TheBuzz Erika Engle

Medical center fundraiser goes from telethon to radiothon

The fundraising is on three days' worth of radio airwaves donated by KSSK-FM 92.3/AM 590 and sister-station KHVH-AM 830 starting at 5 o'clock this morning.

Radiothon central is the cafeteria at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, where operators are standing by in traditional fashion at 951-KIDS (5437).

It might seem a stretch to pledge money to a big hospital where the perception may be that doctors and executives get big fat paychecks and drive fancy cars.

Donations aren't going to them, however.

"Not everyone realizes that as a non-profit hospital though, Kapiolani needs the community's financial support," said Keala Peters, director of communications and donor relations for Kapiolani Health Foundation.

More than 40,000 children receive care at Kapiolani each year.

"We do amazing work at our hospital but it's very expensive to do what we do ... reimbursements don't keep up with our expenses, so there's actually a shortfall," she said.

One service Kapiolani Children's Miracle Network provides is to help with travel for neighbor island families to be near a sick child, she said. Insurance often covers travel for the child and one parent, but not others, said Peters.

Morning show hosts Michael W. Perry and Larry Price will broadcast live today and tomorrow from the cafeteria on both KSSK-FM 92.3 and AM 590 until 10 a.m. when the signals split. Kathy "with a K" Nakagawa, followed by Curt Williams will host on the FM side until 7 p.m.

KHVH will generate call-ins to the caf when morning man Rick Hamada and afternoon guy Mike Buck do their shows from the hospital tomorrow.

The warm and fuzzy fundraiser will also be the focus of the Perry and Price Saturday show from John Dominis, and then it's back to radiothon central until 3 p.m.

Between regular programming the radio-folk will interview patients, former patients and family members. They will also air vignettes sharing patients' personal stories, said Jamie Hartnett, director of promotions for the Honolulu stations, owned by Clear Channel Communications Inc., of Texas.

Nationally the Children's Miracle Network works with 265 radio stations to benefit 170 hospitals, said Chuck Cotton, the stations' vice president and general manager. "All the money (raised) stays in the market. That's the thing that really appeals to us," he said.