (And let me tell you, the brownie bites are A-MA-ZING!) Located right downtown Indianapolis, it’s central to everywhere and not just like anywhere. Sounds like a great time, right? Absolutely!

Ready for a little holiday (or post-holiday) fun? Jillian’s has donated three prizes packages, each valued at $275. Each package includes a VIP party for 15 guests, a 7000 point Amazing Game Card and 1-hour of billiards play!

So, now you know the bar has been set high. We’re looking for more great packages to add some excitement and incentive for pledgers during the WIBC Radiothon. Got any ideas? Give me (Kristen) a call at 224-1019.

We’ll let you pay in installments! Really? Yes, really! With a goal of 50,000 meals and 2,500 nights of shelter for Hoosiers in need, we need all the help we can get. YOUR help. Give me (Kristen) a call at 224-1019 and let’s talk ’10 easy payments’ today!