for Estrella Media, a truckload
of toys was only the beginning.
SUPPORTING CHILDREN’S HEALTH℠ IS ALSO SUPPORTING OUR LISTENERS
In December 2022, radio DJs from Estrella Media arrived at Children’s Health℠ with a truckload of toys.
The bounty of stuffed animals and battery-operated gadgets that lit up and sang was the culmination of the media company’s first toy drive — an effort to raise support and awareness for Children’s Health.
After that first holiday fundraiser, the team joined the Red Balloon League® campaign last year, hosting a peer-to-peer fundraising competition between radio stations for the hospital.
Hosts Lucero Hernandez with La Ranchera 106.7; El Oso “Yogi” from Luna 98.3; and morning DJs from La Raza 93.7 asked thousands of listeners to give — first to support Children’s Health and then for bragging rights among their fellow DJs.
Their goal: Use their platforms and voice with Hispanic families to support an organization that reflects many of the company’s same values — community, family, creativity and fun.
“It’s amazing to see how many people got involved and used this event to talk to their kids about the importance of supporting our friends and neighbors. For me, I feel even closer to our audience,” Yogi said.
As a mom, Lucero said family is an important theme of her show, and a fundraiser for the community’s growing pediatric hospital was a natural connection.
“A listener called and told us she recently lost her son. She said our show offered her relief, a place to go during lonely days, and she was grateful that we were fundraising for kids,” Lucero said. “Supporting Children’s Health is also supporting our listeners."
After the results were tallied, the three radio stations came together to congratulate each other on a well-played competition between their Estrella Media family. In addition to bringing toys, the group raised more than $10,000 to support the hospital’s greatest needs as it works to transform care for a growing pediatric population and deepened the DJs’ connections to the community.
In December 2023, the DJs returned for a second time with a truckload of toys. And as they unloaded gifts for children spending their holidays in the hospital, these seemingly small acts of giving tethered them to a bigger mission to support their growing community.
It also reminded them of a colleague they had nicknamed “Superman,” who spearheaded the initial toy drive idea and recently passed away.
“Our motivation is to remind people to be there for their friends, family and community — not just during the fun times, but when we see they are in need,” Yogi said.
