NW Missouri Times

KXCV-KRNW, the National Public Radio affiliate located on the Northwest Missouri State University campus, will conduct its annual fund drive from Saturday, October 4, through Friday, October 10. The station aims to increase financial support and raise awareness for its programming during this period.

Memberships for KXCV-KRNW start at $65, but the station emphasizes that contributions of any amount are important for maintaining operations and delivering quality programs associated with NPR and local coverage. This year's fund drive carries the theme “Be a Big Deal,” highlighting the need for community support as federal funding declines.

“It’s going to be important if we can have a good, solid, successful fund drive to be able to fund the programming that our listeners have come to expect and love,” said John Coffey, KXCV-KRNW’s station manager. “It’s a service that nobody else has in this region – to be able to provide news content that’s not available in any other radio station around, not only with the national and international programming that we offer but also support our local news. We are one of the very few stations in the region that still offers in-depth local news coverage, and that’s very important to our listeners.”

KXCV began broadcasting in 1971 as Missouri's first full-powered public radio service. It operates at 90.5 FM with a 100,000-watt signal from Northwest Missouri State University. Its sister station KRNW (88.9 FM), launched in 1993, helps extend coverage across much of northern Missouri.

The stations serve as the flagship of the Bearcat Radio Network by producing all football and basketball broadcasts for Northwest Missouri State University and distributing game feeds throughout a four-state area via commercial affiliates. Listeners can also access KXCV-KRNW programming online or through its Bearcat Public Media App.

In addition to serving regional audiences with news and music programming, KXCV-KRNW provides students at Northwest Missouri State University opportunities for hands-on experience relevant to careers in broadcasting and related fields.

“We want people to realize that not only are we a big deal with everything that we provide and the values that we establish, but listeners and members are also a big deal,” said Hannah Staggs, membership development and events coordinator at KXCV-KRNW. “Even if it’s only $5 or $25, that adds up.”

As part of fundraising efforts, Planet Sub in Maryville will donate 20 percent of sales made between 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, October 9th to benefit KXCV-KRNW.

Contributors who give more than $250 or pledge $20 per month qualify as “Sustaining Members” and may receive a branded hoodie from KXCV-KRNW.

For more information about donating or supporting public radio through membership at KXCV-KRNW call 660-562-1163.