DEARBORN — WHFR-FM, Henry Ford Community College’s noncommercial, independent radio and Internet broadcast station, is holding Radiothon 2011, its annual pledge drive, through Saturday.
The event features live concerts and on-air events. In addition, the weeklong fundraiser offers the community a chance to show its support for programming on 89.3 FM as the station celebrates more than 25 years of broadcast.
On-air events include performer Rachael Davis in studio on “Acoustic Alternatives” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday; “The New WHFR Journal” 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, featuring a special second hour from 2 to 3 p.m. with Dearborn Mayor John O’Reilly Jr. in studio to comment on his State of the City address and respond to questions from Jay Korinek and the WHFR news team.
Special on-air programming with live guests and musical performances will take place all week long, and phone lines will be open to take pledges of financial support.
WHFR will open its doors to the public for station tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday. The public is invited to stop in to see how the station operates.
The weeklong pledge drive will end with live music at the WHFR Blues Benefit for people ages 21 and up from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday at New Place Lounge, 22723 Michigan Ave. This event will feature three veteran blues artists: The Billy Davis Rhythm Machine (host band), Charles “Buddy” Smith and the Rev. Marc Falconberry. Admission is $5.
As a noncommercial, volunteer-staffed station, WHFR is not licensed to sell commercials and must rely on support from HFCC and private donations to operate. Radiothon is the largest fund-raising event the station holds and provides the best opportunity to collect independent funding to run the station.
WHFR receives no government funding, and more than 60 percent of its operating budget comes from donor support.
Starting off as a student radio club with a closet-sized room for public address operation 25 years ago, WHFR has developed into an award-winning live 24-hour broadcast and Internet facility. On-air formats include blues, world, classical, avant jazz, indie rock, techno, big band, rockabilly, Americana, noise, local news and views and classic radio drama.
For more information about Radiothon or the station, go to www.whfr.fm or call Susan McGraw at (313) 845-9842.