Urban Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids raises more than $1.7M for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®

MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 6, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Radio One and a network of 51 gospel, R&B and hip-hop stations raised $1.7 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital during Urban Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids March 1^st and 2^nd.

Thanks to events such as this one, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food ? because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

"Radio One is proud of the effort of our stations, syndicated programs, employees and our highly engaged and loyal listeners for responding to our radiothon in support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital," said Colby Tyner, Vice President, Programming, Radio One. "This partnership is a decade in the making and once again, we exceeded our financial goal. Our mission to represent the community is powerfully demonstrated with this radio event across our stations, proving the continued power of radio to emotionally connect with its listeners and move them to action."

During the event, thousands of Radio One listeners across the U.S. called in or went online to become St. Jude Partners in Hope and joined the #ThisShirtSavesLives  movement by pledging to make a monthly donation of $20 or more. Several popular on-air personalities participated in Urban Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids, including syndicated hosts Tom Joyner, Erica Campbell, Willie Moore, Jr. and Darlene McCoy.

The on-air push coincided with a social media campaign encouraging listeners, employees, and talent to participate by wearing and sharing photos in their THIS SHIRT on their social media channels. To join the THIS SHIRT SAVES LIVES movement, visit: www.thisshirtsaveslives.org.

"It's inspiring to think about the major impact the urban music industry has had on St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and I am so grateful to all of the women and men in gospel radio and fellow artists and friends in the industry who lend their support to the Urban Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids program," said Richard C. Shadyac, Jr. President and Chief Executive Officer of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. "The funds raised are further evidence of the urban music industry's continued commitment and the significant role it plays in helping some of the world's sickest children."

Since its inception, Urban Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids has raised more than $12 million. Radio One stations encourage listeners to become St. Jude Partners in Hope by making a $20 monthly pledge. The on-air talent helps share the mission and vision of the hospital through testimonies from local patient families, updates on new research and new advances in treatment. St. Jude launched the first national broadcast with Radio One stations in Atlanta, Detroit, Washington, DC, Raleigh, N.C., Indianapolis, Houston, Richmond, Va., and Charlotte in 2008. This year, five additional stations were added to grow the footprint and expand further into the UAC format.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food ? because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook (facebook.com/stjude) and following us on Twitter (@stjude).

About Urban One

Urban One, Inc. (urban1.com), formerly known as Radio One, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is the largest diversified media company that primarily targets Black Americans and urban consumers in the United States. The Company owns TV One, LLC (tvone.tv), a television network serving more than 59 million households, offering a broad range of original programming, classic series and movies designed to entertain, inform and inspire a diverse audience of adult Black viewers. As one of the nation's largest radio broadcasting companies, Urban One currently owns and/or operates 57 broadcast stations in 15 urban markets in the United States. Through its controlling interest in Reach Media, Inc. (blackamericaweb.com), the Company also operates syndicated programming including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Russ Parr Morning Show, Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Get up Morning! with Erica Campbell, DL Hughley Show, Ed Lover Show, Willie Moore Jr Show, Nightly Spirit with Darlene McCoy Reverend Al Sharpton Show. In addition to its radio and television broadcast assets, Urban One owns iOne Digital (ionedigital.com), the largest digital resource for urban enthusiasts and Blacks, reaching millions each month through its Cassius and BHM Digital platforms. Additionally, One Solution, the Company's branded content agency and studio combines the dynamics of the Urban One's holdings to provide brands with an integrated and effectively engaging marketing approach that reaches 82% of Black Americans throughout the country.

SOURCE ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital