Sunday, March 17, 2013

CONGRATULATIONS Easties!

Congratulations, YOU DID IT! The call went out to all Easties, to help WLIW raise the balance needed to pay the BBC's licensing fees for another year of EastEnders: $15,000 was needed and once again you responded. You sent $15,250 in checks made out to WLIW to my P.O. Box (I went to their offices this past Wednesday to deliver the big stack of checks!) And even more of you clicked on the direct link in my E20 Chronicles e-newsletter, to pledge via WLIW's dedicated EastEnders Pledge page - a page they created just to help our drive. (I don't have the final tally on those yet, but the bottom line is we succeeded!) You Easties are amazing!

What is also amazing is the partnership between EastEnders fans and WLIW, and it demonstrates what we can do when we work together on the same team.


WLIW asked me to pass this message along to you:

"WLIW is extremely grateful to all of the loyal Eastenders viewers. Your direct support and generosity is why this series remains on our air. We are happy to bring you another season of Eastenders on WLIW 21. On behalf of all of us here at WLIW, Thank you!" 
Mark Cataldo, Senior Director, On-Air Fundraising & Donor Services

That's it for now Easties. If you would like to keep up with all things EastEnders, (including our fan events here in NYC) please make sure you sign up for my FREE, weekly EastEnders newsletter, The E20 Chronicles.
The E20Chronicles is the only way to find out what's going on with EastEnders here in the States. To sign up, just email me here at the Launderette: E20Launderette at gmail dot com

Thank you to all you Easties who participated in this drive! Because of you, all EastEnders fans get to enjoy another year of EastEnders on WLIW. TA!

Wednesday, March 06, 2013

EastEnders/WLIW Drive Update!

Good News Easties!: We are very close to meeting our goal for our special WLIW EastEnders drive. And, of course, because we have teamed up with WLIW to do this, they are doing their bit as well. Tonight, before each EastEnders episode, you saw a message from WLIW President John Servidio, making his appeal. 

If you haven't pledged yet, please do! All the pledge information is in the post below (in my last post). Thank you to all who have participated already & if you haven't it's not too late! Please check out all the info in the post directly below this one.
Cheers,
Debs

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

URGENT: Save EastEnders on WLIW21

 
Dear Easties,

WLIW has contacted me to let us know that the on-air fundraising for EastEnders this year did not raise enough money for WLIW21 to buy another year of the series. We are $15,000 short of what is needed and the new contract must be signed at the end of March. Given this shortfall coupled with already tight budgets, the program director cannot justify re-signing unless we help.


If we EastEnders fans cannot raise that money by March 15, EastEnders will no longer air on WLIW21. They have made it very clear that this is not any kind of a threat or bluff: It's just an economic reality for the station.

It is actually a testament to the relationship the EastEnders fan community has developed with WLIW21 over the last seven years that they did not just cancel the show. Instead, they contacted me to let us know that the show is in trouble and are giving us the opportunity to help them keep EastEnders on the air. Please know our loyal viewership and involvement with WLIW21 has been a continual source of pride for the station. They love it that they broadcast a show like EastEnders that viewers are so passionate about that we independently mobilize to partner with them, to fund it and keep it on the air. This is the very definition of Public Broadcasting!

But another reality is this: EastEnders is one of the most expensive shows that WLIW21 purchases, and the programming department simply does not have the funds for it… unless fans support it. And we have to support it every year.

So what can you give to secure another year of EastEnders? We are suggesting pledge levels of $60 and $100 because we need to raise the money quickly. Any pledge amount would help and be gratefully accepted!


We have done this before Easties, and we can do it again! We have partnered with WLIW to help them get the funds they need for EastEnders to continue: Now all we need is you to join us! Please respond to this call to action as soon as you can and to get updates, please check back here and/or sign up for the free EastEnders e-newsletter, The E20 Chronicles.

There are two ways to donate…

Option #1: You can pledge on WLIW's website via this link:

CLICK HERE FOR WLIW's EASTENDERS PLEDGE PAGE.
 

On WLIW's website link above there are 3 different pledge gift packages offered, PLEASE NOTE: If you pledge online you must get a pledge gift for your pledge to count for EastEnders. If you check the 'no gift' option, your pledge is not designated for EastEnders and doesn't count towards our $15K goal.

Option #2: OR- Send a check made out to 'WLIW/Channel 21', but mail it to me at:

Save EastEnders
c/o D. Gilbert
P.O. Box 1106
Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113

Just as with the drives I've organized in the past, we will collect the checks and if we do NOT hit the goal, your checks will be returned to you -- if you enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
*Please note that donations made on the website will be added to the general WLIW21 Programming Fund if we do not hit the goal.



If you want to another year of EastEnders on WLIW, the time for you to act is NOW! If you have any questions, please email me any time: E20Launderette at gmail . com

Cheers,

Debbie Gilbert

***BTW, raising $15,000 should be totally doable for EastEnders: that’s just 250 people pledging $60, or 150 people pledging $100. Together, we can do this!!


AND THERE'S MORE:

Anyone who sends in a check for this drive will be entered to winsome great EastEnders memorabilia!