Clear Channel Radio Station Listeners Help Raise More Than $3.4 Million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® During Two Day Radiothon

More than 31 stations give boost to Country Cares for St. Jude Kids radiothon season

MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Feb. 24-25, thirty-one Clear Channel radio stations across the country held Country Cares for St. Jude Kids radiothons and collectively raised more than $3.4 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

This marked only the second year that a group of Clear Channel stations hosted radiothons during the same two-day timeframe, providing a big boost in the middle of the Country Cares radiothon season. The amount reflects an increase over last year's total of nearly $2.8 million. Country Cares for St. Jude Kids is one of the most successful radio fundraising programs in America with hundreds of radio stations helping generate more than $385 million for St. Jude since the program began in 1989.

"Country Cares for St. Jude Kids brings the country music and radio industries together every year to help support the lifesaving work of St. Jude," said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. "Our partners have truly embraced our mission, which enables us to continue to work to find cures and save children. We are incredibly grateful to have their support."

Clear Channel country stations that held radiothons include WPOC (Baltimore, Md.), KYKR (Beaumont, Texas), WDXB (Birmingham, Ala.), WUSY (Chattanooga, Tenn.), KOLZ (Cheyenne, Wyo.), KCCY (Colorado Springs,  Colo.), WSTH (Columbus, Ga.), WCOL (Columbus, Ohio), KHEY (El Paso, Texas), WQRB (Eau Claire, Wis.), KKIX (Fayetteville, Ark.), KMAG (Fort Smith, Ark.), WTQR (Greensboro, N.C.), WSSL (Greenville, S.C.), KTEX (Harlingen, Texas), WTCR (Huntington, W.V.), WMSI (Jackson, Miss.), KTPI (Lancaster, Calif.), KSSN (Little Rock, Ark.), WAMZ (Louisville, Ky.), WYYD (Lynchburg, Va.), KTOM (Monterey/Salinas, Calif.), WSIX* (Nashville, Tenn.), KTST (Oklahoma City, Okla.), WPAP (Panama City, Fla.), WLLR (Quad Cities, Iowa) and WTNT (Tallahassee, Fla.). Urban gospel stations WAGH (Columbus, Ga.), WHLH (Jackson, Miss.) and KHLR (Little Rock, Ark.) and adult contemporary station WGSY (Columbus, Ga.) also held events.

Country Cares for St. Jude Kids began in 1989 after Randy Owen, lead singer of the music group ALABAMA, met St. Jude founder Danny Thomas. Country Cares radiothons are designed to increase the community's awareness and support of St. Jude. A radiothon typically lasts two days and is highlighted by St. Jude patient stories, story song vignettes and exciting radio station promotions.

St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute and is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world, helping children who never even visit St. Jude.

Hundreds of radio stations across the country hold Country Cares for St. Jude Kids radiothons throughout the year. To learn more visit www.countrycares.org.

*Held radiothon Feb. 23-24.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. St. Jude was named the nation's top children's cancer hospital in the 2010-11 Best Children's Hospitals rankings published by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, go to www.stjude.org and follow St. Jude on www.facebook.com/stjude and www.twitter.com/stjude.

SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital