Beasley Media Group’s 93.3 WMMR-FM proudly announces the 25th Annual Preston & Steve Camp Out For Hunger event raised over 2.8 million pounds of food and over $1 million dollars cash to benefit needy individuals and families residing throughout the greater Philadelphia area. Proceeds will directly benefit local hunger relief organizations through Philabundance – Delaware Valley’s largest hunger relief organization, which acquires, rescues, and distributes food to help feed those in need, while also advocating for policies that increase food access.
Beginning at 6am on Monday, November 7th through 11am on Friday, November 11th, 2022, Radio Hall of Fame morning personalities Preston and Steve camped out and broadcast live outside of Xfinity Live!, located within the Wells Fargo Center Complex in South Philadelphia, in an effort to collect food and monetary donations from listeners and businesses throughout the tri-state area.
The award-winning radio duo started their food drive back in 1998 after recognizing that hunger was a real issue in the Philadelphia area. Their initial goal was to raise one ton of food.
Dozens of local and national celebrities, performers, and athletes were either on hand, or ‘zoomed in’ this year to lend their support, including Chef Robert Irvine, Philly native G. Love, Senator Chris Koons, Jeopardy! Champion Ryan Long, Hollywood Film Composer and Director Michael Giacchino, Director Zack Snyder, NBC Sports Philadelphia anchor Michael Barkann, Philadelphia Eagles Linebacker Haasan Reddick, Philadelphia 76ers Forward Tobias Harris, Philadelphia Flyers Joel Farabee, Scott Laughton, Tony DeAngelo and the Flyers play-by-play announcer Jim Jackson, WWE Superstar Drew Gulak, the band Starcrawler, local TV personalities Mike Jerrick, Alex Holley, Jenna Meissner, and Monica Cryan. The event also featured a reunion of Y100 staff- the radio station at which the event started in 1998.
This year’s event featured the return of walk-up food donations in addition to the ‘Drive Thru’ system, and donors were invited into the broadcast tent to watch the show live. Donors and volunteers loading the food were treated to free Dunkin coffee in the morning, along with breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the day from event sponsors. Online donations were accepted at wmmr.com, and listeners could donate in-store at their local ACME Market upon checkout.
Subaru of America provided the largest donation from a business, – 551,065 pounds of food, earning the company a live Preston & Steve broadcast from their headquarters in Camden, New Jersey.
\”We\’ve been doing this for twenty-five years and I still am blown away by the outpouring of support,” said Show Host Preston Elliot. “To see people from every walk of life show up and donate warms my heart beyond belief. I\’m so thankful for the sense of togetherness and overwhelming generosity.\”
\”Is there such a thing as win-win-win-win-win?” asked station Program Director Bill Weston. \”Camp Out for Hunger benefits our community in need, our listeners, our sponsors and our morning show! It\’s also a big for radio.”
Photo Credit: Gina Cosenza
