KBUT is ‘blown away’ by ‘community’s support’

Editor:

KBUT's winter 2026 pledge drive ended on Friday the 27th and, once again, the staff, board, and volunteers are simply blown away by this community's support of what we do. For the first time ever, we asked for $100,000 to soften the blow of permanent loss of federal funding. That's not just a thing that happened last July, it's a loss of 26% of our budget, every year, for the foreseeable future. We had no choice but to raise our pledge drive goal. We knew from the last few Drives that our family of listeners had our back, but we also recognized that we had crossed the frontier into the land of a six-figure ask. Money's money, and it shouldn't make a difference but, psychologically, adding another digit felt like entering a new era. 

Luckily, we had no reason to worry and, as I write this Friday afternoon, with hours still to go in the Drive, we're already past $105,000. I write a letter like this twice a year and it feels like I'm going to run out of ways to say thank you to the community, but I never run out of gratitude; just ways to express it without repeating myself. On behalf of the hundreds of people and businesses who make the Drive possible twice a year, and make radio and event magic every day of the year, I just want to say thank you thank you thank you to our listeners, supporters, underwriters, members, and volunteers. We can't do it without you. 

On a personal note, I want to recognize all the amazing fill-in DJs who stepped in during a Drive where we had more regularly-scheduled DJs out of town or out from sickness than any time we can remember. We didn't skip a beat, and that speaks to the depth of KBUT's talent pool of volunteer DJs. Speaking of talent, I'd be remiss if I didn't thank all the amazing musicians who gave of their time and talent to make the Drive not just a great fundraiser, but two weeks of fantastic radio. We also couldn't do it without all the amazing food donated by local restaurants and grocers. So many people make a successful Drive possible that I'm likely forgetting someone, but luckily we have a radio station on which to thank them over the next few weeks. Most of all I want to thank every single person who recognizes the value in this amazing community resource, and donates their hard earned money to keep it on the air.

Thank you from the bottom of hundreds of hearts

Jackson Petito

Executive director, KBUT