JONESBORO, Ark. – The 26th annual Have-a-Heart Wishathon, organized by the Jonesboro Radio Group and KAIT, raised a remarkable $467,966 on Friday for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Jonesboro.
The event, spanning 13 hours and broadcasted on radio and television, involved over 250 volunteers stationed at 19 roadblocks across a seven-county area. School children also contributed significantly to the fundraising efforts, bringing in over $120,000.
Trey Stafford, Saga’s President/General Manager in Jonesboro, credited Christie Matthews, KDXY’s program director, for bringing Make-A-Wish to the community 26 years ago. “We were all bitten by the Make-A-Wish bug,” Stafford remarked, “and, luckily, we can’t get over it!”
The event involves six radio stations of the Jonesboro Radio Group: KDXY (104.9 The Fox), KEGI (100.5 The Eagle), KJBX (Mix 106.3), KDXY-HD2 (Hot 107.5), KDXY-HD3 (EZ 92.7) and KJBX-HD2 (98.5 The Outlaw) and Gray Television’s Jonesboro station, KAIT.
Hatton Week, Gray’s Vice President/General Manager at KAIT, expressed enthusiasm for the station’s involvement, stating, “What Make-A-Wish does for kids fighting critical illness is indescribable. You don’t understand it until you actually see it.”
Over the event’s 26-year history, it has raised over nine million dollars to fulfill the wishes of children battling critical illnesses. The Wishathon has garnered national attention for its widespread community involvement. In 2015, CBS’ 60 Minutes featured the event, highlighting the story of young Kaden Ericcson, who wished for a trip to Australia while battling leukemia. Though Kaden tragically passed away, the segment has been repeated four times, showcasing the enduring impact of the Wishathon.
For more information about Make-A-Wish, visit www.wish.org.
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