PHOENIX – KTAR News’ Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos’ campaign “Outspoken against hunger” raised more than $100,000 for St. Mary’s Food Bank this month.
KTAR News listeners donated $73,413, while Axon President and COO Josh Isner offered to match donations up to $50,000.
In total, the campaign will give St. Mary’s $123,413, which equates to 617,065 meals.
Last year, KTAR News listeners raised $40,000 and had 197 people donate to “Outspoken against hunger.” This year, 581 people donated and the average donation was about $120.
“This time of the year, there’s so much going on,” Director of Public Relations at St. Mary’s Food Bank’s Jerry Brown told Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos on Monday. “And this is the time of the year that you guys have talked about it. The amount of people in need rises, but the amount of donations that we get during the summertime really sags.
“And the people who are left behind are the people who can’t go on vacation. That’s not an option. They’re kind of slugging through the 110-degree temperatures. So, to have this happen, we get a lot of great donations during the holidays. A lot of people step up in November and December. In June, not so much.”
Outspoken set a goal of $40,000, which equated to roughly 200,000 meals.
But after Isner joined Bruce and Gaydos on June 9 to explain Axon’s latest plans regarding a headquarters in Scottsdale, Gaydos playfully informed Isner about the food drive, to which Isner said he’d match donations up to $50,000.
“Happy to always support great causes in the Valley and certainly you know supporting kids during the time where they’re not getting fed at school is a worthy cause,” Isner said. “So, more than happy to support this initiative. Congratulations, guys, on how much money you raised in a month. That is truly incredible, and we’re honored to be a part of it.”
Isner later said he’ll make it an annual tradition to match donations for “Outspoken against hunger.”
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