Wednesday, September 19, 2001

Malls and media team up to help out
Local broadcasting and radio stations publicize and promote the fundraiser
By Kristin Delorantis
Staff Reporter

Many area malls are involved in fundraising efforts as a response to last week’s tragedy in New York City and Washington.

NorthEast Mall, Irving Mall, Golden Triangle Mall, Richardson Square Mall and Midway Mall are teaming up with CBS11, UPN21 and Infiniti broadcasting stations 98.7 KLUV, 103.7 KVIL and 107.5 KOAI to raise money for the American Red Cross, said Marketing Director of the NorthEast Mall Connie Hascher.

Hascher said the malls are participating in Ribbons for America and taking cash donations for the Red Cross.

“I wish I could take the credit for coming up with this brilliant idea but I was only the coordinator,” she said. “Our Florida branch malls teamed up with CBS and forwarded the idea to us. We got in touch with CBS and they were happy to participate.”

Hascher said the broadcasting stations are publicizing and promoting the fundraisers at all participating mall locations and will broadcast the results.

NorthEast has raised $26,000 so far, Richardson Square has raised $18,000 and Irving has raised $15,000. All of the malls are still conducting the fundraiser, Hascher said.

Ridgmar Mall is also serving as a collection site for the Red Cross, Director of Marketing Jenelle Perry said.

“We’ve been taking donations for the past week,” Perry said. “We will be gathering money until people cannot give anymore.”

NorthEast Mall, North Hills Mall and Hulen Mall officially closed Sept. 11 for the tragedy.

General Manager of North Hills Terry Willey said the mall closed at 11:30 a.m.

Willey said everyone wanted to be in front of the TV anyway and a lot of employees had to pick up their children from school.

NorthEast closed at 1:30 p.m. out of respect for the families, Hascher said.

Perry said Ridgmar did not officially close but individual stores had the option to close. Ultimately, 75 percent of the mall was closed, she said.

“It was a very important day in history and stores were allowed to close for the same reason a lot of other businesses closed, out of respect,” Perry said. “The mall was a ghost town.”

Economically, Hascher said some stores were unable to make sales but the one-day closing had no long term financial effects.

Kristin Delorantis
k.a.delorantis@student.tcu.edu