The Colorado Symphony Orchestra and Colorado Public Radio have announced that the radio station’s recent three-day on-air fundraiser raised $625,758 for the orchestra. During the drive, CPR featured live performances by CSO musicians in its performance studio, along with testimonials about the need to support the CSO and CPR from community and business leaders. CSO board members, musicians, chorus members, donors and staff pledged $290,000 in dollar-for-dollar challenge funds prior to the three-day event, which took place from November 30 to December 2. A total of 1,933 CPR listeners donated $335,758, resulting in a total matched contribution of $625,758. The radiothon resulted from CPR’s successful petition to the Federal Communications Commission for a special waiver and exception to its normal prohibition of public radio stations interrupting regular programming to raise funds for another organization. “This one-time-only FCC waiver was based on the CSO’s role as a major cultural organization and our largest classical music programming provider,” said CPR President Max Sycisk. “The Colorado Symphony Orchestra is a great asset to the City of Denver and a cornerstone of our cultural community,” said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. “This exciting partnership between the CSO and Colorado Public Radio is an innovative model for fundraising in this challenging economy. We applaud the sustainable changes the CSO is making to ensure the organization’s viability well into the future.”
Posted December 7, 2009
