WCCO Radio Wins Service To America Award

By Edgar Linares and CBS News

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Staff at NewsRadio 830 WCCO are returning home from Washington D.C. with the 2015 Service to America Award.

The award was presented Tuesday night by the National Association of Broadcaster's Education Foundation (NABEF).

The Service to America Award honors radio and television broadcasters for campaigns, projects or programs that service the public good or otherwise provide exemplary service to their local communities.

PHOTO GALLERY: WCCO Radio Wins Service To America Award

Through PSAs, events and fundraisers, NewsRadio 830 WCCO helped the hungry through year-round outreach. With "Let's Kick Hunger Day," WCCO engaged listeners, celebrities and charity groups to replenish food shelves across 59 counties.

Teaming up with local congregations, civic groups, corporations and listeners, WCCO helped power the month-long Food Share campaign, the largest food drive in the country.

In partnership with the National Association of Letter Carriers, WCCO supported the "Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive," which collected 1.73 million pounds of food.

And the 11th Annual Union Gospel Mission Radio-thon featured stories of those whose lives had been touched by such efforts and broke a new record, providing help for the homeless, poor and addicted.

"It's an honor that our peers recognize and appreciate the excellence we try to achieve on WCCO every day," WCCO Program Director Bob Shomper said. "I'm very proud of our staff."