MU Children's Hospital receives $50,000 through radio contest

Columbia's Y107 led a voting campaign to win the donation for the hospital.

By Parker Myers

Published Aug. 31, 2010

Facing a $280 million expansion project, MU Children's Hospital found some financial relief Aug. 27 when the hospital was presented a check worth $50,000 from the Children's Miracle Network.

The money itself came from the Toronto-based insurance company Foresters, who agreed to put up a financial incentive in partnership with the Children's Miracle Network.

The check came as a result of the efforts of local radio station Y107/106.9 FM. The Children's Miracle Network collected more than 1 million votes in an online voting competition for the Columbia-based station.

Y107's radio personalities Cosmo and JC spearheaded the voting campaign over the airwaves on the "Cosmo and JC Morning Radio Show."

"The hospital came to us and said 'Hey, here's this contest,' and we jumped on it," Cosmo said. "We blasted it on our radio and used viral marketing like crazy. Facebook challenges, e-mails, text messaging, you name it. It was about as grassroots as you can get."

As a result of the station's efforts, Y107 beat out national radio stations and was the only station with more than 1 million votes tallied.

According to a MU Health Care news release, the donation is the largest single gift in the four-year history of the radiothon.

Executive Director for Advancement Laura Gajda said the hospital has been working with Y107 for three years in annual radiothons to provide funds for the hospital's expenses.

Gajda said the donation comes at a good time for the hospital, as the MU Children's Hospital moves into the sixth and seventh floors of the Columbia Regional Hospital on Sept. 14. Plans for the money are centered on easing the financial stress of the large and expensive expansion.

"We had an idea about a year ago to move a lot our child-care units to the sixth and seventh floors," Gajda said. "All of the babies are being born there, and we have neonatal units coming in soon."

Gajda said they would begin with the $12 million renovation before they embark on another project.

"All of the projects together are going to cost about $280 million," Gajda said. "It's quite a big project."

Although the expansion came at a high price for the hospital, Gajda said the ultimate goal is quality health care.

"All the money raised stays here in mid-Missouri to help local patients," Gajda said in a MU Health Care news release. "The radiothon gives listeners an opportunity to learn about and support the miracles that happen at our hospital every day."

In a similar sentiment, Cosmo said the Children's Miracle Network lives up to its name through these contests.

"Once your start meeting the kids and the families, the doctors and patients, and nurses, it changes things," Cosmo said. "It becomes much more than the radio job, it's a whole other side of our job. Normally we're on the morning show being silly and goofy, but this is the other side of our job where you take the power of radio and use it for some good to rally the community."