Nexstar Media Charitable Foundation and KELO-TV Donate $5,000 To “Call To Freedom”
IRVING, TX (Oct. 21, 2021) – The Nexstar Media Charitable Foundation announced today it will donate $5,000 to “Call to Freedom” on behalf of KELO-TV and the KELOLAND Media Group, the Nexstar Media Inc. broadcasting and digital media operations serving Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the surrounding area. Call to Freedom provides supportive services for victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation by creating a strong network of front-line providers who offer safe housing, mental health counseling, medical assistance, chemical dependency assistance, and transportation.
Sex trafficking is the fastest growing and second largest criminal industry in the world. Locally, as Call to Freedom’s capacity to serve more victims in the Sioux Falls area has grown, so has the number of individuals served. For women that have been in the program longer than six months, 98 percent have remained free from being trafficked, 87 percent are employed or in school, and 73 percent have maintained sobriety from severe substance abuse or addiction.
Call to Freedom is currently expanding its services with the construction of “Marissa’s Housing Project,” a 12 unit apartment complex that is being built to support the recovery of human trafficking survivors and keeps their families together. The secure complex will offer six one-bedroom, three two-bedroom, and three three-bedroom units for survivors and their families. KELO-TV and the KELOLAND Media Group and long been associated with Call to Freedom, serving as the organization’s media partner, airing public service announcements, and assisting with fundraising.
“Call to Freedom is honored to be chosen to receive a $5,000 donation from KELOLAND TV and Nexstar,” said Becky Rasmussen, Executive Director of Call to Freedom. “These dollars will go toward our new building expansion, ‘Marissa’s Housing Project.’ The home will meet the needs of human trafficking survivors in our area who wish to receive the support of CTF during their recovery, but are also focused on healthy families. Community leaders like KELOLAND TV help combat this horrible social injustice. Together we can make an impact, and break the cycle of human trafficking.”
Commenting on the donation, Mari Ossenfort, Vice President and General Manager of KELOLAND Media Group said, “We are extremely pleased to support the mission of Call to Freedom, as Becky and her team make a difference in the lives of women, giving them hope and freedom, and now a new place to find help. Giving back to the communities served by Nexstar across the country is core to the company’s mission, and we are proud to make this donation on behalf of KELOLAND Media Group, Nexstar Media Group, and all of the company’s 13,000 employees.”
The Nexstar Media Charitable Foundation’s mission is to contribute to and work with public charities and non-profit organizations to improve the communities in which Nexstar Media and its subsidiaries do business. The foundation was originally established in 1958 and it makes donations of approximately $350,000 annually.
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About Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST) is a leading diversified media company that leverages localism to bring new services and value to consumers and advertisers through its traditional media, digital and mobile media platforms. Its wholly owned operating subsidiary, Nexstar Media Inc., consists of three divisions: Broadcasting, Digital, and Networks. The Broadcasting Division operates, programs, or provides sales and other services to 199 television stations and related digital multicast signals reaching 116 markets or approximately 39% of all U.S. television households (reflecting the FCC’s UHF discount). The division’s portfolio includes primary affiliates of NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, MyNetworkTV and The CW. The Digital Division operates 120 local websites and 284 mobile apps offering hyper-local content and verticals for consumers and advertisers, allowing audiences to choose where, when and how they access content and creating new revenue opportunities for the company. The Networks Division operates NewsNation, formerly WGN America, a national news and entertainment cable network reaching 75 million television homes, multicast networks Antenna TV and Rewind TV, and WGN Radio in Chicago. Nexstar also owns a 31.3% ownership stake in TV Food Network, a top tier cable asset. For more information, please visit www.nexstar.tv.
Nexstar Media Contact:
Gary Weitman
EVP & Chief Communications Officer
972-373-8800
gweitman@nexstar.tv
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