Ring in the holiday season: Salvation Army honors Akron radio greats at Red Kettle Kickoff
WAKR program director and morning host Ray Horner has served as the master of ceremonies for the Salvation Army’s Community Medal Award and Red Kettle Kickoff Luncheon since its inception in 2004.
Thursday was the first time that he’d ever been on both sides of the podium.
Horner was one of three Rubber City Radio Group employees who the Salvation Army of Summit County recognized for having a significant impact on the community through their professional work and personal volunteer contributions. More than 250 people attended the 19th annual luncheon.
“I’ve had the pleasure of promoting what the Salvation Army does for about 25 years,” Horner said. “To be in the same category as a Dave Lieberth and a Bill Considine and a Ken Babby, it’s really an honor.”
During his morning show, Horner has interviewed countless guests from nonprofit groups, raised public awareness about their programs and participated in myriad fundraisers and community programs. Off the air, he has volunteered for many local organizations, including Big Brothers and Sisters, United Way of Summit and Medina, Children’s Concert Society, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank and, of course, the Salvation Army.
“Ever since they had the Community Medal luncheon, I’ve been the emcee,” he said. “I was really taken aback when it was announced that I got part of this award.”
Share a Christmas
For 74 years, WAKR has sponsored Share a Christmas, a fundraiser whose proceeds benefit the Salvation Army. This year’s on-air promotion will be held the week of Dec. 4 and feature an auction of donated items from the Cleveland Browns, Cavaliers and Guardians as well as companies such as Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
Joyce Lagios, who retired two years ago as vice president of marketing and promotions for Rubber City, shared the stage with Horner as an award recipient Thursday.
“I’m actually blown away to be honored for something that I want to do,” she said.
When she started at WAKR in the 1960s as a promotions assistant, the first event she did for the radio station was Share a Christmas. More than 50 years later, her involvement continues.
“I am retired but I’m still doing Share a Christmas for WAKR,” Lagios said. “I joke about this with Thom Mandel, the owner. I still have a code to the door. The minute they change that, I’m done,” she said with a laugh.
Lagios organized hundreds of fundraising events for nonprofit organizations for Rubber City Radio Group. She continues to serve on Cleveland Clinic Akron General’s Community Advisory Council and Interval Brotherhood Home’s board, and is media chair for the Kaulig Golf Tournament, where she has volunteered for 42 years.
She was president of the American Diabetes Association Summit County Division and Summit County Arthritis Foundation, and volunteered at the All-American Soap Box Derby, American Heart Association and other groups. She is active at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron, where she holds several leadership positions.
The third medal recipient was the late Mark Biviano, senior vice president at Rubber City Radio Group, who died of leukemia in May. The broadcaster and educator was a Fulbright Scholar, philanthropist and musician.
The Salvation Army honored Biviano for “his dedicated investment of talent, treasure and personal time,” noting that he “is greatly missed.”
During more than 30 years at WAKR, Biviano volunteered at the Salvation Army, served on its advisory board as chairman, and held various executive positions. He was a major benefactor of the Salvation Army’s Learning Zone Preschool Suzuki violin program, providing music training to 4-year-old students.
“I couldn’t work with better people than those two,” Lagios said of Horner and Biviano. “They’re fabulous.”
Salvation Army campaign
The luncheon served as the official kickoff of the 2023 Red Kettle campaign. Beginning Friday, bell ringers will provide a comforting tradition during the Christmas season while raising money for those in need.
“The Red Kettle campaign is our biggest fundraiser of the year and it goes to support our programs all year round,” Salvation Army Capt. Anita Albert-Watson said. “Our goal this year is $335,000.”
She and her husband, Maj. Robert Watson, have served Akron for two years. The need is especially great this year, Albert-Watson said.
“Food and fuel costs have risen tremendously, so we’re really feeling the crunch with that,” she said. “With inflation, our supply and vendor costs have gone up. So this is a $75,000 increase in our campaign this year over last year, and that’s just to meet the rising costs.”
According to the Salvation Army’s annual report for Summit County, the group this year served 577,604 meals, provided 813,286 services and touched 67,927 lives.
The agency delivers hot meals provides clothing, makes utility payments, teaches family living skills, mentors teens, encourages seniors, visits nursing homes, helps disaster survivors and shares the love of God. The Salvation Army alsooffers preschool, after school and summer programs.
“We make 300 hot meals five days a week,” Albert-Watson said. “And we send those out across Akron to the different community centers.”
Perhaps not as well known is the Salvation Army funding that provides financial assistance, textbook assistance and food pantry items to University of Akron students to help them avoid dropping out.
“People don’t think about college students being in need,” she said.
Kiss at the Kettle
Kettles are effective. So is social media.
At the end of Thursday’s luncheon, the Salvation Army and WAKR announced a new promotion, Kiss at the Kettle, which runs through 6 p.m. Dec. 23.
People are encouraged to take a picture of a kiss at a kettle at any participating store in Summit County, including Acme Fresh Market, Giant Eagle, Hobby Lobby, Sam’s Club and Walmart.
They should create a public post on their Facebook profile that includes a photo of the kiss, the name and location of the retail outlet where the photo was taken, the date of the photo and the hashtag #KissAtTheKettle.
The photo must contain the red kettle and the Salvation Army logo. Do not include bell ringers in the picture unless they agree to be photographed. One entry per person.
A grand-prize winner will be selected at random to receive a pair of brand-new diamond rings from anonymous donors. No kettle donation is necessary to win.
For those who want to help the Salvation Army’s mission, drop money in a kettle, make a donation at www.salvationarmyakron.org or send a check to the Salvation Army of Summit County, 190 S. Maple St., Akron, OH 44302. For more information, call 330-762-8481.
Albert-Watson said the Red Kettle Campaign is needed to support the life-changing programs that the Salvation Army provides all year. The group’s motto is “Doing the Most Good.”
“We want to break the cycle of poverty,” she said.
Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Salvation Army honors Akron radio greats at Red Kettle Kickoff
