By Raymond Ward, Chicago Crusader
Recently, The DuSable Museum of African American History joined forces with Chicago’s iconic African American owned radio station WVON-1690 AM to present the first-ever DuSable Museum Membership RadioThon…and the event proved to be an overwhelming success.
The groundbreaking RadioThon ran from 6:00 AM until 3:00 PM on Saturday, January 30, 2016, and resulted in the DuSable Museum increasing its current Membership by an impressive percent.
“I am thrilled that our first-ever RadioThon has produced such dramatically positive results for the DuSable, and am grateful to WVON-1690 for their unwavering support,” said Perri Irmer, President and CEO of the DuSable Museum. “It is especially meaningful that this call to action was answered so emphatically by our own community, which continues to treasure this Museum, and whose support is essential to maintaining the DuSable’s independence as a world-class, iconic institution and a cultural cornerstone of our African American heritage.”
Helping to make the RadioThon a success was the participation of some of Chicago’s favorite radio and television personalities including: Richard Steele, Deborah Crable, Art “ChatDaddy” Sims, Randi Knight, Darryl Dennard, former Alderman Dorothy Tillman and the Host of Windy City Live!, Val Warner. In addition, award-winning vocalists Joan Collaso, Terisa Griffin and Will Downing; filmmaker Deborah Riley Draper; Sybil Wilkes of The Tom Joyner Morning Show; and Hollywood actresses Suzzanne Douglas and Salli Richardson Whitfield all “called-in” to personally ask listeners to become Members of the DuSable Museum. Also supporting the effort was DuSable sponsor Thurman “Tony” Smith of PNC Bank, journalists Stella Foster and Carl West, and the Chicago-area chapters of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., which came through for the Museum in a big way. Several local businesses also donated food and beverages for the day.
Founded in 1961 by Dr. Margaret Burroughs and a group of fellow educators and scholars the DuSable Museum of African American History is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the country. Its mission is to promote understanding and inspire appreciation of the achievements, contributions and experiences of African Americans through exhibits, programs and activities that illustrate African and African American history, culture and art. For more information on the Museum and its programs call 773-947-0600 or visit us at www.dusablemuseum.org.
