KXCV-KRNW invites listeners to participate in annual fund drive

National Public Radio affiliate KXCV-KRNW operates in Wells Hall on the Northwest campus and provides valuable, profession-based experience for students, in addition to in-depth news and sports coverage. (Photo by Lauren Adams/Northwest Missouri State University)

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KXCV celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021. Read more about the station's history by clicking this link.

Northwest Missouri State University's National Public Radio affiliate, KXCV-KRNW, will host its annual fund drive Saturday, Oct. 4, through Friday, Oct. 10, with a goal of increasing financial support and raising awareness for its informative programming.

While memberships begin at $65, the radio affiliate emphasizes that any amount of support is crucial to assisting with its operations and offering the quality programs that listeners have long associated with NPR and local listeners.

The theme of this fall's fund drive is "Be a Big Deal," underscoring the need for listener and community support amid decreasing federal funding.

"It's going to be important if we can have a good, solid, successful fund drive to be able to fund the programming that our listeners have come to expect and love," John Coffey, KXCV-KRNW's station manager, said. "It's a service that nobody else has in this region - to be able to provide news content that's not available in any other radio station around, not only with the national and international programming that we offer but also support our local news. We are one of the very few stations in the region that still offers in-depth local news coverage, and that's very important to our listeners."

Launched in 1971 as the first full-powered public radio service in Missouri, KXCV (90.5 FM), a 100,000-watt NPR affiliate, provides in-depth news, informational programs and music. All of KXCV's programming emanates from the Northwest campus, while a sister station, KRNW (88.9), founded in 1993, extends the radio programming across most of the northern 25 percent of Missouri, including KKWK in Cameron.

As the flagship of the Bearcat Radio Network, KXCV produces all Northwest football and basketball broadcasts and game feeds to commercial radio affiliates throughout the four-state region. KXCV-KRNW programming also is accessible online at https://www.kxcv.org and via its Bearcat Public Media App.

Additionally, many NPR stations, including Northwest's KXCV-KRNW serve as a valuable arena for students to gain profession-based experience and build strong skills for future careers in broadcasting, reporting or even business.

"We want people to realize that not only are we a big deal with everything that we provide and the values that we establish, but listeners and members are also a big deal," said Hannah Staggs, KXCV-KRNW's membership development and events coordinator. "Even if it's only $5 or $25, that adds up."

The radio station also will partner with Planet Sub in Maryville from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, where 20 percent of sales will go to KXCV-KRNW.

For donations exceeding $250, or by pledging 20 per month, contributors become a "Sustaining Member" and can receive a KXCV-KRNW-branded hoodie.

People who wish to donate can give online by visiting https://www.kxcv.org/pledge.

For information about KXCV-KRNW and supporting public radio through a membership, visit https://www.kxcv.org or call 660.562.1163.