Date:
7/20/2007
Contact: Sheryl Borden at 505.562.2112
PORTALES—KENW-TV, the public television station serving Eastern New Mexico and West Texas, recently completed its first online auction. Monies raised during the annual auction go toward the purchase of programming. Thanks to the generous support from all of the participating businesses, as well as the Wal-Mart stores in Portales and in Ruidoso Downs, KENW raised over $45,000.
Store manager Bill Marlin says, “Our culture is to contribute back to the communities, and Wal-Mart in Portales was pleased to be a part of this public television event.”
Susi Moore, assistant manager, voiced similar comments, “Wal-Mart is happy to be a part of the communities as a whole, and our associates are pleased as well. Our motto says it all, ‘Our people and our customers truly make a difference.’”
Wendy Sharpe, personnel manager for the Portales Wal-Mart store, indicated that the Portales Wal-Mart donates over $30,000 annually to the community, the schools, fire department, and area organizations and is glad the store is here in order to assist.
According to Ryan, the annual auction provides KENW with funds to help purchase the outstanding programs that viewers in Eastern New Mexico and West Texas enjoy. The auction is the largest of the station’s fundraisers, and this year’s efforts to conduct the Auction online not only saved the station thousands of dollars in production costs, salaries, and other expenses, it provided an outlet for everyone who wanted to support KENW to participate in the fundraiser.
Borden says she first contacted Marlin about donating gift cards to the auction, which the store has done for many years. During the conversation, applying for a Wal-Mart grant was discussed. The application was prepared and submitted to Ms. Sharpe, who said she was very pleased to be able to notify KENW that they had been approved. The Wal-Mart store in Ruidoso Downs has provided a $1,000 grant for the last five years.