When Roberta Babcock started volunteering for CKUA, her nine-year-old grandson was keen to get on board.
“Little Cole said, ‘Nanny, would they let me volunteer?’ And I said, ‘well, Cole, what’s your skill set, honey?’” says Roberta.
“His answer was he would do whatever they wanted him to. But what do you do with a nine-year-old? I said, ‘Let’s leave it as it is. I’ll volunteer and if I come across a job I think you can do, I will let you know.”
Fast forward two years. Cole is now a true blue CKUA volunteer. And yes, he’s 11.
He got his big break during the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. Roberta was signed up to help host the CKUA booth. She broached the idea of bringing her grandson. He was in!
“Cole was a huge hit,” she says. He spent hours happily chatting with people and telling them about CKUA.
Next up for this volunteering dream team was CKUA’s Open House in Edmonton in October. Their jobs were to help greet people at the door and give tours. By the end, Cole was confidently co-piloting tours with a CKUA staff member.
Then, it got even better: Roberta received the call that she and Cole had been chosen to receive a donated hour as a gift.
The background: When a CKUA donor gives $1,000 they receive a donated hour. This means they get the chance to connect with the host of their choice and suggest songs and ideas.
Leadership Donor Brian Mills was the one behind the thoughtful gesture.
“Past donated hours on CKUA have given me and my wife a great deal of joy,” Brian, a longtime donor, says. “I thought it might be just as rewarding to give someone else that opportunity.”
“I’ve been fortunate to have had several opportunities to get to know many of the CKUA staff over the years,” he continues. “I’d like others to have that same opportunity. There are other ways to make CKUA connections but a donated hour is very special.”
Roberta couldn’t believe the news when she heard. “Well, I was floored,” she says. “I just thought, ‘wow, what an honour.’ Cole was really excited.”
“I was more or less surprised!” says Cole, of the moment he heard the news. “I didn’t expect that me and my grandmother would receive a Donated Hour. I am still very thankful for being chosen to receive it.”
Roberta and Cole chose In Our Neighbourhood with Oskar Zybart. “Cole is all about the unknowns, not the big names. He wants to listen to somebody who’s just new and starting out.” Their hour airs Friday, Dec 8 at 7pm. Roberta and Cole are already planning their listening party with friends and family.
Enjoy, Roberta and Cole! And thank you, Brian, for your ongoing support and thoughtfulness.
A donated hour is a beautiful way to support CKUA and give a heartfelt, significant gift to someone you love. Maybe you’re looking for a special gift to a person who has everything and doesn’t want any more stuff. Perhaps a group of people, like a family or a team of coworkers wants to pool their donations to gift someone a donated hour. It works for Christmas, but it’s also fun for birthdays, retirements, etc. Interested in exploring this idea? Click here.
If you’re not sure which show your person would choose, just pick any one for now and we can help sort out the details.
Interested in volunteering for CKUA? Click here!
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