The Bob Rivers Show to Sponsor On-Air Radio-thon for Ethiopian Villagers

Seattle's #1 Morning Show to Raise money for Ethiopian Villages. Director Arik Korman to report live from Ethiopia in a ten-day trip to the area.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) May 1, 2006 -- The Bob Rivers Show (KZOK 102.5 FM/Seattle and KVMX 107.5 FM/Portland) is hosting a radio-thon on Thursday, May 18 to raise awareness of the ongoing plight of children ravaged by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Ethiopia. The Bob Rivers Show, joining forces with Federal Way, Washington-based organization World Vision, is sponsoring a boy and a girl from two villages outside of the Ethiopian capital. The radio-thon will encourage listeners to also sponsor children and begin an individual relationship with the children in these the Ethiopian villages.
   
Arik Korman, The Bob Rivers Show director, is traveling to Ethiopia with World Vision from May 2 to May 12, 2006 to meet the sponsored children, Betalehem and Daniel. As the show’s ambassador, he will view firsthand the ravaged areas. Arik will be reporting daily to the show from the villages of Wonchi and Guraghe with phone-in reporting and will upload photographs and Podcasts to www.bobrivers.com.

“Entire villages in Ethiopia are being wiped out by the continuing AIDS crisis, ongoing political unrest, and lack of rain to the region,” said show host Bob Rivers. “We are doing our part to help. And we’re sending Arik because he’s the smallest among us.”

This type of adventure is nothing new for Arik. He once spent a week working with the homeless elderly and orphaned children of Tijuana with the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa’s order. Locally, he has volunteered his time with local homeless shelters, Mothers Against Violence in America, the Ballard Family Center, and Little Bit Riding Center. With his wife Monique, he spent 7 ½ months backpacking through some of the poorest areas of Southeast Asia – Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal and Indonesia.

The goal is to establish a relationship between the Seattle and Portland audiences and World Vision children for continued support of those affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The Thursday, May 18 radio-thon is the first step in which The Bob Rivers Show aims to sponsor at least 425 children by local listeners. Through World Vision child sponsorship these children will gain access to things like clean water, nutritious food, health care, education, agricultural assistance, and more. In addition to meeting urgent daily needs, these sponsorships will provide assistance like trained counselors who look after children, help them care for sick parents and promote sustaining values. The new sponsorships established during the radio-thon will assist in long-term facilitation of World Vision’s missions.

About The Bob Rivers Show
The Bob Rivers Show, heard weekdays from 5-10 am on 102.5 KZOK FM in Seattle and on 107-5 KVMX FM in Portland is the Pacific Northwest’s premier morning drive time show. Bob Rivers and his crew deliver fresh perspective on the day's headlines with humor, insight, honesty, and respect for their listeners. Twice voted Radio & Records' major market Personality of the Year, named by Billboard Magazine as a Radio Personality of the Week, Bob Rivers also holds a RIAA gold record for his Atlantic Records release, "Twisted Christmas." Bob has won three "Soundies," the People's Choice Awards from the Puget Sound Radio Broadcasters Association. A consistent leader in Arbitron ratings, The Bob Rivers Show combines sketch comedy, song parodies (Twisted Tunes), celebrity and expert guests, call-in topics, and a full range of humorous insight. Live internet broadcasts, Podcasts, downloadable Twisted Tunes, photographs of the staff's adventures and antics, and much more can be found at www.bobrivers.com

About World Vision
Federal Way, Washington-based World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. Founded in 1950, they serve the worlds poor, regardless of a person’s religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. World Vision's emergency warehouses, strategically placed around the world, stocks relief items like bottled water, candles, and blankets that can be sent to emergency sites in less than 48 hours. World Vision's community development projects include modernizing and improving agricultural and nutritional practices, micro-enterprise loans, and initiation of literacy, vocational training, and other educational programs. Over 85% of the funds raised by World Vision go directly to the group for which it is intended.

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