``KGO Radio Cares'' Program Raises More Than $300,000 for Mauling Victim Shawn Jones.

Business Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 2001

The day after Shawn Jones was brutally attacked and mauled by three pit bull dogs, KGO Talk Show Host Pete Wilson could barely contain his desire to help this boy.

So Wilson used the most powerful tool at his disposal: the airwaves. During his daily 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. talk show on KGO NEWSTALK AM 810, Wilson asked his

audience to help in any way they could, and contributed his own money to start the "KGO Radio Cares" fund to benefit the severely injured 10-year-old.

Checks poured into the station from throughout the Bay Area and from as far away as Oregon. A total, so far, of 4,265 listeners heeded KGO Radio's call, pushing the total above $300,000 in less than three weeks' time. Contributions ranged from $1 to $2,500, as letters and cards covered an entire wall at KGO Radio's Front Street offices.

"I had to do something," Wilson said. "Here was an innocent boy injured near death, with his limited-means family also facing possible eviction from their home and a long, tough recovery. I had a responsibility as a reporter and as a human being to help."

"Shawn's Wall," as KGO Radio staff began calling the collection of cards and letters, included a hand-made card from Albany, Calif., encouraging Shawn to get better, plus a little more than a dollar in coins wrapped in a small plastic sandwich bag.

"I challenge anyone to look at this wall and not feel a tremendous sense of pride at how we collectively extended a hand to this boy and his family," added KGO Radio president and General Manager, Michael Luckoff. "It is often said that he who controls the medium controls the message. KGO Radio's message is that we must be willing to help each other in our communities because that's the basic human building block to create a better way of life."

During today's early-afternoon news conference at KGO Radio's downtown San Francisco studios, Luckoff presented Shawn's mother, Lisa Cyrus, and his aunt, Belinda Arnett, with an oversized check for $303,000 -- the total amount contributed to date by KGO listeners.

"The remarkable success of this drive for Shawn Jones and his family goes to our listeners, whose generosity is apparent and overwhelming," said Luckoff. "It's our listeners and indeed the entire Bay Area that has made the KGO Radio Cares' program a success in helping this family cope with a terrible attack on an innocent child. With this wonderful response, Shawn and his family can continue the heroic recovery Shawn is already demonstrating to his terrific medical team at Oakland Children's Hospital."

Also at today's news conference was Marilyn Lovelace-Grant from Catholic Charities of the East Bay, which is donating its expert services to manage the Shawn Jones Family fund, ensuring that Shawn and his family receive the maximum benefits of the donations. Catholic Charities also is providing -- at no charge -- a case worker to assist Shawn's family.

"We hope that this money will help Shawn's family provide him with the care that he will need," Luckoff concluded. "As parents, this tragedy made all of us hold our own children just a little tighter, and as human beings, we felt a duty to help. I am personally very proud of this station's staff and on behalf of KGO Radio, I wish Shawn a full and speedy recovery."

KGO NEWSTALK AM 810 is an ABC-owned radio station in San Francisco. Michael Luckoff is President and General Manager. Jack Swanson is Operations Director. Ken Berry is Program Director. Greg Tantum is News Director.