VERMONT PUBLIC RADIO MEETS FUNDRAISING GOAL TWO DAYS EARLY
Thousands of Listeners Financially Support Station After Programming Changes

Colchester - Vermont Public Radio listeners contributed $450,000 during VPR's membership drive, enabling the public broadcaster to end the drive two days early. In addition to reaching its monetary goal early, Vermont Public Radio welcomed 850 new members.

"We are so grateful and appreciative of the generous support from all over the listening area," said Mark Vogelzang, President and General Manager. "VPR and VPR Classical listeners told us time and time again throughout the drive how much they value the community service VPR provides with its in-depth news, music and entertainment. Some listeners also shared their programming and signal concerns with us during this week, which we heard clearly. We are so appreciative of our members' support."  

Vermont Public Radio began broadcasting as two distinct services in October. VPR added NPR news and information programs On Point, Day to Day and The Story from 9am -3pm along with the locally-produced Vermont Edition at noon. Weekend programming now features World Café, This American Life and The Splendid Table on Saturday afternoon, with locally-produced folk program All The Traditions with Robert Resnik airing 1pm-4pm on Sunday. VPR Classical, a 24/7 classical music network, expanded into Chittenden and Bennington Counties and now reaches two-thirds of the state with traditional analog radio, and the entire state with HD-digital radio. Classical Music with Walter Parker and Saturday Afternoon at the Opera are now heard exclusively on VPR Classical.

The drive began on Wednesday, November 7 and ended at 7:00pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2007. More than 100 listeners volunteered to answer the pledge telephones, working in shifts from 5:45 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. "We can't thank our volunteers enough, they are terrific" says Vogelzang. "There's a great camaraderie that develops in the pledge room; it's a fun way to spend a few hours, talking with fellow public radio fans and VPR staff. A number of the volunteers have been a part of our drives for many years."  Photos from the membership drive are posted online at www.vpr.net.

Vermont Public Radio is a community licensee and receives 90% of its funding from the local community.  Unlike many public stations, it is not affiliated with a university or college or a public television station and receives no state funding.  

VPR can be heard at 107.9 FM in northern Vermont, 89.5 FM in the Connecticut River Valley, 88.7 FM in the Rutland region, 88.5 FM in St. Johnsbury, 94.3 FM in Bennington, and on low-power translators 92.5 in Manchester, 94.5 in Brattleboro, 95.3 in Middlebury, 94.1 in Montpelier, 101.1FM in Rupert and online at vpr.net.

VPR Classical can be heard at 90.9 in the Champlain Valley, 88.1 in the Connecticut River Valley, 95.1 in the Sunderland/Manchester area, and on low-power translators 93.5 in Bennington, 103.9 in Hanover, 106.9 in Manchester, 99.5 in Middlebury, 99.5 in Newbury, 106.9FM in Woodstock and online at vpr.net.

VPR and VPR Classical are available anytime as high quality mp3 streams at vpr.net.