Radio NOVA 100.3FM has officially launched its ‘Help Our Homeless’ Radiothon. The station has set a target to raise €40,000 over a two-day live, on-air charity pledge drive to help Irish charity, Focus Ireland. The Radiothon is the second to be hosted by the station and takes place on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th February from 08:00am to 06:00pm each day.
The Help Our Homeless Radiothon represents an urgent appeal for donations to support Focus Ireland’s vital work for those those who are homeless and at risk of homelessness in the Greater Dublin area. The radio station’s inaugural fundraising initiative in 2015 raised more than €30,000 and this year sees the target set for €40,000. The higher amount reflects the shocking increase in the number of people affected by homelessness; more than 700 families and over 1,600 children in such a predicament.
Former Boxing World Champion and sports presenter Bernard Dunne, an ambassador for the campaign, joined stars of screen, stage and music with Hollywood actor Cillian Murphy, and celebrities Don Wycherley, The Nualas, Jack L., HamsandwicH, Gavin Glass and Delorentos amongst many more, at the official launch of the Radiothon.
Speaking about the Radiothon Bernard Dunne said, “I’m delighted to support the Radio NOVA Radiothon in aid of Focus Ireland. Homelessness is sadly so prevalent today and is visible everywhere now in Dublin. It’s completely shocking to think that 1 in 3 people that are now homeless is a child. I work with children up and down the country to encourage them to believe in themselves, and attain their goals as I know how easily their confidence can be knocked. The impact of being homeless and living in such stressful conditions is a psychological challenge and burden that sadly many may not overcome for years, if ever”.
Commenting at the launch, Kevin Branigan, Radio NOVA’s CEO and Programme Director, said that he intends to build on the success of last year’s Radiothon by increasing the target to €40,000. “We were overwhelmed by the phenomenal support of our listeners last year to help us raise money for this vital cause. Sadly, the homeless crisis has deepened over the past 12 months and we decided to hold another Radiothon to help Focus Ireland meet the increasing demand for their services. We are delighted and very grateful to have Cillian Murphy kick start the campaign for us, as well as all those who give their time to raise awareness of our Radiothon. We are confident that our generous listeners will help us make this year’s event even bigger and better than ever in 2016.”
A special call centre will be set-up at Radio NOVA’s HQ in Dublin’s Docklands, which for the first time sees a host of Irish bands, musicians and familiar faces from stage, screen and sport, joining Focus Ireland staff in manning the phones during the two-day Radiothon. Radio NOVA are asking for listeners to donate €20 in its Radiothon, which will help provide a person who is homeless with safe accommodation for two nights and a hot meal.
Media providers from all platforms, TV, Outdoor, Press, Cinema, Digital and Experiential, have come forward to support NOVA’s Radiothon by providing pro bono media coverage including PML Group, Wide Eyed Media, DMG Ireland, Setanta Sport TV, Electric Media, I-Believe and a multitude of websites and print publications. They have collectively provided €350,000 worth of multi-media support to the Radiothon.
“With the support of Radio NOVA’s listeners we can help even more people. Every donation will help us directly support those who have lost their homes and also help fund our work to prevent others from becoming homeless in the first place,” added Ashley Balbirnie, CEO of Focus Ireland.
Further enhancing and supporting the activity of Focus Ireland, Radio NOVA have set up a separate website and Facebook page for the ‘Help Our Homeless Radiothon’ at www.homelessradiothon.ie and www.facebook.com/homelessradiothon and on Twitter www.twitter.com/radionova100, using the hashtags, #NOVARadiothon2016 and #homelessradiothon.
About Radio NOVA
Radio NOVA launched in 2010 and has steadily grown its audience. It broadcasts a diet of guitar-based music to Dublin and the commuter belt counties of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow as well as via the RadioNova-100FM App and on-line at www.nova.ie featuring artists such as The Killers, Coldplay, The Kings of Leon and the Foo Fighters to David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Fleetwood Mac. The station has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2010, with the most recent JNLR ratings giving it 77,000 daily listeners and 148,000 weekly listeners in Dublin, Kildare, Meath & Wicklow. *
Sources:
*JNLR/Ipsos MRBI – 2015/4. Daily Listenership, Weekly Listenership, Dublin Commuter Belt.
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