Donating to The More the Merrier: What's In It For You?

Me with writer/director, Ruba Nadda
 (Inescapable, Cairo Time, Sabah).
I love supporting Canadian Talent!

CIUT's Fall Fundraising Campaign is in full effect and I've got a few goodies to sweeten the pot if you donate to The More the Merrier on or before October 20th.

Ways to Donate:

Call: 416-946-700 Toll Free 1-888-204-8976

On line (secure server): http://www.ciut.fm/ (be sure to include The More the Merrier)

In Person at 7 Hart House Circle (3rd Floor

What You Could Win by Donating to The More the Merrier!

BOND, JAMES BOND! I've got several pairs film of tickets to Shaken, Not Stirred: Bond on Film. See Classic Bond films on the big screen at the TIFF Bell Lightbox at King and John Street. Value $24/pair (courtesy of www.tiff.net).

image courtsey of www.tiff.net

1 pair of tickets to The Spy Who Loved Me  (Sunday, November 4 at 12:00pm)

2) 1 pair of tickets to For Your Eyes Only (Tuesday, November 6 at 9:00 PM)

3) 1 pair of tickets to Live and Let Die (Saturday, November 10 at 12:00pm)



Art Gallery of Ontario Passes

image courtesy of
http://www.ago.net/4854

• 2 complimentary general admission/exhibition tickets to FRIDA & DIEGO: Passion, Politics, and Painting at the Art Gallery of Ontario. 

Value $50.00 (anonymous donation) 

• 2 complimentary general admission tickets to the Art Gallery of Ontario. Value $39.00 (anonymous donation)

Why You Should Donate?

• I called my show The More the Merrier to INclude not EXclude people. 
• As a child I couldn't afford to go to a lot of arts events. I relied on radio and television shows to take me to places I couldn't attend, and to introduce me to things I wouldn't have the opportunity to learn about. I'm paying that forward with The More the Merrier. Every show that I do, I'm talking directly to listeners so that we ALL learn and, most importantly, feel included in what's happening on the arts scene. 
• I also enjoy giving air time to guests who have no marketing/publicity budget. Air time for the arts has steady disappeared over the years. Many of the shows I used to watch/listen to as a kid are GONE! It's harder and harder for emerging as well as established artists to get air time to showcase their talent/work.
• Whenever possible, I try to get giveaways to foster audience participation. Sometimes, all we need is someone to say, here are some tickets, try something new/different for us to step out of the house and experience the arts. 

I listen for free, so...

Like Big Bird, The More the Merrier can be killed if there isn't enough community support (aka donations) to justify having a time slot on CIUT. If feathers fly, are you okay with less talk on CIUT, and no talk about the arts on community radio?

If you've read this far, thank you so much for hearing me out. Fundraising is a necessity that CIUT does only twice a year, the other 50 weeks are for YOU!

Walk Good,

donna g

Love Your Radio! Win a Trip to London, England!

Please share your love of radio and the arts by making a donation to in support of The More the Merrier (TmTm) during CIUT 89.5 FM's Spring Fundraising Campaign (April 11-17). Donate now via credit card or PayPal at www.ciut.fm or call 416-946-7800, toll free 1-888-946-7800. If you choose the PayPal method, the station will send you an email asking you what show you want to support. Please tell them The More the Merrier. Thank you for continuing the legacy of listener-supported radio!

My love of the arts inspired me to create a show where no one would feel intimidated or left out listening to discussions about various aspects of the arts; hence the name, The More the Merrier. TmTm has a heavy film slant because you, the listener, told me that you loved hearing me talk about film (and the many film festivals Toronto hosts) with my guests. As a past drama student, I have to include theatre coverage on TmTm. I like to mix it up with performances on the small stages as well as the more commercial stages. I even throw in some additional flavour with Théâtre français de Toronto plays (they have English surtitles for some of their performances). Book and music lovers are not forgotten either in my programme planning. Author readings, discussions about why to keep reading poetry post-high school, and call in shows about what you are reading are all scheduled with you in mind. The music I play is heavy on the Canadian side, but CanCon doesn't mean a lack of diversity. From urban flautist, Jef Kearns to a variety of African and Latin artists, and yes, even the classics as performed by Lutenist, John Edwards and Soprano, Hallie Fishel of Musicians In Ordinary, are all part of The More the Merrier's mix.

How to Donate: Online (secure site): www.ciut.fm By Phone: 416-946-7800, toll free 1-888-946-7800 In Person: 7 Hart House Circle, 3rd floor (U of T Campus) Directions: http://harthouse.ca/contacts#address Donations of $25 or more will get a tax receipt and a chance to win a trip for 2 to London, England.

Listen to the LIVE fundraising show on Saturday, April 16th, 1-2pm. Special guests, giveaways and music. I'll be waiting to hear from you!

Thank You for Supporting TmTm

Thanks to everyone who showed their support for Tmtm on Saturday, October 25th. I really appreciated you for donating your hard-earned funds to keep this little arts show on the air. Thanks to Heidy M. Gord for staffing the phones, and to Kirk Cooper for sharing the air waves with me. Thanks also to Sistah Lois for sharing her spiritual engery with me as she conducted her civic duties elsewhere. Staty tuned for the thank you gifts, everyone!

Please Support The More the Merrier Arts Radio

I know you love listening to The More the Merrier on CIUT 89.5 FM every Saturday afternoon from 1-2pm. And I know that when you can't tune in live you listen to the latest podcast. I also know you enjoy reading this blog to find out about things that I can't share with you in my one-hour radio show. I don't want to go off the air, but Station Management will do just that if I can't justify the fact that I have listeners who will put their money where their ears are.

Trust me, I have seen shows disappear for lack of listener support. I don't want to be one of those shows because I truly enjoy sharing with you. I love your feedback, and I welcome your criticism. So, on Saturday, October 23rd, between 1-2pm please call 416-946-7800 or toll-free at 1-888-204-8976 and make a pledge (any amount welcome) to The More the Merrier. You can even donate any time on line. Just click here to donate on line. Thank you for your support of the arts, and for community radio. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Community Donors Keep TmTm on the Air!

Thanks to everyone who called in/pledged on line on during TmTm's fundraising show on Saturday, Nov.7th. I was very lucky to have my usual team of on-site supporters to answer the phones and help me pitch on air. (L-R) Blogger Heidy M., Film Market Access founder, Kirk Cooper, and entertainer/activist, Sistah Lois.

Joining my favourite fundraising triumverate (below) were Ron Burd, CIUT Music Director and one of his assistants, Ming.

(L-R)The African Woman and Family's (12noon - 1:00PM Mesfin at the control board; Sistah meets up with CKLN's Virlia and pitches in to support AFW.



CONGRATULATIONS! to Golan, who became a member of CIUT and won the TmTm Membership Prize pack and is in the running with all new members to win one of several CIUT grand prizes.

New 89.5 Member Wins "The More the Merrier" Show Prize Package!!

CONGRATULATIONS to JOYCE, a new CIUT member and fan of The More the Merrier. Joyce has won a prize package valued at OVER $250.00. Joyce is also entered into the draw for one of CIUT's grand prizes. Good Luck, Joyce.

What's in the Package?
autographed copies of Richard Crouse's books 100 Best Movies You've Never Seen and Son of the 100 Movies You've Never Seen, PLUS a 5-film gift card to Canada Screens, a montly screening and talkback series, PLUS tickets to the Samba Squad's 10th Anniversary Concert at the Phoenix, Theatre Francais de Toronto production of The Dinner Game (Le Diner de cons) surtitled in English, and the family play Pobby and Dingan at the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, PlUS the new rock-funky CD "Lied to Me" from JamesKing, currently climbing the CIUT charts.


CONGRATULATIONS to Marylou M for winning an access pass to the Images Festival.

Congratulations Jannett Scott aka Lady Luscious!

At the end of the show on Saturday, November 8th we decided to honour one lucky winner by drawing for one of the prizes. CONGRATULATIONS to Jannett Scott aka Lady Luscious on winning the Mooredale Concerts tickets.

Janett has won A PAIR OF TICKETS to Mooredale Concerts featuring Germany’s Kolja Lessing on violin and Anton Kuerti (recipient 2008 Governor General's Performing Arts Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award) on piano. Tickets courtesy of Mooredale Concerts.

CONGRATULATIONS also to Zabrina Chevannes, who won a $50.00 gift certificate courtesy of Harlem Restaurant. The gift certificate was a surprise donation brought to the station by publicist Kirk Cooper who was assisting me with the fundraising show. Thank you Kirk and thank you Harlem Restaurant for this wonderful surprise.

One lucky winner will be selected at 1:00 pm on Saturday, November 15th for the remaining prizes in the exclusive show prize package.