It’s February and for years that has meant two incredibly important events: The Salvation Army Radiothon and Big Al’s Birthday. (Okay, so one is just a tad more important than the other).
I’ve received a lot of e-mails asking me that if my retirement last March signaled the end of our 16-Hour Radiothon benefiting the Army’s Bed and Bed Program. And the answer is - absolutely not! This program is far too important. It hasn’t gone away, it’s just switched stations.
This year, this crucial fundraiser will be broadcast on WJR 760-AM and will be hosted by WJR’s line-up of personalities. But a lot of things remain the same: The Radiothon will take place, as always, at the Oakland Mall in Troy on the last Friday in February. That’s just two weeks from today - Friday, February 25th. You can listen live (and hopefully donate!) from 6am to 10pm.
Remember, the Salvation Army feeds on average 5000 people a day and shelters 570 people a night. The Bed and Bread Trucks head out fully stocked about noon every day, 365 days a year, and return at night, only after everyone in line has gotten a good, warm meal - for many the only one they’ll get that day.
I don’t need to remind you that, unfortunately, Detroit is the poorest of the major cities in this country - and the need for this feeding program has never been greater. 
Although I won’t be hosting the Radiothon on the air, I have been, and will continue to, work behind the scenes to help insure that the transition from my old station to WJR is smooth and successful. Thousands of lives depend on it. As always I encourage you to donate $120 which feeds one person for one full year, or, if you can afford it, $240 which feeds two people in our community for an entire year. But anything you can afford is, of course, welcome! You can even donate right now by calling 248-528-0760 or online at www.wjr.com.
I’ll be posting reminders and more info on the this website and my Facebook page each day leading up to the event.
And then there’s Big Al’s Birthday. Today. February 11th. A day I can never forget (largely because Big Al mentions it everytime I talk to him, which is almost everyday!) I remember the fun we used to have celebrating on the air and the fun we had picking out the perfect gifts for him. One of the best (and most useful) was the electric nose and ear hair clipper that Rebekah got him a few years back. It was a sort of “Personal Weed Whacker” and the only ones more excited about it than Al, were those of us who worked with him in the studio everyday.
I haven’t decided what to get him this year… I was thinking of a membership to the “Saturated Fat of the Month Club”, but I figured he probably already has that. If you have any ideas… let me know!
So Happy Birthday Big Guy and to every one else, have a great weekend and I’ll see you back here on Monday!
-Dick