This week’s featured charity at the Chattanooga Market is Pennies for Vicki, a nonprofit organization founded in remembrance of Vicki Connor, an employee of KZ-106’s oldies station, GT-108, who died of breast cancer in January 2001.

“This is our charity of choice here at the radio station, so any time we have a chance to tie an event to Pennies for Vicki, we jump at the chance. We think of Vicki often. We do a lot of other events in the area throughout the year, and this event is a just another wonderful chance to get together with Vicki’s family and friends, which keeps her memory alive,” said Kelly McCoy, Director of Promotions for Citadel, and a close personal friend of Vicki’s.

Since 2001, Pennies for Vicki has helped make a difference in the lives of thousands of women with breast cancer. “The first year, our goal was to raise $1 million pennies, and we ended up raising $3 million pennies.” said McCoy.

Pennies for Vicki supports women with breast cancer both nationally and locally and has made donations to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Why Me of Chattanooga, and the Helene DiStefano Fund. “There are a lot of things insurance doesn’t cover,” said McCoy, “and often women still have to work to support their families, so we are able to step in and help women in these situations.”

La Paz de Dios works toward the inclusion of Hispanics into our community while celebrating their cultural heritage. La Paz was founded in 2004 to be a bridge between the needs of the Hispanic community in Chattanooga and the organizations and agencies that are available to help them.
For more information, visit their website at www.lapazdedios.org

The Make-a-Wish Foundation of East Tennessee will be at the Chattanooga Market on Opening Day!

In the face of major illness we are all reminded that waking up each day is a miracle, and it is these children who remind us that life is a gift and love is its substance. They prove to us over and over again that no circumstance or disease can steal away our capacity for joy and wonder. It is in giving that we truly receive.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of East Tennessee granted its first wish in 1988 and has granted over 400 wishes through the services of more than 120 volunteers. Any child 2½ and under the age of 18, who has been determined by a physician to have a life-threatening illness and has not been granted a previous wish, may be eligible. Make-A-Wish® grants wishes to all eligible children, regardless of race, religion, or socio-economic status. Granting a child’s one greatest wish inspires him or her to continue living with exuberance. We feel that the doctors provide the medicine, and we provide the magic!

For more information, please visit www.wishetn.org