For Immediate Release: April 29, 2008
Contact: Rossana Seitter
704-335-4780
“Oprah’s Big Give: Charlotte” Raises Money and Awareness
see the TV spot
Charlotte, NC -- WSOC-TV, Channel 9, received $10,000 seed money from ABC Television and Oprah’s Big Give with the directive to “make it grow” for charity. In less than one month, the money grew to more than $110,000 allowing Second Harvest Food Bank’s Backpack Program to feed 500 children every weekend for a full year.
“Oprah’s Big Give: Charlotte” launched on March 28th and quickly generated support from viewers, groups and businesses who saw the promotional spot and news stories aired on Channel 9 about the underfunded children’s food program. At the end of the campaign on April 20th, a surprising twist was revealed: WSOC-TV was selected by Oprah’s Big Give judges as one of three participating ABC affiliates to receive a bonus of $30,000 to use toward the Backpack Program. To add to the pot, WSOC-TV Vice President & General Manager, Joe Pomilla announced that Channel 9 would make a $10,000 donation to match the original seed money.
Kay Carter, Executive Director of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina said, “Thanks to WSOC-TV and Oprah’s Big Give we will be able to feed hundreds of hungry children through our Backpack Program. Because of this promotion, our community has a heightened awareness of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina and our goal of ending child hunger.”
Matthews based retailer Family Dollar kick-started the campaign with a generous donation of 1,000 backpacks which will save the food bank more than $5,000 this year.
When NASCAR driver Martin Truex, Jr. heard about “Oprah’s Big Give: Charlotte”, he raced in to help. The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation not only donated hats and other items for the backpacks, his foundation rallied support from fellow NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, plus Morgan-Dollar Motorsports and the Women’s Auxiliary of Motorsports. Truex even recruited his father, owner of Sea Watch, Intl., to donate a sizable amount of canned soup to the program.
Truex said, "It's been really cool to participate in the BIG GIVE program with WSOC-TV.” He added, “Ever since we started the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation, we've been looking for causes to help in our own backyard so I'm thrilled to be able to help the Second Harvest Food Bank right here in Charlotte. I hope we can continue to give to these children and brighten their futures for many years to come."
Second Harvest Food Bank’s Backpack Program provides nutritious food for children to take home on weekends and holidays when other resources are not available. 18.7% of children in the Charlotte area live below poverty.
WSOC-TV is a Cox Television station. Cox Television operates 15 television stations and two local cable channels in 11 markets, 3 national television sales representation firms, 1 national digital sales company, and a Washington DC news bureau. Cox Television is part of Cox Broadcasting, Inc., a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., one of the nation’s leading media companies and providers of automotive services.