WHUP will be hosting our annual fall on-air fundraiser Monday-Sunday, October 12-18, and once again we will be sharing all proceeds raised during the week with a group that is not only still reeling from the pandemic but is central to our programming and our mission – musicians in Orange County. We’ve partnered with the Orange County Arts Commission for our second 50/50 event and will award half the take to local musicians through the Commission’s Arts Support Fund, established in March to help artists in the community with basic necessities like food and shelter.
As you know, musicians have not been able to perform in public for months with the shutdown of clubs, concert halls and other venues that provide essential revenues through the sale of tickets, recordings and merch. Fundraising has not been easy for nonprofits including WHUP, and we still have to pay the bills and maintain the equipment. But as a community radio station with an emphasis on local music, WHUP has an obligation to help the people who are the heart and soul of our thriving music scene – and a large part of the reason we exist – make it through to the other side. Splitting the fundraiser with local musicians in need allows us to make that contribution while keeping the radio station humming.
Last April you may recall that we retooled our spring fundraiser and split the proceeds with local service industry workers who were hard hit by the pandemic, and we raised $5,000 for them. We hope to match that total this time around with your support, and we’re especially pleased to be working with the Orange County Arts Commission, which has done an amazing job serving artists in these difficult times – to date the Commission has raised and allocated more than $60,000 for the artists in the community who most need assistance.
Please give whatever you can during our 50/50 event and sustain independent radio and the folks who make it happen!
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