Like many other people recently, KPCW has had to scale back its birthday plans—in this case, its 40th Anniversary celebration.
But we’re finding other ways to mark the occasion. General Manager Renai Miller says KPCW is continuing its mission and its vital role in the local community.
KPCW signed on the air on July 2nd of 1980. Renai Miller noted that the Park City area has gone through a lot of changes since then.
“Deer Valley starting in 1981. Jordanelle Reservoir being filled in the 80’s. The Olympics, of course, 2002. Vail taking over in 2014. So many things have happened in the past 40 years. This place has changed a lot.”
She said that the station’s essential role has become clear since early March. KPCW’s news team and other staff shifted to high gear to monitor the COVID-19 outbreak, the lockdown orders and reopenings. Miller said the numbers show the station’s efforts found an eager audience.
“From January 1st to May 28th, this year, we’ve had 434,880 hits on our website. That’s compared to 144,000 the same time the year before. And in March alone this year, we had 158,000 users on our website versus 36,000 the year before. That shows when people were looking for COVID-19 information in Summit and Wasatch Counties, they were coming to “kpcw.org.”
The station is a non-profit that provides help for other non-profits.
“We consider KPCW the oxygen mask. Help us so we can help others. We are a non-profit that supports all other non-profits in town. And non-profits have been having a really tough time through this.”
With the coronavirus outbreak, the station had to put off its plans for an Open House to show off its new expanded offices, and there won’t be a Back Alley Bash.
Instead a campaign was launched on May 27th, aiming to raise $40,000 in the 40 days leading up to our Anniversary.
“We started doing some on-air messaging, and we sent out a newsletter to all of our supporters. And we have been receiving some really nice donations in the past two days. Obviously, the goal is $1000 a day. And we’re a little shy of that. This is our third day, and I think we’re a little over a $1000 in. So we’re really hoping people that support KPCW can go online, “KPCW.org”, click the donate button and please make a donation.”
Miller said they will also be taking their 40th Anniversary signs around to locals, who can take a selfie with the sign and make any comments about what the radio station means to them. The messages will be played on air, and the photos will go online.
Finally, Miller said their goal for the August Pledge Drive will be $100,000, about half what it normally would be. They will be giving out gift certificates during the Drive, but won’t be seeking donations from struggling local businesses.
