Join Cori For The I-95 Request-a-thon

Today has easily become the day everyone at the radio station looks forward to each year: The I95 Request-a-thon to benefit the Special Olympics of Maine.

On Thursday, May 21, the host of the I-95 Morning Show, Cori Skall, and a cast of characters, including friends, family, fans, local businesses, and law enforcement members, as they put the power to pick songs to be played over the air into your hands...but it will cost you!

For 13 hours straight, from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m, Cori will man the board in the studio and play any and every song requested (the only thing we won't play are songs that could get her fired--ones with profanity--but the rest are fair game.)

The catch: you'll have to pay to hear your song, but all the money you pay will go directly to an awesome cause.

If you're new to this, let me break down for you what's to come on that Thursday:

What's this all about?

First, we move the coffee pot right into the studio, roll up our sleeves, and get ready to rock out the entire day!

Starting at 6 a.m. and continuing until 7 p.m., we will be available to take your requests and accept your donations. If you call in the morning, you'll likely get to talk with Orono Police Department's Ed Leskey, one of the awesome law enforcement volunteers who comes to help that day.

Here's How to Request a Song + Donate

There are a couple of ways you can get to us that day.

You can either call into the I-95 Studio line by dialing (207) 991-9713, or you can open the I-95 app and dial into the studio that way.

New this year is a very simple GoFundMe page that the folks at the Special Olympics of Maine have set up, where you can make your donation and pay with several different options, and then leave your request in the comments, so Cori can see them. Click here for that link,  and you can start the donations early, to make sure you can hear your songs first thing that day.

For a donation of $1 to $5, we'll play any song from our classic rock library.

But if you decide to dig deeper into your wallet (or even pool your money with your friends to make a bigger donation), we will play any song at all from any genre (except for songs with profanity. We are, after all, trying to stay on the air to help a great cause, so let's keep it clean!)

And when we say anything goes that day, we mean it. You want to hear a pop song? A country song? The theme song to The Smurfs? If you pony up the cash, we'll get it on for you.

You can also stop by in person. We give free hugs!

You can even stop by our studio at 49 Acme Road in Brewer and drop off your donation and make your request in person.

This year, we're sweetening the pot for those who decide to venture over to the studio to bring us cash! We'll be grilling up some W.A. Beans hot dogs on the front lawn so folks can stop in, say hi to Cori, drop off their cash or checks, and grab a snack on the way out the door.

Then what?

Wait for your song to be played and your name to be mentioned on the air!

Where's the money go?

What do we do with all that cash? Every dime gets passed along to the Special Olympics of Maine! The donations you make will help them put on their Special Olympics games, year-round.

They offer so many opportunities for folks to take part in everything from skiing to basketball, to track and field, just to name a few.

What they gain in skills is incredible. But what these Special Olympians gain in confidence is priceless.

We couldn't do this without help.

This year, we have partnered with several local businesses that are throwing their weight and their money behind this great cause.

Sandollar Spa & Pool is our Title sponsor this year. McDonald's, Timber Ridge Sawmill & Lumber,  Paradis Shop N Save, Brewer Redemption Center, Innova Roofing Solutions,  and Kosta's are also stepping up to sponsor the event and to join us on the air to help raise money.

If you're a business that wants to get involved, you still have time. Just call our business office and ask how you can join the fun this year! (207) 989-5631

The history behind all of this

We started this tradition five years ago, when Josh Ewing, the representative of the Maine Law Enforcement Torch Run (you probably know them best as the law enforcement officers who run the state, carrying the Flame of Hope to the Opening Ceremonies of local Special Olympics Events), approached us with the idea.

Throughout the day, we will have members of local law enforcement and Special Olympians stopping by to hop on the air with us, and to man the phones as you call in to make your donations.

Then we do what we do best: play fabulous songs and crack terrible jokes.

And they'd do what they do best: be helpful, supportive, and awesome.

And then you could get in on the action and do what you do best: listen, donate, and share the love.

With this winning formula, which caters to everyone's wheelhouse, there's no way we won't cross the finish line with heaps of money for an awesome cause.

Let the countdown to the big day begin!