The Radiothon to End Child Abuse was founded through the partnership of Lou Buron and Mary Campbell of Omni Broadcasting and Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota (PCAMN) when Lou was on the PCAMN Board of Directors. The first Radiothon was held in 1987 as a partnership between PCAMN, Omni Broadcasting, and local community partners in Bemidji. Since then, it has grown to into a 24-hour radio event hosted by Hubbard Broadcasting across four radio markets: Bemidji, Alexandria, Brainerd, and Wadena.

The event raises close to $100,000 annually through pledges from callers, with additional funds raised through local auctions and events in conjunction with the Radiothon. Funds benefit local county initiatives as well as statewide programs that strengthen families and keep children safe. Participating counties include: Aitkin, Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Morrison, Otter Tail, Todd, and Wadena.

In addition to raising funds, this event has significantly raised awareness and brought communities together to act on behalf of children and families in deep and substantial ways. Learn more about the impact of the event.

History of Radiothon - FamilyWise : FamilyWise

Funds raised by the Radiothon are used to prevent child abuse and neglect through educational and supportive programs for children and families in more than 35 Minnesota counties. Examples include:

• Early childhood initiatives that help young children grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.
• Awareness campaigns that build shared understanding about violence prevention through public service announcements, posters, publications, and resource websites.
• Community events that strengthen social connections and supports for families, including resource fairs, community dinners and movie nights, and film screenings and discussions.
• Circle of Parents and other support parenting support groups and educational resources to help parents create safe, nurturing environments for themselves and their children.
• Trainings on NEAR sciences (Neurobiology, Epigenetics, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Resilience) to promote prevention and foster healing in communities.
• Home visiting programs that partner with families to promote healthy lifestyles and nurturing environments.
• Supervised visiting and safe exchange services to support children in maintaining parental relationships in safe environments.
• Collaborations between schools and service agencies to develop education and prevention projects that benefit children.
• Emergency care services for children and families involved with child protection and court systems.

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For More Information Visit:
Familywiseservices.org/child-abuse-prevention/