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12/5: Project 9-6-1’s Giant Brian raises nearly $100K for Empty Stocking
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Giant Brian show on Project 9-6-1 just finished up 50 hours to raise $96,535 for the Empty Stocking Fund, which found its warehouse stripped of $50,000 in gifts for needy kids. The thieves have yet to be found but he said it’s obvious the fund will end up with more cash than it otherwise would have had, said Don Crawford, the Empty Stocking Fund executive director.
“I’m tired but inspired,” “Giant” Brian Carothers said after the total was announced at 10:12 a.m. today.
“We thank you very much. It will help a lot of children,” said Crawford.
About 6,100 people contributed money. More will come in so the final total will likely be bigger and might break $100,000, said Chris Williams, program director.
John Cabaniss, a research scientist at Georgia Tech who lives in Marietta, stopped by the studio ((above, right, with Giant Brian)) and gave $16,000 from a charity foundation set up by his grandmother on behalf of his late grandfather. The radio station gave $25,000.
The two jocks didn’t stay awake or stay at the studio the entire 50 hours. They both snuck home overnight to shower, brush their teeth and shave. Brian Carothers slept three hours last night on a love seat while Shaffee found a spot on the floor in the control room under a desk to doze for an hour last night. “The carpet probably hasn’t been vacuumed since this building opened so I breathed in all sorts of dust, but it was worth it,” he said.
A company called Digital Blue, an education and entertainment company, said it will provide a matching total (including in-kind trades). So the final total could be closer to $200,000.
Crawford said the thieves focused on electronics, taking hundreds of DVD players and MP3 players. They didn’t steal any of the books.
Last year, the charity organization said it helped out 46,376 underprivileged children. You can donate directly here..
Comments
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By Rodney's Ho
December 5, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
Ha…I knew that couldn’t do it. REJECT 961!
96Rock WILL RISE!
By Congrats
December 5, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
Great job!! Make it an annual event (not the thievery…) The ESF is a fine organization.
By jss
December 5, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this
That’s nice.
By Annie Kleynjans
December 6, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this
My dear Brian,
We in Pittsburgh are sooo very proud of you. My dear friends Patti and Bob grew a couple of inches with pride. What a wonderful cause you spent 50 hours on. Time very well spent. And the success you found is unsurpassed. I agree that this should be an annual event for all the children of Atlanta. Keep up the great work.
By Adam Bomb
December 19, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this
BEH ZEH ZEH! Im proud of you…and so is shane tallant