KCCI to Host Fundraiser for Children & Families of Iowa

Des Moines, May 21, 2020 – KCCI is hosting a one-day fundraiser on Wednesday, May 27, for one of Iowa’s oldest and most respected charities, Children & Families of Iowa (CFI).

For more than 130 years, CFI has helped children and families in abusive, toxic and traumatic situations. During the COVID-19 pandemic the organization has been forced to make large investments in telehealth technology, and personal protective equipment as the need for its services has increased. CFI, an essential service provider, is facing a nearly half- million-dollar shortfall in it’s 2020 operating budget.

“Experts tell us that some families will be leaving children home alone in order to survive and continue to have income,” said Janice Lane Schroeder, CFI’s CEO. “Child and domestic partner abuse is likely to increase as family stress increases. The use of substances and mental health symptoms will be greatly heightened. Our need for additional workforce, supplies and operational support during the pandemic is a great concern.”

On Wednesday May 27th, KCCI will deploy its broadcast and digital resources to raise awareness and funds for CFI’s services. KCCI’s newscasts will tell the stories of survival for clients of CFI, and PSAs will run on all of KCCI’s channels and digital platforms with information on how to give.

KCCI President and General Manager, Brian Sather said, “As people begin to emerge from COVID-induced isolation we may see that many of our neighbors were in dangerous situations. CFI will be a crucial lifeline for those who need to escape. KCCI is proud to lend our voice to making sure they are there for the people who need help.”

About KCCI: Celebrating more than 60 years of broadcasting, KCCI 8 News produces more than 30 hours of award-winning local news each week. KCCI, “Iowa’s News Leader,” is proud to provide news, sports, weather and entertainment to the area on KCCI, online at KCCI.com and on mobile devices with their numerous digital offerings. KCCI is committed to educating Iowa voters by providing in-depth coverage of Iowa’s first in the nation Presidential Caucus. KCCI also offers TV’s most memorable entertainment on its digital channel, Me-TV Des Moines 8.2 and exciting hits on My Des Moines 8.3. KCCI proudly supports the community by partnering year-round with local non-profits to give back to the Des Moines-Ames area.

About Hearst Television: Hearst Television owns and operates 33 television and two radio stations serving 26 media markets across 39 states reaching over 21 million U.S. television households. Through its partnership with nearly all of the major networks, Hearst Television distributes national content over nearly 70 video channels including programming from ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, MY Net, MeTV, This TV, Estrella and more. The radio stations are leaders in Baltimore news/talk and rock music listenership. Hearst Television is recognized as one of the industry's premier companies and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation, and community service. Hearst Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst.

About Children & Families of Iowa: Children & Families of Iowa (CFI) is a local private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk children and families throughout Iowa. Headquartered in Des Moines with offices in Ankeny, Fort Dodge, Osceola and Ottumwa. CFI delivers over fifteen programs to Iowans, such as: domestic violence shelter and intervention, youth work readiness training, in-home visits for families struggling to stay together, affordable child care for low income families, mental health counseling and substance abuse treatment for individuals of all ages. Children & Families of Iowa’s mission is to restore hope, build futures and change lives. Visit www.cfiowa.org for more information on CFI’s programs and services.

Contact at KCCI: Nathan White 515-247-8849 [email protected]

Contact at CFI: Amy Stapp-Arpy, CFRE Chief Development Officer/ VP of Development and Communications 515.697.7921 [email protected]