Listeners Share Holiday Dreams In Hopes Of Inspiring Others To “Pay It Forward”

New York, NY – November 1, 2011 – Clear Channel Radio, the leading media company in America with a greater reach than any radio or television outlet, is kicking-off the holiday season early this year with the launch of its fourth annual “Granting Your Christmas Wish” Contest. 

From November 1 through December 8, 2011, more than 100 Clear Channel stations will encourage listeners to share their wish requests via participating Clear Channel Radio station websites.  All participants will be required to submit a short paragraph stating why they should have their wish granted.  These requests will be judged based on a number of pre-set criteria, which include sincerity; persuasiveness; creativity; and need.  Stations will announce the winners on-air on a continuing basis from November 10 through December 8, 2011.  In addition to having their wishes granted, all winners will receive an Xbox 360 as part of their prize package.

This year will mark the fourth annual “Granting Your Christmas Wish” program.  Past years have attracted an array of selfless entries, from plane tickets to visit family and toys for a financially struggling family to delivering a giant holiday feast for a neighborhood in need.  All winning entries were broadcasted on-air in the winner’s hometown market.

“The program is designed to share the personal stories of participants with the goal of inspiring non-winners to give back and do something special in their own family or community,” said Darren Davis, Senior Vice President and General Manager of National Programming Platforms.  “This is much more than a contest – it is Clear Channel’s way of paying it forward in hopes that others will do the same.”

To enter this year’s “Granting Your Christmas Wish” contest, interested listeners can visit a participating station website and enter keyword “WISH.”   Participating stations include 107.5 WGCI in Chicago; BIG 98 Country WSIX in Nashville, Tenn.; Sunny 99.1 in Houston; 106.7 Lite FM in New York; Power 99 in Philadelphia; KOST 103.5 in Los Angeles; and 97.1 WASH-FM in Washington, D.C.