WGNR 97.9 FM to Collect New Shoes for Orphan Children; Local Radio Station to Help Charity in Annual Shoe Drive Benefiting Orphanages Around the World.

Features Editors

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 24, 2002

WGNR 97.9 FM radio station is helping orphan children around the world walk into a brighter future by participating in the annual Shoes for Orphan Souls shoe drive July 5-26 in Indianapolis.

WGNR is one of five Moody Broadcasting Network stations nationwide that has teamed with Buckner Orphan Care International (BOCI) to ask local residents in each station's market to collect shoes for orphan children as part of the organization's annual shoe drive.

BOCI's Shoes for Orphan Souls program seeks donations of new shoes, socks and shoelaces from individuals, corporations and civic groups to distribute to disadvantaged children in the United States and economically and socially-disadvantaged countries around the world.

This year's shoe drive is looking to surpass last year's total of more than 500,000 shoes. Recipients of donated shoes include orphans from Afghanistan, Belize, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cuba, Ethiopia, Egypt, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Latvia, Mexico, Moldova, Peru, Romania, Russia, U.S., Uganda, and Ukraine.

2002 marks the second year Moody Broadcasting Network will use its radio stations to promote the shoe drive, adding WGNR and four other stations to their national effort this year.

"We are very honored to be included in this year's group of Moody stations that are able to support the generous work of the Shoes for Orphan Souls program," said Ray Hashley, WGNR station manager. "This is a wonderful opportunity for our station to call on our communities to help children throughout the world. We hope that through the promotions efforts of our station and the support of our community we can help Buckner surpass their drive goals and help more children than ever."

Donated items should be for children, ages birth-18, and, due to customs regulations, shoes and socks should be brand new. Warm shoes and winter boots are items that are especially needed.

"Millions of children reside in orphanages throughout the world and those orphanages are not receiving enough money to care for the children's most basic needs," said Tiffany Taylor, director of Shoes for Orphan Souls. "Because of WGNR's commitment to this program, we can continue to increase the number of kids who will benefit and continue to spread the joy of owning a new pair of shoes to thousands of additional children."

Taylor emphasized no donation is too small, "Most of the donations to the shoe drive have come from families giving one or two pairs of shoes. Every one pair of shoes makes a big difference to that one child who receives them."

Donated shoes can be dropped off at the Moody bookstore in Indianapolis each Friday during the month of July and at the grand finale drop off during the Michael Card concert on July 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Eagle Center in Whitestown.

Locally, volunteers are being sought to do a shoe drive at their church, school or business. Volunteers are also needed to travel to Russia, Romania, and China to meet some of the children who benefit from the shoe drive.

For more information about the drive and volunteer opportunities, call toll-free 877-7ORPHAN or visit www.shoesfororphansouls.org.

About Buckner Orphan Care International

Buckner Orphan Care International (BOCI) is part of one of the largest Christian organizations of its kind in the nation. Buckner was founded in 1879 as the Buckner Orphan's Home in Dallas. Today, Buckner has vastly diversified services dedicated to the restoration, care and healing of children, families and senior adults.

The Shoes for Orphan Souls program seeks donations of new shoes, socks and shoelaces from individuals, corporations and civic groups. Since 1999, over 600,000 pairs of new shoes have been distributed to disadvantaged children in the United States and countries around the world that are economically and socially disadvantaged.

About Moody Broadcasting Network

Moody Broadcasting Network (MBN) has 33 owned and operated and over 600 affiliate radio stations across the United States. WGNR has partnered with MBN to serve the Indianapolis community for over four years. MBN is a part of the ministry of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.