CKUA’s 2025 Fall Fundraiser is officially in the books! After a lively, fun-filled campaign, the only thing left to do is count the donations…and say “thank you,” of course!
Expressing gratitude is no small task after Fall Fundraiser; this year, CKUA received nearly 3500 donations from across Alberta and around the world. No matter how big or small, every donation makes a difference. That’s why CKUA is aiming to deliver personalized thank-you calls to each and every donor over the coming weeks.
“Every conversation is a reminder that gratitude goes both ways,” says Yvone Joubert, CKUA’s Stewardship Manager. “Our donors give to CKUA because they care deeply about what this station represents, and we call to let them know how deeply we care in return.”
To make sure everybody receives their message, CKUA enlists the help of a team of volunteers to man the phone lines. In total, the team will spend nearly 100 hours calling and thanking donors this fall, along with reading donor comments and processing musical request forms.
“When you volunteer, you have to be passionate about the cause,” says Jennifer Hesby, currently in her second year as a CKUA volunteer. “For me, I’ve always been passionate about the radio station. It’s been part of my life for years. It’s just a good community to be a part of.”
For many volunteers, it’s a labour of love. “I do this because I love my radio station, and our listeners keep it on the air for me,” explains Anna Zelensky, CKUA volunteer since 1992. How do donors respond to her enthusiasm? According to Anna, “they laugh and say, ‘It’s mine, too.’”
As the thank-you calling continues through November, one thing remains clear: CKUA’s strength has always come from its people. Each gift and every gesture of support keeps the music playing and the community thriving. “It’s the donors that keep CKUA alive,” says Laurie Iverson, CKUA’s Events and Volunteer Manager. “Whether it’s a donation of money or the donation of time, it shows us how much this community cares about CKUA’s future. And for that, we need them all to know how grateful we are.”
