PULLMAN, Wash. Traditionally, public broadcasting stations put on week-long pledge drives, taking up time usually saved for programming. At 5 a.m. Thursday, March 22, Northwest Public Radio will begin its One-Day Pledge Drive, also called “Super Thursday,” a tradition that collects the same amount of pledges in a fraction of the time.
NWPR one-day drives began in 2008 in an attempt to create a good balance between programming and pledge drives, said Kerry Swanson, station manager. NWPR is a service of Washington State University.
“With these drives, we try and get all of the pledges in one day,” Swanson said, “and listeners really respond to that. They like the balance.”This year, NWPR hopes to collect 2,600 pledges, Swanson said. The drive is broadcast from the WSU Pullman campus and will be heard across the region, reaching as far as British Columbia.
And, according to Swanson, everyone is excited.
“It’s going to be an exciting time for the employees,” he said. “All year long, listeners call in and request programs and music from us; it’s exciting to have them call up and give us donations.”
Donations will be accepted over the phone at 1-800-549-3565 and through the website. For more information, and to donate, visit nwpr.org.