Mississippi Miracles Radiothon on the air March 6-7
Published on Monday, March 3, 2025
By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu
Children’s of Mississippi patients and their families will be taking to the airwaves March 6-7 during the 24th annual Mississippi Miracles Radiothon.
Broadcasting from the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower at Children’s of Mississippi, the event features on-air personalities from 13 New South Radio stations – U.S. 96.3, Y101, Mix 98.7, Rock 93.1, 93.5 The Legend and Blues 102.1 of Jackson, Vicksburg’s River 101, Khits 104.5 and Touch 92.7, and 97 OKK, 95.1 The Beat, Kiss 104 and Q 101 from Meridian.
“The generosity of Mississippians during Mississippi Miracles Radiothon has a profound impact on Children’s of Mississippi and patients at the state’s only children’s hospital,” said Jen Hospodor, senior director of strategic partnerships at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. “Every year, our Miracle Giving Club members, New South Radio and the many businesses that make this event possible raise funds to support the care and comfort of our patients.”
Last year’s Mississippi Miracles Radiothon raised $335,981. Since the first Mississippi Miracles Radiothon in 2001, the annual event has raised more than $8 million for Children’s of Mississippi.
“This shows how close children are to the hearts of our donors,” Hospodor said.
Miracle Giving Club members are those who pledge at least $15 a month, but gifts and pledges of any size are welcomed. Businesses in the state join as partners, providing matching funds and in-kind donations, such as food, to fuel the marathon broadcast.
On-air personalities piloting the airwaves say the two days of Mississippi Miracles Radiothon are deeply meaningful.
“Children’s of Mississippi is such a special place, and there is definitely something extra special about all our on-air staff coming together with the one purpose of raising money for Mississippi children,” said air personality Kim Allen of U.S. 96.3. “It’s really energizing to take a break from our regular programming to meet families and share patient stories. In many ways, the Radiothon is like a reunion for us – we are getting updates on how the kids are doing!”
Broadcasting from the hospital each year gives on-air personalities time to get to know the reasons behind Mississippi Miracles Radiothon: Children’s of Mississippi patients and their families.
“Doing the Mississippi Miracles Radiothon allows us as personalities to see the impact that our medium, that I love so much, has on our community,” said Adam Schraf, a Y101 on-air personality. “It's a powerful feeling knowing you are a small part of something so much bigger than yourself.”
U.S. 96.3 on-air personality Fisher Alexander said the best part of sharing the stories of Children’s of Mississippi patients with listeners during Mississippi Miracles Radiothon is watching the patients participating grow up.
“Several years ago, I got to meet a patient named Deuce Bloodsaw who came down from his room at the children’s hospital to be interviewed during Radiothon,” Alexander said. “In talking to him and his mom, you could tell he wasn’t feeling well. But then every year since, he’s come back to Radiothon and has grown into a strong young man. It’s amazing to be able to witness first-hand the miracles that happen at Children’s of Mississippi thanks to the wonderful doctors, nurses, staff and donors who have made contributions to help families like Deuce’s.”
For Jessica Carter of Jackson, sharing her family’s story during Mississippi Miracles Radiothon is a must.
“The Mississippi Miracles Radiothon is always reminds me how grateful I am for Children’s of Mississippi, for my baby and all the children's lives impacted,” she said. “Lyndsey Lee spent her first months in the hospital, and I now enjoy sharing her growth and how we navigated being in the hospital for several months and the relationships that built trust and confidence.”
Melinda Porch of Pelahatchie plans to share daughter Emma’s story on the air this week. Emma, a patient at the Children’s Heart Center at Children’s of Mississippi, was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a critical congenital heart condition in which the left side of the heart doesn’t form correctly, and Shone’s complex, a condition that affects blood flow in the left side of the heart. She also has scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, and celiac disease, an immune system reaction to eating gluten.
“Before Emma, I would always listen to the Radiothon and just think to myself, ‘I can’t even imagine having to go through something or my child going through something.’ Then we had Emma, and we were one of those families you would hear about. One of those stories,” she said. “When Emma was born, we already knew where we were going because we knew, from the Radiothon stories, that Children’s of Mississippi was the place to go. Now we can share Emma’s story and success through Mississippi Miracles Radiothon. I can only hope that Emma’s story reaches someone who may be going through a situation or fixing to start a medical journey. That they hear our success and love for our hospital right here in our state. That they find hope and feel the love we have for and in Children’s of Mississippi.”
Mississippi Miracles Radiothon donations can be made online or by texting GROW to 51555 now through March 7. To give during the Mississippi Miracles Radiothon, call 888-681-5437 from 6 a.m. March 6 to 6 p.m. March 7.