At Leighton Media, our passion to serve, connect, and celebrate our communities has been a core value since we began our journey in 1975. We believe in going beyond radio spots, live broadcasts, or a float in your local parade. One way we do that is by running a social promotion and asking people to nominate their favorite nonprofit to win a radio schedule.
Last year, we ran the first ever Gratitude Campaign that reached out to nonprofits across our markets in Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. We wanted to not just give back to one but all of the communities we broadcast to. The sheer amount of nominations we received during this promotion reminded us again and again how crucial nonprofits are to their communities. With such great success, our team pushed for our second annual campaign.
We are pleased to announce the results are in and this year was a success! The winners for the 2018 Gratitude Campaign will receive 21 radio advertisements per week, for 13 consecutive weeks. Here are the awarded recipients:
Tobacco Harm Reduction 4 Life
Detroit Lakes
Trying to quit smoking is no easy task. At Tobacco Harm Reduction 4 Life (THR4Life), their goal is to help smokers regain control over their lives by giving people balanced and accurate information about tobacco harm reduction (THR). An extremely relevant example with today’s technology is vaping. It’s currently the most widely used means of THR, and it’s the most successful method of permanent abstinence from tobacco. This triumphs over all forms of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
Humane Society of Otter Tail County
Fergus Falls
Launched by Carol Schaaf and Pam Swenson, the Humane Society of Otter Tail County is the solution to stray animals in need. They’re on a mission to provide temporary shelter and care to stray, abandoned, and surrendered animals. They believe in placing every adoptable animal in a caring permanent home and promote the humane treatment of all animals.
Grand Forks Senior Center
Grand Forks
Serving area seniors for over sixty years, the Grand Forks Senior Center focuses on the “Brighter Side of Sixty.” This is all about meeting new people, going new places, trying new things, and helping others - the Grand Forks Senior Center believes in community building for seniors. Sometimes too, it’s receiving services that help you stay independent at home. Their staff is professional, caring, and trustworthy.
Ruff Start Rescue
St. Cloud
Ruff Start Rescue is committed to saving the lives of at-risk animals. They do this not only through their volunteers' dedication to helping pets but also through collaborating, communicating, and educating the community on the importance of animal rescue and welfare. Their vision: strive for a world where every companion animal has a safe and loving forever home.
Ready Set School
Winona
Out of Winona, Minnesota, Ready Set School works to ensure that all eligible K-12 students who attend school in Winona County have the basic essentials for school. All funds raised go directly to those families so they may decide whether to buy supplies, clothing, or a combination of both. Funds are spent just like a gift card at designated local retailers, keeping funds in the community. In 2018, Ready Set School distributed over 600 vouchers which totaled over $40,000 in assistance.
Community involvement is what these businesses breathe every day. It’s humbling to support them in their growth. To our nonprofit partners across all our markets, we hope our radio advertising at Leighton Media strengthens your ties to the community. Our team would like to thank you for your consistent devotion, compassion, and service to our community development.