43rd Annual fundraiser supports 5 Kokomo nonprofits

By Lindsay Fisher
Kokomo, Ind. — In 1973, an on-air radio personality took a call from a laid-off worker, who couldn’t provide Christmas for his family. That’s when the on-air radio personality, known as Dick Bronson, reached into his wallet for half of its contents. Then, he encouraged his listeners on Hit Country 100.5 KI to do the same. Within moments, the Kokomo community raised enough to give the caller a Christmas he couldn’t give his children, and the organization known as We Care was founded.
Fourty three years later, We Care will celebrate a milestone year of fundraising. The organization announced Wednesday morning – on Hit Country 100.5 KI – We Care raised a total of $411,820.16 for 2015. The final figure is tallied from money raised during numerous fundraisers held throughout the year, including: a 48-hour telethon, Trim-A-Tree Festival, We Care Store and a Wrap-Up auction.
For Becky Varnell, a veteran volunteer for the organization, announcing the total of We Care’s 2015 efforts provokes tears of compassion for what the money will do for the community’s members.
“For everyone who donated and contributed: You brought hope to those in need, for those who needed the feeling of hope for Christmas,” Varnell said during Wednesday’s annual check presentation — aired live on WWKI.” You made it possible for them. I thank you.”
Hit Country 100.5 KI is annually honored to help give We Care a voice on its radio airwaves. John Spilman, vice president and general manager at Cumulus Media, says the partnership between WWKI and We Care is one that represents how radio and fundraising can work together to serve our local communities.
“We’re grateful to be part of We Care’s beginnings and our continued involvement with an organization that has such an impact on the heart of our community,” Spilman said. “We Care started Monday with $411,000 in the bank, then gave it all away. That really hits home.”
Along with We Care’s sanctioned fundraisers, community members host their own fundraisers to contribute to the organization. We Care Park is perhaps one of the brightest of those fundraisers — with a multi-million light display spanning nearly a mile. Kokomo resident Mike Wyant’s annual venture is one, in which he incurs all costs and operating responsibilities, so Wyant can donate every dime raised from We Care Park to the organization. This year, that amount was $62,000.
“My family and I know what it’s like to need. This community helped us when we needed it, now it’s our turn to help,” Wyant said about the meaning behind We Care Park’s 21st season.
We Care is unique in that all money raised goes directly to five of Kokomo’s nonprofit organizations — with no administrative costs being removed from the fundraising total. Following Wednesday’s announcement, the organization’s leaders distributed the money to the following organizations in Kokomo: Salvation Army, The Goodfellows, Kokomo Rescue Mission, Bona Vista and Mental Health Association.
Van Taylor, executive director of Kokomo Rescue Mission, was emotionally moved by how the $105,000 his organization — received from We Care — will impact the spirits of those, who had lost hope for the holidays.
“This is so special, because of the energy, the heart and the compassion of We Care we can give hope back to people,” Taylor said. “The looks on these young mothers’ faces when we show up at the door with gifts. Tears start streaming from their faces; they really thought gifts wasn’t something their families would see Christmas morning. Those gifts are possible because of We Care.”
David Luft, executive director of Salvation Army, had just moved to Kokomo, a population of 56,000, and learned of We Care this year. Luft said he was overwhelmed by a small community’s giving in such large proportions. For Luft, the $105,000 his organization received from We Care will change the way the people he serves survive.
“Without We Care [those we serve] would go without,” Luft said as he accepted his check from We Care’s leaders. “People will have what they need this year because of what you do, that wouldn’t be the case without you.”