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WWJ Newsradio 950 Winter Survival Radiothon A Success!


DEARBORN (WWJ) - With your help, WWJ Newsradio 950 has raised over $282,600 in our 9th annual Winter Survival Radiothon for THAW, The Heat and Warmth Fund.

With utility partner matching funds, this will translate to more than $1.2 Million in heating assistance!

We took your calls for 31 straight hours, broadcasting live from The Henry Ford in Dearborn, collecting donations to keep needy Michigan families in need warm this winter.

- View Photos From The Radiothon -

Although the radiothon has ended, there's still time to help out and get a little something special for yourself in the process. The online auction for THAW continues through 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30. Hundreds of items are up for bids, including sporting event and concert tickets, entertainment packages, gourmet dining, one-of-a-kind experiences and much more. Click here to bid on auction items.

- You can still make a donation online, too, at this link -

Every dollar raised from donations and the auction will help THAW provide emergency energy assistance (heat and lights) to families facing a serious financial crisis -- usually due to a job loss, a serious illness or other family emergency -- who are temporarily unable to pay their utility bills.

Giving this year has been tremendous.  Our triple-match half hour on Friday night was a great success!  The phone rang off the hook as thousands of dollars donations rolled  --- ALL of which will be triple-matched by DTE Energy. One donation for $5,000 will become $20,000 in heating assistance.

Any time, every donation you make is matched, dollar for dollar, by THAW's utility partners, so your donation goes twice as far!

Keep in mind: A $40 donation will keep a family's heat and lights on for 2 weeks, a $100 donation will keep a family warm for more than a month, and a $240 donation will keep a family safe and warm for three months.

One of the many check presentations include $579.37 donated by Leadership Academy and Charter One Foundation. Under the Pennies for Power campaign, this money was raised one penny at a time by local school children.

Pennies For Power Check Presentation by WWJNewsradio950 on YouTube

A new twist on a THAW Radiothon staple, "Pedal For Power" pitted riders against each other in a 250 meter race . WWJ's Tony Ortiz and Fox 2's Alan Longstreet went head to head. Watch the video below to see who won!

Tony Ortiz races Alan Longstreet in Pedal For Power At The Winter Survival Radiothon For THAW by WWJNewsradio950 on YouTube

Stopping by the event on Friday, Motown recording artist Kem talked about why your contributions are so important.

A Message From Motown Recording Artist Kem by WWJNewsradio950 on YouTube

Watch WWJ's Marie Osborne's interview with Patricia Mooradian, President of The Henry Ford.

Marie Osborne Interviews Patricia Mooradian, President of The Henry Ford by WWJNewsradio950 on YouTube

For more information on THAW and other ways you can help, click here.

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