WSB’s AFLAC Cancer Center Careathon raises $1.7 million; 680/The Fan fans bring in $100K for Camp Twin Lakes
Originally posted by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
WSB radio listeners pledged $1.737 million for this year’s 19th annual AFLAC Cancer and Blood Disorders Center Careathon at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
It exceeded last year’s pledge total of $1.697 million and fell just short of the record $1.75 million from 2017.
During the 36 hours, the station mixed and matched different local hosts, taking syndicated hosts Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity off the air during the ay in favor of such combos as an hour with "Smilin'" Mark McKay, Mark Arum, Doug Turnbull and Ashley Frasca on Thursday and Eric Von Haessler, Clark Howard and Scott Slade on Friday.
It is also an annual excuse to extricate Neal Boortz - who technically retired in 2013 - from his abode in Naples, Fla. and get on the air with various WSB personalities to encourage listeners to donate.
On Thursday, Boortz was joined by his long-time producer Belinda Skelton, along with McKay.
“It’s like ABBA! Getting the band back together again!” Skelton said.
Herman Cain - who succeeded Boortz in 2013 but left the station last year - wasn't able to make it to the AFLAC Cancer Center studio but called in to Boortz and donated $5,000. Ever competitive, Boortz's wife Donna then pledged $6,000 just to beat Cain. On Friday, she pledged another $5,000.
***
Earlier this month, 680/93.7 The Fan held its sixth annual annual Camp Twin Lakes radiothon. It raised about $100,000 from about 500 donors. That’s enough money to send 185 children with serious illnesses, disabilities and other life challenges to the camp.
Camp Twin Lakes subsidizes 70 percent of the cost of each camper, and 72 percent of campers attend camp at no cost to their family. It hosted 3,800 campers this summer.
About the Author
Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.
