MADISON — The Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) in Madison is getting ready to hold its second annual Radiothon fundraiser on Friday, Dec. 13, from 12 noon until 6 p.m.
Funds raised during the event will allow the CMC to continue its history of offering services to the Madison community. Earlier this year, Pope Francis instructed crowds to “never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater solidarity.”
Provides many services
Since 1946, the CMC has striven to do just that. The center provides both basic necessities and educational and spiritual opportunities to a diverse population.
Free services range from employment assistance to children’s programs to adult education classes.
Of particular importance are the center’s daily community meals, as the CMC is the only organization in all of Dane County that serves a free hot community meal every day of the week. Thousands of community members benefit from the center’s services each year.
Spanish Radio offers to help
In order to maintain these vital programs, the CMC depends on community support. The Radiothon event began one year ago when La Movida Spanish Radio approached the CMC with an offer to host a radio fundraiser.
La Movida has served as Madison’s main Spanish-language radio station for over 10 years. Founders Luis and Lupita Montoto realized that because La Movida reaches many in the Madison community, it could provide valuable promotion for the CMC. Center staff responded enthusiastically to the idea and got to work planning the first Radiothon.
Both the CMC and La Movida deemed 2012’s pilot Radiothon a success. CMC Director Andy Russell said, “Last year’s event had such a positive energy. It was great to hear everyone’s stories about how the center has helped them and why it’s important to them.”
The 2012 Radiothon helped to raise nearly $11,000 for the center. Spurred by this success, the CMC decided to continue the event this year.
Broadcasting from CMC
On December 13, community members are invited to tune in to La Movida radio (1480 AM) or visit the CMC (1862 Beld St., Madison) for refreshments and entertainment, as well as to donate to the center.
La Movida programming director Luis Montoto says that events will be “very family-oriented.” La Movida will broadcast directly from the center from 12 noon until 6 p.m.
Activities at the CMC will include traditional Mexican folk dances from Ballet Folklórico Carlos Avila and Sonia Avila, a poetry recital, youth dance performances, and musicians.
La Movida listeners will also hear music as well as testimonials about the CMC’s role in the community.
Raising funds for three areas
After careful consideration, the center’s staff decided to focus on raising funds through this year’s Radiothon to support three major program areas.
First, they plan to use money to fund the food- and personal essentials pantries. Grants and Volunteer Coordinator Laura Green explained that keeping the pantries full has been a particular challenge recently. “In these tough economic times, the pantry shelves haven’t always been as well-stocked as we would like,” she said.
Radiothon funds will also be used to finance the center’s public computer lab, a free service from which many of the CMC’s guests benefit. The number of functioning computers has decreased in recent years, and the center hopes to bring the lab up-to-date so guests can continue to benefit from the service.
Finally, the Radiothon will help to expand the CMC’s job search assistance program, which includes, among other services, help with resumes and applying for jobs.
Among other donors, major event sponsors include Edgewood College, St. Mary’s Hospital, and Madison Gas and Electric.
Besides meeting its financial goals, the CMC hopes the event will help to increase awareness of its role in the Madison area. As La Movida’s Lupita Montoto explained, “This is a great center that provides a lot of help to the whole community.”