24th Annual 94.7 WMAS Radiathon raises over $250K for Baystate Children's Hospital
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The 24th Annual 94.7 WMAS Radiothon took place at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tuesday and Wednesday.
Volunteers gathered to make and answer calls to raise money for Baystate Children's Hospital.
This year, they raised $256,235.00.
All of the funds raised will go towards upgrading facilities, buying new medical equipment, and prioritizing children's care.
'Without the generosity of these donors or these volunteers or our great company sponsors we would not be able to upgrade facilities or replace equipment,' says Pediatrician in Chief of Baystate Children's Hospital, Charlotte Boney.
Baystate Children's Hospital is just one of 170 in the miracle network nationwide.
If you missed the opportunity to donate, and would still like to, click here to donate.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Former federal regulator leading new HPC pharma office
BOSTON (SHNS) – A pair of new state health care oversight offices have 'hit the ground running' since being established in a January law, and one is led by a former federal regulator with experience investigating pharmacy benefit managers, officials said Thursday. The Health Policy Commission is now home to an Office of Pharmaceutical Policy and Analysis, which officials shorten as OPPA, and an Office of Health Resource Planning, or OHRP. Lawmakers tasked the pharmaceutical office with examining spending data and crafting recommendations on how Massachusetts should handle the prescription drug industry, which policymakers have targeted for reforms over its status as a major driver of rising health care costs. Matthew Frank started as OPPA's director Monday after five years working for the Federal Trade Commission. He also previously worked in the antitrust division at the Massachusetts attorney general's office. 'He did extraordinary and deeply relevant work at the FTC,' HPC Deputy Executive Director Coleen Elstermeyer said a meeting Thursday. 'In that role, he led some investigations into [pharmacy benefit managers], their market practices, their behaviors that were concerning and anti-competitive. He led a group of attorneys and economists on an industry study of PBMs as well, and he's also done some work looking at manufacturers who were allegedly, I would say, manipulating patent law to avoid having their drugs become eligible for generics.' The HPC also promoted internally to fill the other new office, tapping Kara Vidal — who previously led the agency's work on cost-controlling performance improvement plans — as director of OHRP. 'This office is charged with developing a state health plan, looking at the supply of services — where do we have too much? Where do we have too little? How does it align with patient need, community need?' Elstermeyer said. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Fundraising walk raises awareness for Type 1 Diabetes
AGAWAM, Mass. (WWLP) – Breakthrough T1D held a fundraising walk Sunday morning at Six Flags. Breakthrough T1D, mostly recently known as JDRF, was established in 1970, and throughout the over 50 years of raising money through charity walks, their mission remains the same. Hundreds of athletes participate in IRONMAN 70.3 in western Mass. 'It funds critical research to help improve lives of people who are living with Type 1, while also looking for a cure,' said Jon Muskrat, Executive Director of Breakthrough T1D in Greater CT & Western MA. 'And also help raise awareness for people about the disease and what some of the warning signs are to look for.' Hundreds of people gathered, including family, friends, supporters, and those living with Type 1 Diabetes, better known as T1D Champions. Together, all the teams and participants raised $117,000, money that will support research for Type 1, giving hope to families like Stacy Brabender and her son Jacob, who was diagnosed at the age of four. 'It's very overwhelming,' Stacy Brabender said. 'I called his pediatrician when he had bad breath and was drinking a lot of water. I thought I was a crazy mom. It turns out we were sent immediately to the emergency room. We spent the next two days learning how to keep our son alive, because we no longer knew how.' Now, alongside Jacob and their team called 'Jacob's Justice League,' they are celebrating their ninth year walking towards a cure. 'Seeing people here really makes me feel special,' Jacob Brabender said. 'It makes me feel supported, and it overall makes me happy because they stand by me.' Families who have a loved one who's been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes know there are highs and lows that come with it. 'I just want to let all other families know that have children with Type 1 Diabetes or anything else, any other illness, that there is a support group out there and you can reach out,' said Carmen, Carlos' mother from 'Carlos' Warriors.' 'There is people to talk to.' A community supporting each other towards a shared goal, no matter the age. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Should Massachusetts keep religious exemptions to vaccine mandates?
BOSTON (WWLP) – Passionate testimony rang out in the State House on Friday from parents, children, and physicians on both sides of the vaccine mandates for school children debate. The State House's public health committee heard testimony on multiple vaccine bills, including an extremely contentious piece of legislation that would eliminate religious exemptions to vaccine mandates in schools. Proponents of this bill see it as a way to close a loophole and keep kids safe in schools. Will you be able to get a COVID-19 shot? Here's what we know so far One doctor told 22News that she wants to work with families to ensure they feel comfortable with vaccines, while still pushing to ensure all children are protected. 'We know that children need a cocoon of immunity around them, whether they're infants, or in kindergarten, or in sixth grade,' said Dr. Mary Beth Miotto, a pediatrician. For every enthusiastic advocate for getting rid of the religious exemption, there was an equally passionate advocate to keep it. These parents and doctors testified that disallowing parents from choosing to exempt their children from vaccination is a violation of their freedoms, and only serves to keep deserving children out of school. 'Public health policy should support and empower, not harm and humiliate,' said Dr. Sylvia Fogle, a psychiatrist. Those speaking against the bills say the total harm of their passage would far outweigh their speculative benefit. Those who testified pro-vaccine say that claim is based on misinformation. The conversation around vaccine exemptions is especially relevant as the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services has voiced consistent support for getting rid of mandates. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.