MEMPHIS, Tenn. — For 29 years, our parent company, Nexstar, has been working nonstop to keep you informed, delivering impactful stories, building community partnerships, being a voice for the voiceless, and an advocate for our community.
That’s why Your News Leader is stepping into the community to say thank you for making us your official news leader. We are using our Founder’s Day to show you, our viewers, how much we care.
On Friday, we will be volunteering at three local non-profits as we celebrate the day our parent company, Nexstar, was founded.
“Founder’s Day is a day of celebration,” said Fran McRae, WREG’s General Manager. “So, instead of cutting a cake, what we do is we go out and serve our communities.”
You may not see her on camera, but McRae is always hard at work behind the scenes. She has been leading the operation for four years.
“We are here to make the lives better of everyone that we serve,” she said.
One of the nonprofits Your News Leaders will volunteer at is the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County.
“We are here to try to help all Memphians who want to have an animal, have them, and keep them healthy and keep them happy,” said Ellen Zahariadis, Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County Executive Director.
Another option is assisting the elderly with the Ava Maria Home.
“As a non-profit, we fundraise, and those dollars go towards the cost of living to residents who have run out of money,” said Julie Trayal, Ava Maria Home Director of Marketing.
The third option is empowering young creatives with the Carpenter Art Garden in Binghampton.
“We have an after-school art program in which we provide art to local students,” said Anasha Chavez-Asforis/Carpenter Art Garden Executive Director.
Here at WREG, the commitment to service never ends.
“It gives a chance to step outside of our normal daily activities in our world and to step into someone else’s. That allows us to have perspective. That allows us to give back in a way that’s truly meaningful,” McRae said.
She says she’s calling on others to step forward and continue the mission to make our home a better place.
“Time. Time is free to be able to give, and it’s so rewarding,” McRae said. “It’ll only make us better.”
