⏪ A rewind of 2025 at Central Vermont Community Radio.
What a year it was, for all of us. We're so glad to be in community with you - near and far - through the power of community radio. As we wrap this year, here is a rewind highlighting all we did together. Click through for stories and stats!
What a year it was, for all of us. We're so glad to be in community with you - near and far - through the power of community radio. As we wrap this year, here is our CVCR 2025 Impact Report (and below).
Listen Local: We are committed to continuing to expand and improve the local programming that makes the station stand out.
"Just wanted to let you know that [student's] radio project work was a hit—thank YOU so much for giving her such a cool experience to supplement her learning! Grateful again for such a cool experience for all three of the kids—so awesome!" - Mom of a homeschool student who got to explore the station and be on the air
This year we had:
135 shows are in our schedule, 74 are were locally made by locals this year and nearly all of those are live (69% of the main schedule is local!)
17 were new local shows this year
8 shows step back from the airwaves (retired, moved of state, etc.)
a new, hyper local daily weather forecast added by our pay Roger Hill
special programming like a live feed from the New Orleans Jazz Fest thanks to WWOZ, a great 6 month radio show partnership with the Civic Standard, barters with the Times Argus and Hardwick Gazette to lift up each of our media outlets with each other
countless hours of your neighbors covering what is happening nationally and the impact here in Vermonter, as well as giving you a break from it all with great music shows.
"Thanks for replying. I ended up figuring it out the song. Yay for WGDR! Love you guys!" - A listener discovering music from one of our shows.
With about a dozen folks starting new programmer training this month, we are on pace to have another record number of Vermonters on the air with us by 2026. Stay tuned in for creative, informative, and entertaining content every single day.
Honoring Those Who've Left An Impact: So many individuals come together to make this station possible. In the last year, we lost one of our most dedicated programmers, volunteers, and board members - Dave Tucker. His passing was deeply felt by all of us and we miss him dearly.
We also saw the retirement of the shows from long time programmers - Jeff Lindholm (Geezer Rock), Peter Goreau (Spanning the Chasm), who both had decades on the air with us. There were many more folks who left their mark on the station - through shows or volunteering - thank you all!
Turning Challenges into Celebrations: We faced no lease, funding gaps, capacity crunches, attacks on public media, and more this year. As we always do, we rose to the moment and:
inked an affordable new two-year lease with Ledgeworks (the new owners of former Goddard campus);
secured $150K in state funding for all community radio stations on Vermont to upgrade aging gear for future emergency response;
transitioned from our founding board to a brand new board focused on strategy and capacity to ready us up for big moves in 2026;
lined up a new tower location in Plainfield for the brand new WGDR antenna and secured over 50% of the costs it will take to move us there next spring, increasing our broadcast by 8 times the coverage!
Give a gift by 12/31, double the impact!
In a year where headlines were heavy, WGDR's programming was resolute in our commitment to keep us connected to one another. Through factual news, in depth analysis, local coverage of happenings, including emergencies, mighty fine music shows, and more, our station was the soundtrack your community. This is what community radio does best – be a force for good and help make sense of it all.
Help fund this good by 12/31 and have your gift doubled! Thank you!
In a year where headlines were heavy, WGDR's programming was resolute in our commitment to keep us connected to one another. Through factual news, in depth analysis, local coverage of happenings, including emergencies, mighty fine music shows, and more, our station was the soundtrack your community. This is what community radio does best – be a force for good and help make sense of it all.
As we wrap up the year, we are focused on tuning more of our community in – to each other and to ways forward. This sounds and looks like:
· Even more locally focused content –70% of the schedule is made by your neighbors. It’s the stories, learning, discourse, and music that can make your day a little bit better.
· Expanding our broadcast reach – In a year when many stations, especially rural ones, are shrinking their impact, WGDR is expanding. Next spring, our broadcast reach will increase from just 88 sq miles, to more than 700. This will transform all we do and can do.
· Preparing for a vibrant future – Centering the community in all we do continues to be the root of our success as an independent station. We are building a strategy that will put the station in the center of our community. First step, is a new WGDR antenna and moving it to a new tower that will increase our broadcast by 8 times what is is now.. Stay tuned!
Ada, for us to expand and prepare for our future, we need your support to finish funding this year’s great work. Please consider a gift of $52 or more by December 31.
To help us hit our goals, your gift will be doubled in impact if you give by the end of the year. A generous donor is matching up to $1,500 for end of the year gifts. To give by check, make it out to CVCR and mail to WGDR, 123 Pitkin Rd. Plainfield, VT or donate at WGDR.org.
Together, we will keep community radio a free and accessible resource for all.
Warmest wishes for the end of the year. Thank you for tuning in!
Llu Mulvaney-Stanak, Executive Director
p.s. If you have more means, we are gratefully accepting Tower Fund gifts for the new WGDR antenna project next spring.
We’re So Grateful For Our Community
We can never say thank you enough, to all who help make this station possible.
This year, nearly 500 individuals have helped fund our programming, 100 organizations and businesses have supported us via underwriting, sponsorship, grants, and our Very Vermonty Auction. And, about 100 local folks have helped make the programming possible by doing shows, being on the board, committees, volunteer, or being part of our very small, but dedicated staff team. Thank you all!
We can never say thank you enough, to all who help make this station possible.
This year, we've more than doubled the number of organizations and businesses who support the station through underwriting, sponsorship, grants, and our Very Vermonty Auction. As always, please support those who support the station!
Above are the dozens of folks who helped fund the programming you love through grants, underwriting, and sponsorship!
These mighty fine organizations, businesses, and individuals helped us launch the first Very Vermonty Auction this year to huge success. Thank you to them all!
Lastly, thanks to the hundreds of listeners like you and our many volunteers who make our programming possible.
We’re on track to have over 500 donors support the station this year - from near and far!
Thanks to the 30 different folks who help lead the station on our board, programming committee, other sub committee members.
There are dozens of volunteers who help on projects big and small. Every bit of talent and time is appreciated.
Thanks to our small staff and contracted crew. Ya’ll work so tirelessly behind the scenes. Thank you!
And, of course, our 70+ programmers. They make the programming that makes this station so special!
We're excited for what's to come in 2026 and are so grateful to have all our listeners supporting us along the way.
Some of our programmers, volunteers, and listeners at our 52nd Birthday Party back in June!
Way to Give it Up!
We are pleased to announce that we crushed another fundraising goal, this time for Giving Tuesday. We raised $4,187 (our goal was $3,000). We did this thanks to the generous matching gift of $1,500 from Larry Kressly and George Kimmerling, a few other major gifts in the final hours, and the support of everyday folks giving $25, $50 bucks to the station. Together, you are funding the programming you love and rely on, thank you! Also, a big thanks to our local programmers who braved a tricky snow storm to be live for you for 15 hours! Luke, Corey, Llu, Maura, Kelly, Bill, Ada, Serena, and Frey.
Once again, we are humbled by the turn out of support listeners give the station everytime we ask.
We are pleased to announce that we crushed another fundraising goal, this time for Giving Tuesday. We raised $4,187 (our goal was $3,000). We did this thanks to the generous matching gift of $1,500 from Larry Kressly and George Kimmerling, a few other major gifts in the final hours, and the support of everyday folks giving $25, $50 bucks to the station. Together, you are funding the programming you love and rely on, thank you!
Also, a big thanks to our local programmers who braved a tricky snow storm to be live for you for 15 hours! Luke, Corey, Llu, Maura, Kelly, Bill, Ada, Serena, and Frey - Thank you!
Read the notes from donors here!
If you have yet to give to the station, we are in our end of the year push. There are many ways to support the station, including:
Give by check and send it to CVCR at 123 Pitkin Rd. Plainfield, VT 05667.
Give online via credit card, PayPal, Venmo, or other digital wallet options securely here.
Give from your IRA distribution before the end of the year.
Give from a Donor Advised Fund and send a gift to CVCR at 123 Pitkin Rd. Plainfield, VT 05667.
Become a sustainer and make a gift monthly for as little as $10 a month. Most banks do this for free and send a monthly check to the station. Ask them or set up a monthly gift online with us.
Donate a used vehicle and have the profits come to the station.
Give a one time, significant gift, to our WGDR Tower Fund - these funds are buying our new antenna and moving it to the new, much better location higher in Plainfield. It is a three-year project that will cost around $150K. We are $100K of the way toward it, with a start date in the spring of 2026. Leave a lasting impact on the station with a gift by 12/31 for tax purposes this year. Thank you!
Give the Gift of WGDR This Season
WGDR Gift Guide
Our station swag store has so many items that would make any holiday gift rock. Every dollar spent in on swag supports the programming you love.
WGDR Gift Guide
Our station swag store has so many items that would make any holiday gift rock. Click the photo below to explore some of our design options and swag options. Every dollar spent in on swag supports the programming you love.
Please note, all our swag is made to order, which helps reduce waste and up front costs, but it also means shipping can take a little longer during the holidays. Plan ahead!
Nothing in the store on your Santa list? That's ok! Make a gift in honor of someone you love and we'll send them our limited edition antenna sticker (pictured on the water bottle above) as thanks, with a note letting them know you helped fund the station they love.
Many of our underwriters and sponsors make great gifts too. Check out the full line up and support those who support the station!
Give on Giving Tuesday and have it doubled!
Once again, CVCR is putting our spin on Giving Tuesday, December 2. We've got a matching gift of up to $1,500 from our generous donors Larry Kressly and George Kimmerling to challenge donors who have yet to give this year to give that day and have it doubled. We’re hoping to raise $3,000 or more!
As our appreciation to you, our listeners and supporters, we’re turning up the whole day with live and locally made music shows. Click through for the line up.
Once again, CVCR is putting our spin on Giving Tuesday - a national day of raising funds for non-profits before the end of the year - on Tuesday, December 2. We've got a matching gift of up to $1,500 from our generous donors Larry Kressly and George Kimmerling to challenge donors who have yet to give this year to give on Giving Tuesday.
Every dollar you give on this day will be doubled thanks to this match. We’re hoping to raise $3,000 or more!
As our appreciation to you, our listeners and supporters, we’re turning up the whole day, from 7am-11pm, with live and locally made music shows. Tune in to hear:
7am-8am: Eastern Dawn Radio w/ Luke
9am-11am: DJ Corey Flynn
11am-1pm: DJ Llu’s “Gotta Give It Up” Mix
1pm-3pm: Maura Quinn
3pm-4pm: DJ Kelly
4-6pm: Listen Up w/ Bill
6pm-9pm: Still Life Crew Extended Mix
9pm-11pm: DJ Rhizosphere's Hip Hop Show
As always, we keep the station budget nimble. Everything we raise goes directly into the programming and costs to run the station. Give to WGDR & WGDH before the end of the year or give in honor of someone for their holiday gift. We provide our community with locally made, community-centered, unique, and inspiring content every single day. Thank you!
