WESU Radio Hosts Holiday Pledge Drive

Wesleyan’s non-commercial college and community radio station, 88.1FM WESU, is holding its sixth annual WESU Holiday Pledge Drive. This year’s drive continues through the end of live programming at 3 a.m. on Sunday Dec. 12.

The goal for this year’s two-week drive is to raise $15,000 in listener support to sustain operating expenses throughout the coming year. Meeting this goal will keep WESU on track to raise $30,000 in community support before the end of the fiscal year in July.

During its 71st anniversary year, WESU completed the 3-year project of quadrupling its broadcasting power from 1,500 to 6,000 watts (ERP). This upgrade has nearly doubled WESU’s potential listening audience from roughly 500,000 to 1 million people throughout Connecticut and southern Massachusetts. In an event commemorating this upgrade, Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano issued a proclamation declaring that “Nov. 8, 2010 would henceforth be celebrated as WESU Day!”

Financial support during the pledge drive will help ensure that WESU continues to grow and operate as a creative vehicle for partnership between the Wesleyan community, the people of the greater Connecticut River Valley and beyond. Donations will directly benefit WESU and help to ensure local, community-based programs and alternative news and music continue to have a home on the radio dial.

Weekdays, WESU boasts a diverse schedule offering a robust program of News and Public Affairs by day drawing from NPR, Pacifica, independent, and local sources. Week Nights and Weekends WESU broadcast a diverse range of “free form” music and creative programming that includes jazz, soul, blues, rock, Caribbean, hip hop, experimental, electronic, gospel, oldies, Latin music and much more.

Those who wish to support WESU may donate at www.wesufm.org, or call 860-685-7700 during the drive and make a pledge. Online pledges are conveniently processed immediately, they prevent clerical errors, and they are more eco-friendly since there is no paper involved. All donations are tax deductible. For more information on how you can support WESU contact Ben Michael, general manager – generalmanager@wesufm.org or 860-658-7707.