KASU Radio to Host 67th Birthday Party and Giving Event, May 16-17
JONESBORO – KASU 91.9 FM, the public media service of Arkansas State University, will celebrate its 67th birthday with two fundraising events this month.
KASU signed on the air May 17, 1957, from its first studio in Wilson Hall, and is the oldest National Public Radio (NPR) member station in Arkansas. Now the station streams its signal from KASU.org, and its website provides continuous news content from NPR, Associated Press, other Arkansas public media stations, and the KASU news department.
Listeners can join the KASU team from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at Lost Pizza, 906 Southwest Drive, Jonesboro, for fun and prizes. Lost Pizza will donate 10% of sales to KASU. Nothing Bundt Cakes is supplying Bundtinis for dessert. A drawing for prizes will occur each hour.
The party continues 6 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, May 17, with a one-day KASU Birthday Fun(d) Drive, continuing the overall spring fun(d) drive. One may donate that day by calling the station at (870) 972-2200. Donations can be made online anytime at KASU.org/give or by downloading the KASU mobile app.
“We are excited about celebrating the 67th birthday of KASU and these events. The KASU listeners continue to show their support for the station, keeping us strong and helping us reach our goals,” said Mark Smith, KASU station manager. “We depend upon listener and underwriter support to help us bring listeners the music, news, arts and views they depend on. We appreciate all contributions as they all help us reach our goals.”
KASU listeners become members by making financial contributions to the non-commercial educational station.
“Membership funds support the programming aired by KASU,” added Smith. “The funds raised through this event and through our on-air fundraisers also help to show the community support that allows the station to qualify for our community service grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,” Smith added. “Grants help pay for programming and supplement the operating expenses of the station.”
KASU is Arkansas’ oldest non-commercial public radio station, operating since 1957. The station has been an NPR member station since 1971. In addition to locally produced news and music programs, KASU pays to receive programming from NPR, American Public Media, and other sources.
KASU accepts membership contributions at any time. Listeners may call (870) 972-2200 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. More information, including ways to donate, can be found at KASU.org or on the station’s Facebook page.
One may also contact Rayna Kingston, rkingston@AState.edu, or LaDawn Fuhr, lfuhr@AState.edu, for details about becoming a member or the station’s 67th birthday bash.
