The 2016 Empty Stocking Fund has completed a 10-day on-the-air radio campaign on My Mix 104.1/WCLE with its biggest year in 45 years.
Listeners gave over $78,000 to provide Christmas gifts to over 1,000 children in Cleveland and Bradley County. Donors continue to give and sponsors anticipate numbers to grow in weeks to come .
The Empty Stocking Fund represents three local charities that combined last year and represent over 130 years of programs for children. The three programs are Empty Stocking Fund, founded 45 years ago by Tom and Sandra Rowland; Christmas Memories, created 25 years ago by Brenda Lawson and family; and Christmas Party for Children, begun by the late rev. M.E. Littlefield 70 years ago and continued by his grandson Steve Hartline, owner of WCLE Radio and My Mix 104.1. The Rowlands , Lawsons and Hartlines conducted the 10 day fundraiser resulting in the community's largest ever.
On Dec 17 the 2016 Christmas Party will be held on the Ocoee Middle School campus when parents will pick up wrapped gifts while their children are treated to a giant party with games, food, music, prizes, and pictures with Santa.