WJBC Brotherhood Tree’s half century of giving to conclude this year

Posted on November 16, 2017

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – For almost five decades, the WJBC Brotherhood Tree has delivered Christmas gifts to local kids in need.

That tradition is coming to an end this year.

Radio Bloomington Market Manager Paula Williams said organizers have noted other groups in town are duplicating the Brotherhood Tree’s efforts, and many of the Brotherhood Tree’s core volunteers are retiring.

Williams said WJBC will partner with sister stations B-104 and WBNQ, which have worked for years to help Toys for Tots.

“We’re definitely going to help Toys for Tots going forward in 2018,” Williams told WJBC’s Marc Strauss.

“I also encourage any other organization which needs publicity, or needs a partner, to reach out to us because not focusing on one particular entity allows us to get the message out about other organizations and community efforts during the holiday season,” she added.

Williams said the decision to end the Brotherhood Tree was made locally, and did not come from Radio Bloomington’s parent company, Cumulus Media.

Volunteers working on this final year of the Brotherhood Tree will deliver gifts December 16th.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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