Thank you Central Iowa for all of your support to help raise cash and food donations for the Food Bank of Iowa! Together, we helped raise over $21,000 and over 4,000 backpacks for the Food Bank of Iowa’s BackPack Program!

What we raised will help re-stock the shelves of the Food Bank, help fund child development programs, and help kids and their families deal with food insecurity.

Special thanks to Confluence Brewing Company for their $5,000 match donation and their own internal fundraising efforts — plus, all of you for making a contribution towards The Walking Fed Food Drive to benefit the Food Bank of Iowa! Though the campaign has ended, you can still make a contribution to the Food Bank of Iowa.

If you had a Girl Scout Cookie stand, STAR 102.5 had money in hand.

With STAR 102.5’s Girl Scout Cookie Buyout, presented by The Learning Post & Toys, STAR accepted submissions for Girl Scout Cookie stands all over the Des Moines area to stop by and buy cookies. Over the course of two and a half weeks, Ken, Kurt, and Tawinee surprised 10 different troops, buying $100 of cookies from each stand!

From Caramel Delights to Adventurefuls, from Toast-Yays to Trefoils, Ken, Kurt, and Tawinee purchased 200 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies, with the help of the presenting sponsor The Learning Post and Toys. All boxes of cookies were donated to the Food Bank of Iowa.

ith the NCAA Tournament happening in our backyard, the Des Moines Radio Group stations took the opportunity to celebrate along with all fans downtown at Hoops and Hops. For three days, local talent took to the street (or the heated tent) to show their team spirit and hang out with fans and listeners from all over the Midwest.

ESPN Des Moines’ own Mike Wickett covered all the first and second round games that happened at Wells Fargo Arena.

93.3 KIOA, one of the Midwest’s most beloved radio stations, celebrated its 75th anniversary in style by hosting a reunion of former on-air personalities at Chicago Speakeasy on March 28, 2023. This event brought together former “Good Guys,” whose service to the station spanned decades, to reminisce about their time on the airwaves and share stories with the station’s current on-air talent.

The reunion was a great opportunity for old friends and colleagues to catch up and share their memories of working at KIOA. Many of the attendees brought memorabilia from their time at the station, including vinyl albums, photographs, and other collectibles. These items served as a tangible reminder of the station’s rich history and the impact it has had on the community over the years.

The former staff members also had the opportunity to mingle with current on-air personalities Luke and Jeriney, Leigh McNabb, Karess Carter, and Kate Garner. This provided a unique opportunity for the current staff to learn from those who came before them and hear how the station has evolved over the years.

The afternoon was filled with hilarious stories and fond memories of KIOA. Many of the attendees shared stories about the early days of the station that brought rock and roll to Iowa and the impact the station had on the genre. They also talked about how radio has changed over the years and how KIOA has adapted to these changes while still maintaining its core values and mission.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of the event was the chance to hear from some of the most legendary Good Guys in the station’s history. These personalities were known for their larger-than-life personas and their ability to connect with their listeners on a personal level. They shared stories about some of their most memorable moments and the impact they had on the station and its listeners.

Another highlight of the event was the opportunity for attendees to connect with each other and build new relationships. Many of the former staff members had not seen each other in years, and the reunion provided a chance to catch up and reminisce about old times.

Overall, the KIOA 75th anniversary reunion was a tremendous success. It provided a unique opportunity for former and current staff members to come together and celebrate the station’s rich history and impact on the community. The stories shared by attendees served as a reminder of the important role radio has played in shaping our culture and connecting us to each other.

As we look to the future, it’s clear that KIOA will continue to play an important role in Des Moines. Its commitment to playing great music and engaging with its listeners has made it a beloved institution in Des Moines, the Midwest, and beyond. And events like the 75th-anniversary reunion serve as a reminder of the station’s legacy and the important role it has played in the lives of its listeners over the years. Everyone on the KIOA staff looks forward to writing the book on the next generation of KIOA’s rich history!

Volunteering is a rewarding way to give back to our community, and that’s exactly what 93.3 KIOA’s Luke Matthews did when he served as a judge for the inaugural Lego build fundraiser for Prevent Child Abuse Iowa. The event was a huge success, and everyone involved had a great time building with Lego for a good cause.

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa is an organization that works to prevent child abuse in the state of Iowa through education, awareness, and advocacy. The Lego build fundraiser was a unique way to support the organization, as teams competed in building challenges using Lego bricks. Luke was one of the judges for the event, helping to determine the winners of each round and ultimately crowning the overall champion.

The event was held at Fox Brewing in West Des Moines on February 23, 2023, and teams from various organizations and businesses participated. The team from Musco, a lighting company based in Iowa, was ultimately voted as the winners after five rounds of building with Lego. The competition was fierce, but the team from Musco impressed the judges with their creativity, teamwork, storytelling, and attention to detail.

Luke loved to be a part of such a fun and meaningful event. As a volunteer judge, he got to see firsthand how the teams worked together to create their Lego masterpieces. He was impressed by the level of creativity and storytelling on display, and he enjoyed being a part of the process of determining the winners as an avid Lego builder himself.

More than anything, the Lego build fundraiser was a great way to support Prevent Child Abuse Iowa. By participating in the event, teams and individuals were able to make a difference in the lives of children and families across the state. Luke looks forward to volunteering for future events with the organization.

The inaugural Lego build fundraiser for Prevent Child Abuse Iowa brought people together for a fun and worthy cause, and the team from Musco emerged as the deserving winner. By volunteering their time and resources, everyone involved was able to make a positive impact on the community and support an important cause.

Learn more about Prevent Child Abuse Iowa now.