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Community Corner

Peconic Public Broadcasting Raises $40,000 in Fund Drive

Week-long fundraiser was WPPB's first on-air drive.

WPPB 88.3FM, an NPR-affiliate with studios in Southampton Village, raised nearly $40,000 in its inaugural fund drive, the radio station announced Thursday.

Nearly 500 listeners and supporters called in to pledge their support for the newly independent public radio station during the week-long fundraiser, a WPPB press release stated.

WPPB rose out of the ashes of WLIU, a -owned radio station operated out of Southampton College. Long Island University sold to and later announced it would be selling off 88.3's equipment and licenses. Former WLIU employees formed the nonprofit Peconic Public Broadcasting to keep 88.3 on air. The and new call letters, WPPB, on Dec. 16, 2010.

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“As always, we were thrilled with the response from our dedicated community of listeners and supporters.” WPPB station manager Wally Smith was quoted as saying in the release. “The spirit of this drive was positive and uplifting. We were celebrating the birth of WPPB and the community really responded to that. With the purchase of the license behind us, we are looking forward to building an even more vibrant and locally-focused station. As we grow we will continue to rely on the support of our listeners."

Over the course of seven days, 35 community members volunteered nearly 250 hours of their time to assist the WPPB staff in the drive, answering phones and performing other tasks. Local businesses including , , , , , , Mary’s Marvelous and provided food and coffee.

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 “I want to thank everyone who contributed to this fund drive and to all of those who volunteered their time and donated their time and goods,” Smith said. “WPPB’s existence is a result of the collective effort of those people who have made a serious investment in our community and public radio.”

Contributions can still be made at WPPB's website, peconicpublicbroadcasting.org.

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