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Brown College Radio-A-Thon Benefits Local Foodshelf

MINNEAPOLIS – June 11, 2010 – In May, students and faculty of the Brown College Radio Broadcasting program held a school and community-wide Radio-A-Thon to benefit the Neighbors Inc. Food Shelf in nearby South Saint Paul, Minn. Coordination efforts were headed by three radio students – Jon Merrill, Stephanie Ollinger, and Charmont Lee (a.k.a. Teddy). For twelve weeks leading up to the event, these students joined forces with Brown College Career Services representative Karol Baumeister, staff from Neighbors Inc., and members of the Brown College Student Senate to organize and plan the event. The event really ended up getting legs when Tim Joyce, Le Cordon Bleu Student Council President, jumped on board during the planning process.

The combined efforts resulted in successfully raising a total of $1645 and collecting 709 pounds of food!

There was much to get done, and the 5th quarter radio class and faculty member, Dale Olsen volunteered to produce interviews & promos, and serve as the on-air talent for the day. Terry Miller’s class, one of the smallest groups in the program, teamed up to raise over $700 dollars in cash donations from their employers and friends. To top it off, they brought in an additional 136 pounds of food donations. Tom Coyne’s group, though only in its first quarter at the school, didn’t shy away from reading live news updates, staffing the food donation corner, and helping weigh the donations.

Highlights of the event were visits from the Estes family of South Saint Paul, Le Cordon Bleu president Kevin Sanderson and Ryan Olson of Wells Fargo Bank in Eagan. The star of the day was Lacey Estes, a 7-year-old dynamo and an inspiration to everyone. Last year, after learning about the Neighbors Inc. Food Shelf, she told her dad, “I don’t want to see homeless people not eat.” So she and her dad went door-to-door together and collected more than 2,000 pounds of food! We had the privilege of interviewing Lacey, and then welcoming her live at the event to help weigh food donations on-air and read the Salut Bar American food shelf updates.

In working to help with the needs of Neighbors Inc., the radio students also gained valuable experience in radio regulations, non-profit regulations, and overall knowledge of all the details involved in putting on a large event. The three student coordinators, despite a few setbacks encountered the week before, prevailed with grace and creativity!

Student Stephanie Ollinger summed up the whole experience by saying “It was such an enlightening experience to have been part of the Brown College and Neighbors Inc. Radio-A -Thon. Watching the event come to its fruition was very gratifying, knowing its humble beginnings. I think the most I got out of this project was becoming more aware of the struggles that exist in our community, and being able to bring others together to make a difference, however small, in someone's life.”

Special thanks also to Kevin Sanderson from Le Cordon Bleu for the delicious pizzas, our Student Services staff for beverages, all of the on-air talent, generous alumni, and Facebook for helping make this Radio-A-Thon such a resounding success!

About Brown College
Brown has long history of success in training and graduating students in technology, design, and broadcast fields for more than 60 years. Brown College offers programs in criminal justice, broadcasting, business management, design, and technology. Founded in 1946, Brown College provides students with the knowledge, technical skills and hands-on training needed to succeed in fields such as health information technician, medical assistant, network and software development, game design and development, graphic design, radio broadcasting, digital media, criminal justice, and business management. Brown College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Brown College cannot guarantee employment or salary. Brown College is part of the Career Education Corporation network of schools (NASDAQ: CECO). For more information visit www.browncollege.edu.

Back Row: students Derek Stacklie & Charmont Lee (a.k.a. Teddy), Wells Fargo Bank representatives Ryan Olson & Brittany Tammen, and student Stephanie Ollinger
Front Row: Mike Ness, Chris Huberty, Robert Sherman

Standing, L-R: Joe Mladek, (Neighbors Inc. Community Donations Coordinator), students Jon Merrill, Charmont Lee (a.k.a Teddy), Eric Lavanger Adam Jewett, Gerald Johnson & Josh Nelson (peeking from behind Josh)
Seated, L-R: Student Stephanie Ollinger & alumna Shannon Casey

Lacey Estes and her mom, Cindy (South St. Paul, MN)

L-R: Tim Joyce, Le Cordon Bleu Student Senate President being interviewed by Adam Jewett, radio student student at Brown College

Some of the 709 pounds of food donated to the Neighbors Inc
Food Bank during the May 11, 2010 Brown College Radio-A-Thon