Bonneville International Corp.'s various divisions and their employees donated $34 million worth of community services nationwide last year.
Salt Lake-based BIC, the parent company of KSL television and radio, owns 14 radio and TV stations and six communication support companies in Salt Lake City and other major markets that include New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco, placing it among the 10 largest communications companies in the country based on audience reach.BIC's contributions to the various communities in which it operates are outlined in the company's 1997 "Values Report," a kind of annual report that documents the company's community service, rather than income and earnings.
"It's our way of letting the communities we serve know that we take our core values seriously, like service, integrity and leadership," said Bruce T. Reese, president and chief executive officer.
BIC's contributions outlined in the report include issues-oriented programming, donated air time, production assistance, special projects, cash contributions and employee volunteerism.
KSL, BIC's local affiliate, is celebrating its 75th anniversary of broadcasting this week. KSL radio (then KZN) went on the air on May 6, 1922.
Last year the the Utah Alcohol Policy Coalition and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) cited KSL Radio for its "outstanding community service contribution" to prevention of alcohol abuse for its "Cellular Watch" campaign geared to getting drunken drivers off the road.
Other KSL Radio service projects included "Primary Children's Medical Center Radiothon;" "Quarters for Christmas;" "Teacher Feature" and "Family Now."
Reese said the Values Report offers evidence of BIC's ongoing commitment to service and also is a "small `thank you' to our associates - so many of whom go out of their way to perform volunteer service."
KSL Television broadcast 850 public services announcements a month last year, serving more than 1,000 organizations. Other service projects included "Weatherschool," which reaches most elementary school children in the state; KSL's "Think Ability" campaign to raise awareness of people with disabilities; and "Fit Kids," launched last year to focus on health, nutrition and fitness for children. KSL also produced the local portion of the "National Easter Seals Telethon," raising $480,000.
BIC breaks down its $34 million in community service donations in 1996 this way: public affairs programs $14.55 million for 247,010 on-air minutes; public service announcements $13.03 million for 95,707 on-air minutes; special projects such as telethons, radio-thons and other on-air projects $2.57 million for 36,187 on-air minutes; cash and in-kind contributions $4.06 million; volunteer employee participation $478,400.