Hanging on the telephone

It's not all work and no play these days; there is time for fun as well. When my friend and Fred Hutch colleague Kiran was looking for participants to form a FHCRC volunteer group for KUOW's fall pledge drive, I saw an opportunity to do some good while adding to my collection of odd American experiences, and signed up. We did a 4-hour shift on Thursday night, answering phones, recording donor information, and gossiping away between calls. Lots of good laughs!

Kiran and Reed, and our wicked old-school phones.

KUOW is a public radio station whose mission is "to create and serve an informed public, one challenged and invigorated by an understanding and appreciation of events, ideas and cultures". More than 89 percent of their revenue comes from individual and business support, while the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the University of Washington provide 9 percent. Twice a year they arrange major pledge drives to fund their operation.

If you missed the drive but want to support KUOW, you can make your pledge here. Thanks for supporting public radio!