Pay Off the Firetruck Day

Friday, July 25, 2003

Media 'blitz' to raise $175K for firetruck

ADAM WALLIN
Tucson Citizen

Tucson's business and media communities are coming together Aug. 1, in what is described as a "one-day blitz" to raise money for the Summerhaven Fire Department's new firetruck.

The event is meant to gather more than $175,000 toward the $240,000 cost of the truck, which arrived shortly after the Aspen fire left most of the department's tax base in ashes.

Rodney Glassman, founder of the Glassman Foundation, a nonprofit group devoted to funding youth development efforts, wants everyone to know that although he is coordinating the project, he and his group are not the focus.

"This is not a Glassman Foundation event, this is not a Rodney Glassman event, this is the whole Tucson community," he said.

The plan is for local television and radio media to cut into their regular programming periodically throughout the day with on-site coverage at participating business-partner locations or to promote the effort through mentions on news programs and public service announcements.

Businesses involved in the effort include Pizza Hut, P.F. Chang's, Arby's, Miller's Surplus, Intuit, the Southern Arizona Community Bank and O'Reilly Motor Company. All will donate some of their revenue from the event to the firetruck fund, in addition to one-time donations of $1,500 for the on-site broadcasts.

Pizza Hut has donated $3,000 and will host two separate cut-in broadcasts.

Anyone donating $10 or more at P.F. Chang's will receive a free appetizer card valid anytime.

The Southern Arizona Community Bank has a firetruck fund account that will handle every dollar raised during the event.

A few businesses have made especially generous donations.

"Desert Diamond Casino stepped up with a $10,000 check after one phone call before we even had a press conference," Glassman said.

Gene Steinberg, Vice President Director of Programming and Creative Services at KWBA 58, called the project "a novel approach."

KWBA, Fox 11 and UPN 18 do not have their own news programs, but will be running announcements.

Other stations are still deciding in what capacity they will participate, but every local station and radio company has confirmed they intend to include some coverage of the event.

"We're going to give it publicity through our newscasts, but it's not going to be a continuous or hourly thing for us," said KOLD 13 General Manager Jim Arnold.

KGUN 9 General Manager Ray Depa has been the biggest and most enthusiastic media contact for the project, according to Glassman.

"It's gratifying to know the media in Tucson can set aside all the competitiveness to come together and do something like this," said Depa, whose station will cover the event intermittently from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

KGUN plans to have "live cut-ins throughout the day," Depa said.

Participating radio corporations include:

- Citadel Broadcasting, owner of KIIM 99.5, Fox Sports Radio 1290, Star 97.5, Rock 107 and KTUC 1400

- Journal Broadcast Group, owner of 94.9 Mix FM, 104.1 The Point, Mega 106.3 and ESPN 1490

- Arizona Lotus Radio Corporation, owner of 96.1 KLPX, 92.1 KFMA, 102.1 KCMT La Caliente and AM 990 KTKT;

- Clear Channel Communications, owner of 790 AM KNST, 93.7 KRQ, 97.1 FM and 92.9 FM.

For more information, call Rodney Glassman at 271-5715, or Cheri DeMaio of Ad Dimensions at 321-0750.

Inside Tucson Business Article on Payoff the Firetruck Day