Kansas Public Radio is going for '300 strong' during summer membership campaign

LAWRENCE – Kansas Public Radio is asking listeners to lend a helping hand this June by becoming sustaining members or upgrading their sustaining membership. If KPR reaches a goal of 300 new and upgrading sustainers, it will meet a $30,000 challenge put forth by a group of generous KPR donors.

Listener support is now more important than ever – KPR’s budget will be cut by $216,571 as the University of Kansas is bracing for financial setbacks from the pandemic. This is the largest budget cut in the station’s 69-year history and represents about 70% of the remaining annual funding from KU. 

Fortunately, Kansas Public Radio has more than 100,000 weekly listeners who can help. Tax-deductible membership gifts are the key to the public radio station’s ability to provide the high-quality music, news and entertainment that listeners expect. Whether it’s locally produced classical and jazz shows or award-winning news coverage that provides listeners with the unbiased facts during difficult times, the public can count on KPR for 8,760 hours of high-quality programming each year. 

KPR set the goal of 300 new and upgrading sustaining memberships because sustaining gifts — monthly donations with no end date — provide dependable, continuous income that the organization can rely on year-to-year. Listeners can follow along as KPR staff make daily updates to reach the goal, and they can become a part of the KPR crew by donating now at kansaspublicradio.org/support. Community members can also join in during the upcoming mini on-air membership drive, beginning Thursday, June 24.

KPR, a 19-time Kansas Association of Broadcasters Station of the Year, licensed to KU, broadcasts on 91.5 FM and 96.1 FM in Lawrence, 89.7 FM in Emporia, 91.3 FM in Olsburg-Junction City, 89.9 FM in Atchison, 90.3 FM in Chanute, and 99.5 FM and 97.9 FM in Manhattan. KPR can be heard online at kansaspublicradio.org. KPR also operates KPR2, a news-talk programming stream, which can be heard on an HD receiver or on KPR’s website, and on 96.1 in Lawrence and 97.9 in Manhattan.