CKXU reaches more than half of FUNDrive goal

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 The fun is built right into the name for  University of Lethbridge based radio station, CKXU which is reaching out in the community for their annual FUNdrive.
“ I’m actually pretty excited about it. I’m not even stressed out about it,” said CKXU Station Manager Aaron Trozzo of the station’s annual fundraising campaign.
 This year’s theme is  “Power To the Tower” referencing the fact that this year’s $20,000 goal is being dedicated  to the next stage of  increasing the station’s signal power.


 ThisAaron Trozzo shows some of  the CKXU swag you can get by pledging during Fundrive this week. Photo by Richard Amery past week they have reached out into the community  for several extra FUNdrive events, beginning with a Gala Friends with Benefits event at the Southern Alberta  Art Gallery for businesses who are part of CKXU Friends card promotion. The Friends Card is a promotion CKXU does every year  for which local business offer discounts and specials to members.



 The card is one of several items of swag given away as volunteers take to the air and man the phones asking for pledges.

 

“ This year we have seven different events, which is the most  we’ve ever committed ourselves to, which is already a lot,” Trozzo said.


“ The idea is to reach out to the many under-represented groups which CKXU can represent,” he continued adding community outreach is part of the station’s mandate and helps foster its own sense of community.
“ So this year we thought it would be a good idea to lump our community outreach into one  single  giant event,” he said.
“We’re proud to be part of the community. The best part of what we do is make it fun. We really love to enable the community to give back,” he continued.
Trozzo is optimistic about reaching the $20,000 goal.


As of Wednesday morning, $ 11,808 had been raised for FUNdrive this year.


“It’s a lofty goal, but last year we had a goal of $13,000 and reached it. If we make $20,000, we can get the biggest tower we’ve ever seen,” he continued adding the money will go towards one third of  a matching grant between the City of Lethbridge and the province.

“ We’re putting our money where our mouth is,” he said adding much of last year’s FUNdrive proceeds went towards operational expenses, but  this year it is all about the tower and boosting the signal.


“ It’s a community grant worth up to $200,000,” he said adding the city has been very supportive of CKXU events like the annual Love and Records festival in September.
We’re interested in being part of the community so we’re thankful for the support, he said.


“ But it isn’t just about the money,” he said adding FUNdrive is supposed to be about the fun and creating community.
“Our volunteer base all take part on the air or taking part in the events. People who might not see each other all come together,” he said.
“ We get this beautiful bond. It’s the social glue of our volunteer base,” he continued.
CKXU-FM is a Canadian not-for-profit radio station, broadcasting at 88.3 FM, from the University of Lethbridge, in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. CKXU-FM's purpose is to offer programming that is different in style and substance from the programming offered by other types of radio stations, and that reflects the diverse elements of the community they serve; To provide community access to the airwaves; To participate in and promote the communities we serve.


 The last two events are  trivia night at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, March 26 and the big wind up party is at the Slice, March 27 , where  several prominent local musicians including Nathan Kunkel (Cosmic Charley), Steve Martin (Junkyard Choir, Jolene Draper), Jon Martin (New Weather Machine), Taylor Ackerman (Treeline, Shaela Miller Threesome ), Chris Lipinski ( Lustre Creame), Jane Edmundson (Endangered Ape), Benjamin Maine, Matthew Redenburg (Internet Love) and more, have volunteered to put their own stamps on four early albums by the artist Prince including Prince’s self titled 1979 album, Purple Rain, Sign O’ the Times, Dirty Mind and 1999.
 “ It started as a conversation about Prince covers so we put out a call for musicians who wanted to play Prince covers. We’re really excited about it. Bring your entourages and dress up as Prince,” he said.
 Tickets cost $15 at Blueprint and the Slice.

 The FUNDrive pledge line is 403-329-2400.

 A version of this story appears in the March 25, 2015 edition of the Lethbridge Sun Times
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 March 2015 10:50 )