Ritter Communications is pleased to announce it will once again sponsor the annual Radio/Cablethon live from Blytheville, Ark. on Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4.
In its 37th year, the Radio/Cablethon raises money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases. The event will be held at the Blytheville High School auditorium, where performances will be showcased for a live audience.
Ritter is celebrating its 10th year of involvement with the event and will broadcast Saturday’s Cablethon live from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on our local access channel, Tubetown, which is channel 21 in Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri and channel 11 in West Tennessee. The Tubetown production of the Cablethon will also be streamed live online, which allows viewers around the world to watch by visiting www.TubetownOnline.com. Donations may be pledged during the day of the event by calling 870-824-2020 or 1-855-824-2020.
ESA Sorority, a women’s civic club established in Northeast Arkansas who has taken ownership of the event for many decades, fundraises year round to ensure the success of the Radio/Cablethon. Ritter is proud to work alongside the ladies of ESA to produce this community-focused event.
KHLS Thunder Country 96.3 FM, a Blytheville-based Sudburry Broadcasting radio station, leads Friday’s Radiothon. On March 3, KHLS’s programming focuses on St. Jude as the station promotes the weekend’s events and solicits pledges from listeners. On March 4, KHLS will air the audio portion of Tubetown’s Cablethon production.
St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance, and NO child is ever denied treatment because of the family’s inability to pay. St. Jude relies heavily on donations from generous people throughout the country to fund their efforts.
Over the last nine years, Cablethon has raised over $2.3 million in donations to St. Jude, including $223,672 in 2016. Last year’s total included $6,725 from Ritter employee contributions.
“This event is just one of the ways we demonstrate Ritter’s commitment to the people and communities we serve and our pledge to always be ‘Right by You’,” said Ritter Communications Vice President of Marketing Susan Christian. “Many of the Ritter employees dedicate their time and expertise by volunteering for the Cablethon, raising money internally prior to the event and filming the event live in front of an audience.”
Led by Ritter’s local content manager, Marcus Carlton, a team plans for months for the production of the Cablethon.
“The Cablethon is one of the highlights of our year at Tubetown since we get to utilize our resources to help a cause that is very close to our hearts,” Carlton said. “It’s always a thrill to see communities come together to support St. Jude, and we can’t think of a better organization to partner with in making a difference in the lives of children. It’s a true privilege to be involved.”
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. For more information, please visit www.stjude.org.
About Ritter Communications:
Ritter Communications, founded in Marked Tree, Arkansas and headquartered in Jonesboro, began providing local phone service in 1906. Today, Ritter serves 62 communities and more than 45,000 customers in northeast and north central Arkansas, southeast Missouri and west Tennessee with advanced voice and data services, cable TV and high speed Internet typically found only in major metropolitan areas. Ritter invests heavily in the communities it serves by deploying proven, best in class infrastructure and technology while coupling it with a world class customer focused experience. To stay connected visit RitterCommunications.com.
