Y105, Dubuque Community Helps Raise Over $29,000 for Iowa Children’s Hospital

The Y105 Radiothon for the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children's Hospital on Friday, December 6th, 2024 was a rousing success in every sense of the word. For 12 consecutive hours, we were live on the radio looking to raise as much money as possible for a hospital that goes above and beyond in helping children from all around Iowa, the country, and the world.

Thanks to the help of our wonderful listeners, as well as some generous local businesses, we collectively raised $29,083 for the Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital! I went into this event without any clear expectation of what we could/would raise, so hearing that total made me ecstatic and grateful.

The Y105 Radiothon for the Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital has been an institution on the station, one that predates my time as the morning show host. After falling by the wayside in recent years, with the pandemic, the departure of Y105 mainstay Chris Farber, and the transition to my time as program director, upper-management and I thought it was time to bring the event back.

Let it be known that this event wouldn't have been a success without the dedicated work and passion of so many individuals. Firstly, credit must be given to the Children's Miracle Network/Iowa Stead Family Hospital team, comprised of Andrea Chambers, Jill Harper, Hanna Stokes, Jim Littrell, and many others. Andrea and Jill helped me every step of the way, supplying me with pointers, information, and even snacks for those who stopped by our studios on the day of the Radiothon.

Then there are the folks from Loras College, particularly Loras DUTHON/Loras Dance Marathon, fellow fundraisers for the children's hospital. These folks are miracle-workers in themselves. Credit is due to Maddy Stephan, who so graciously helped schedule numerous families leading up to and during the Radiothon itself. Tyler Adams was my right-hand man throughout the day, helping me on air and serving as my de facto assistant for the day.

And that doesn't account for many others from Loras who took it upon themselves to secure matching hour sponsors for the Radiothon. A big thank you to the following businesses who contributed to the event and matched incoming donations in respective hours:

• Brazen Open Kitchen & Bar
• The Chad and Laura Chandlee Family
• Dubuque Mulch Co.
• Loras College Network of Dubuque
• Reynolds & Kenline Injury + Trial Lawyers
• WCC Brands Custom Apparel

Last, but certainly not least, were the plethora of "Miracle Families," those whose children have received/are receiving care from the Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. So many families from Dubuque, Dyersville, Maquoketa, and other nooks of the Tri-States came out to the station on a frigid Friday to share their stories with thousands of listeners.

I might've been behind the microphone for 12 hours on Friday, but it's because of these individuals that this Radiothon was as smooth and as successful as it was.

Thanks to their efforts, and the donations that poured in via phone/text/online from those all around the Tri-States, the $29,083 raised will go directly to the Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. No administrative costs are taken from the donations. More people need to know that.

That money will be used to buy gift cards for families to use for meals outside the Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. It will be used to buy books for the vast library inside the children's hospital, as well as video games for children to play. Larger sums might be put towards research, life-saving equipment, and other programs to assure the hospital continues to provide the exceptional care for which it's known.

I owe a debt of gratitude to the Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, the Children's Miracle Network, the charitable students of Loras College, and the Miracle Families themselves, all of whom instrumental and vital for the success that was Y105's 2024 Radiothon. A big "thank you" to each and every one of you.

Read more about the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children's Hospital on their official website.