Thank You for 2020 — Here’s to 2021

By Jason Togyer
The Tube City Almanac
December 17, 2020
Posted in: Announcements

In an era where we’re being bombarded every day on our telephones by scams and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by hoaxes and propaganda, access to information is more important than ever.

This year was a very difficult one for everyone. At Tube City Community Media, we lost one of our best correspondents due to a family emergency, while another had to give up writing for us because of her daytime work obligations. That left us unable to cover some communities with the depth they deserve, and we're sorry about that.

But we’ve persisted and we are working to recruit several new writers — two of them have already had bylines recently and we’re looking forward to more of their good work.

In a region where many of us are on fixed incomes, working multiple jobs, or have been laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve also worked hard to keep the information we provide free of charge, even after many other publications have erected “paywalls” or gone to “subscription only” websites.

That includes our two podcasts (“Two Rivers, 30 Minutes” and “Consumer Review Report” with Dianne Ribecca), our Internet radio station WMCK.FM (which will soon be re-branding as Tube City Online Radio), and our news and obituaries pages.

We could not keep these websites free without support from several community organizations, including:

• G.C. Murphy Co. Foundation
• E.R. Crawford Estate Trust Fund
• The McKeesport Community Fund
• Finney Funeral Homes
• Jaycox-Jaworski Funeral Home
• Legion Arms
• Strifflers’ Family Funeral Homes
• Willig Funeral Home

There also have been many people who have sent donations, behind the scenes, and we are grateful.

No one has a "full-time job" working for Tube City Community Media. Most of us are volunteers, including our treasurer, Alycia Bencloski, and secretary, Jennifer Sopko, who donate their time to keep us in business.

We operate on an annual budget well under $20,000, most of which goes to pay for rent, overhead and expenses.

We are really looking forward to better times in 2021. We had hoped to have several live music events in 2020—obviously, that could not happen. We also hoped to debut an upgraded International Village webcast with new video equipment—that, too, didn’t happen.

Our goal is to continue to provide coverage of news and events in McKeesport, Duquesne, North Versailles Twp., White Oak and the surrounding area. We'd even like to grow, but first, we need to get back to full strength.

We don't ask for money very often. If you can help us, we would very much appreciate a donation this year.

We are an IRS-registered 501(C)(3) charity, which means your donation may be tax-deductible.

If you are financially able, and would like to make a gift, please consider doing so.

Donations may be made by check or money order to:

Tube City Community Media Inc.
P.O. Box 94
McKeesport PA 15134

Or via PayPal at: http://www.tubecityonline.com/contact/

We hope you’re safe and healthy, and that we can see you in person in 2021. Have a wonderful Hanukkah, Christmas or Kwanzaa, and a very happy New Year.

Jason Togyer
Volunteer Executive Director and Founder
Tube City Community Media Inc.

Disclaimer: We are not tax advisors and this email does not constitute tax advice. To determine whether or not a donation is tax-deductible, please consult a tax professional. You may obtain our charitable organization information at http://www.guidestar.org/PartnerReport.aspx?ein=26-4497864

Photo: “Thank You” by Wil C. Fry. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).

Originally published December 17, 2020.

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