WISN 12 Celebrates 70th Anniversary with ’70 Years of Service’ Campaign to Help End Hunger
Station Partners with Hunger Task Force on an Initiative Throughout 2024 to Fight Hunger in Southeastern Wisconsin
MILWAUKEE, WI (January 11, 2024) – WISN 12 is honoring its 70th anniversary by launching the ‘70 Years of Service’ campaign, in partnership with Hunger Task Force. Throughout 2024, WISN 12 will highlight a different hunger-related need each month, with a call-to-action to address that need. Viewers can also help WISN 12 in this campaign, by making a donation online: www.wisn.com/hunger.
“For seven decades, WISN 12 has dedicated itself to the community we serve, not just through our news coverage and programming, but also through significant outreach and fundraising initiatives throughout Southeastern Wisconsin,” says Jan Wade, president and general manager of WISN 12. “The ‘70 Years of Service’ campaign with Hunger Task Force, continues that passion and commitment to helping others.”
WISN 12 is kicking off the initiative with a $2,500 donation to Hunger Task Force. Each month, the station will then focus on a distinct topic related to hunger, such as highlighting the importance of volunteering, collecting donations of a specific food item, holding a fundraising drive, etc. WISN 12 is devoting significant coverage to the campaign on-air, online, and across social media, to raise awareness and enact change throughout Southeastern Wisconsin.
Wade added that working with Hunger Task Force (HTF) throughout 2024 is also very special to the station, since HTF is the station’s valued and longest-tenured partner.
Viewers can learn more about the campaign by visiting: www.wisn.com/hunger.
“Hunger Task Force is excited to celebrate WISN 12’s 70th Anniversary! As we enter our 50th year of operation we can celebrate our mutual service to the community, feeding the hungry and working together to end future hunger,” shares Sherrie Tussler, CEO of Hunger Task Force.
WISN 12 began its work with Hunger Task Force in 1978, after launching ‘Food For Families’ – a grassroots community project to confront hunger. Among the many highlights throughout the partnership, WISN 12 received the ‘Celebration Of Service To America Award’ by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Leadership Foundation for its commitment to addressing hunger-related issues after helping raise more than $1 million and rescue milk that was unable to be sold by local farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the most recent ‘Food For Families Food Drive’ in 2023, WISN 12 and Hunger Task Force were able to collect more than $152,000 to help local families. Since 2012 more than $1.7 million has been raised during that annual event.
“The great people at WISN 12 were responsible for naming us when the very first ‘Food For Families’ food drive was held. All food collected by WISN 12 was given to our fledging organization, which was called the ‘hunger task force.’ Year after year, the WISN 12 team commits many hours of community service, and their knowledge of anti-hunger work in Milwaukee has become integral to their service to the community,” adds Tussler. “There is no better way to celebrate 2024 than to have WISN 12 at our side. Together we are making a difference!”
Hunger Task Force is Milwaukee’s Free & Local food bank and Wisconsin’s anti-hunger leader. The organization provides healthy and nutritious food to hungry children, families and seniors in the community absolutely free of charge. Hunger Task Force was founded in 1974 by a local advocacy group who then formed Milwaukee’s first food bank. Today, Hunger Task Force is 100% supported by the community and provides a safety net of emergency food with dignity to a network of 75 food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Through legislative analysis, education and community organizing, Hunger Task Force continues to advocate for anti-hunger policy at the local, state and federal level.
About WISN 12 and Hearst Television WISN 12, the ABC station in Milwaukee, is owned by Hearst Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst Corporation. Hearst Television owns and operates 33 television and two radio stations serving 26 media markets across 39 states reaching over 22 million U.S. television households. Through its partnership with nearly all major networks, Hearst Television distributes national content over more than 120 video channels including programming from ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, MY Net, MeTV, Estrella and more. The radio stations are leaders in Baltimore news/talk and rock music listenership. Its Hearst Media Production Group unit produces original programming across linear and streaming platforms for domestic and international distribution. Its Very Local app, free to download on household OTT devices and available across popular streaming services, offers 24/7 access to local news, weather and an array of local and regional programming. Hearst Television is recognized as one of the industry’s premier companies and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation, and community service. Hearst Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst.