Community Donates $611,312 to Eighth Annual Hasbro Children’s Hospital Radiothon

Posted Monday, April 16, 2012

More than 40 children with a wide range of medical issues took to the airwaves to share their stories in support of the eighth annual radiothon to benefit Hasbro Children’s Hospital. The community once again generously responded by donating $611,312 to support the vital pediatric care, family programs and leading-edge research at the hospital that serves the surrounding area.

“I am enormously grateful to all the individuals, families and businesses that have supported this amazing event,” said Timothy J. Babineau, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Rhode Island Hospital. “Year after year, their generosity reaffirms in the most powerful of ways just how crucial Hasbro Children’s Hospital is to the health and well-being of all the communities we serve.”

The annual radiothon broadcast is a partnership of Providence Cumulus radio stations, Hasbro Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The two-day event, April 12 and 13, was broadcast live from Hasbro Children’s Hospital for a total of 24 hours. Since the radiothon began in 2005, more than $5 million has been raised. It has been put toward the latest technologies and programs to treat children in the region and to fund research at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. The first year of the radiothon set a record as the most successful first-time radiothon for children in North America.

Over the course of the event, broadcast on Cumulus radio stations 92 PRO FM, LITE ROCK 105, NEWS TALK 630 WPRO & 99.7 FM, and FUN 107, young patients and their families told their personal stories of medical triumph, along with their physicians, nurses, social workers, child life specialists, teachers and hospital administrators. Children from cities throughout the region who are, or have been, patients of Hasbro Children’s Hospital shared stories with listeners regarding specialties such as surgery, oncology and neurology.

Robert B. Klein, M.D., pediatrician-in-chief of Hasbro Children’s Hospital, said, “This radiothon would not be possible without our valued partners, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Cumulus radio stations. We are grateful for what their support helps us to make possible.”

Thomas F. Tracy, Jr., M.D., pediatric surgeon-in-chief of Hasbro Children’s Hospital, added, “The generosity of all our supporters allows us to better serve the children and families of our community who are often at their most vulnerable when they come through our doors.”

Barbara Haynes, market manager of Cumulus radio stations said, “Every year the staff of 92 PRO FM, LITE ROCK 105, NEWS TALK 630 WPRO & 99.7 FM, and FUN 107 enthusiastically donate their time and talent to bring this important two-day broadcast to our audience. We are proud to engage the community in a celebration of Hasbro Children’s Hospital. And we are grateful to the fabulous customers of Cumulus who help make the Radiothon such a success—not only through their gifts but through their generosity of spirit.”

During the radiothon, listeners were invited to visit the station websites and social media pages for live blogging, real-time photos, meeting the patients and an opportunity to donate. The event also included visits from players from the New England Patriots, Providence Bruins and New England Revolution.

Photos from the Radiothon for publishing may be found at the following link:
http://www.hasbrochildrenshospital.org/giving/radiothon

Donations are still being accepted through the hospital’s website at: http://www.hasbrochildrenshospital.org/giving/radiothon

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