It has been one year since Congress abruptly cut off funding for public media. This time last year I was concurrently handling administrative tasks and binge-watching C-SPAN while yelling at my computer as the hearings progressed. I was stressed out and the path forward was not clear. I think it is safe to say that I was pretty much freaking out.

Fast forward to one year later. The community stepped up in a huge way to support this radio station. Lee Giammona’s “25 to Stay Alive” was effective in helping to increase individual donations 58% more than the previous year! This raised 56% of the funding that we would have received from our Corporation for Public Broadcasting annual grant. 

Meanwhile KWMR applied for and was granted a Bridge Fund Grant from the Public Media Company that provides one year of funding to be used to build capacity and help cover expenses. The Bridge Grant sunsets at the end of November 2026. In addition to financial support, the recipients of these grants received coaching, guidance, training and access to some very helpful resources.

I believe that going forward with some new skills and tools that KWMR will be able to continue to build capacity. We are not 100% out of the woods, but we are in a positive place. 

We did this together! Our great team of staff and Board members at KWMR, along with our 100 plus volunteer programmers and very importantly, YOU! 

I am encouraged that after 16 years in the same position here at KWMR that I am learning new skills and getting access to tools that will help my team and me to adapt KMWR into the new and evolving media landscape. 

It was super fun this past weekend to catch up with folks at our Happy Hour Community Hang Out on Friday and at the Downtown Hoedown on Saturday put on by the Good Luck Fund. 

And we have another big birthday here at KWMR! If you see Mia Johnson-Martinez out and about be sure to wish her a Happy Birthday!

Amanda Eichstaedt
KWMR Station Manager,  Executive Director & Development 

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