Volunteer-Run WDVR Radio Station Sets Fall Fundraising Drive

It’s rare to hear programs about musical theater, farm-to-table dining, gardening and technology all on the same radio station. Add in the musical likes of bluegrass, indie, alt country, rock, 50s and 60s oldies, doo wop, soul, folk, blues and beyond and it’s safe to say that WDVR’s programming is an anomaly among non-commercial stations. 

“Most public radio – there are approximately 1,500 community public radio stations in America – tend toward very focused formats,” said WDVR board member Chris Poh, who hosts two music programs. “We have something for everyone’s taste.”

The vast array of offerings stems from the station being run by more than 50 volunteer DJs, who base their shows on their own personal interests, offering an eclectic collection of podcast-style interview programs, discussions and, of course, music.

“Our format from the get-go was designed to attract people with a lot of different tastes and interests,” said Poh, who has been part of the all-volunteer on-air staff since 1991. 

Having grown from the original 500-watt standalone terrestrial station to an operation that now includes internet broadcasting along with several satellite-FM transmitters in both New jersey and Pennsylvania, the costs to run the community-funded station and off-site infrastructure have continued to spiral.

In response, WDVR is kicking off a fundraising drive on Oct. 14. The goal is to continue to grow the Sergeantsville, N.J.-based station through listener support. 

“We are blessed to have an extremely loyal base of listeners that have been with us since the beginning.” said Carla Van Dyke, WDVR’s station manager. “And we hope to add new friends to that list of the thousands of daily listeners that have made WDVR a part of lives both locally and globally.”

The station broadcasts throughout Hunterdon, Mercer, Somerset and Warren counties in New Jersey; and Bucks, Montgomery, Northampton and Lehigh counties in Pennsylvania and streaming globally via WDVRFM.org. 

Credit: Chris Poh

To learn more or contribute to WDVR’s fundraising drive, please visit: https://wdvrfm.org/donate-2024

About WDVR

WDVR FM hit the air waves on Feb. 19, 1990 as a newly established, non-commercial station. It is licensed to Penn-Jersey Educational Radio, a New Jersey, 501 (c) (3), nonprofit corporation. WDVR is a full-service FM station operating 24 hours a day at WDVR-FM 89.7 Delaware Twp, N.J., WPNJ-FM 90.5 Easton, Pa., W222BV-FM 92.3 Harmony Township, N.J., W245CC-FM 96.9 Trenton, N.J., W294BQ-FM 106.7 Easton, Pa., and W240CY-FM 95.9 Mount Bethel, N.J. The station can be heard in Hunterdon, Mercer, Somerset, and Warren counties in New Jersey, and Bucks, Montgomery, Northampton and Lehigh counties in Pennsylvania, as well as those who tune in around the world on WDVRFM.org.