CPB Funding Rescinded; The Summit FM Raises $130K in 3 Days

Posted July 22, 2025

Written By Ryan Humbert

We did it! Thanks to YOU, our loyal audience, we hit our goal of $130,000.

While we may have lost our CPB funding, you helped keep the music alive.

Because this amazing Summit FM community showed up, we’ll continue to build connections through music and meaningful content. You just proved that our shared vision works.

As John Lennon said: “Power to the People.” You made that real. You kept The Summit FM independent and strong.

While we won this battle, the fight continues. It's not too late to support the mission.

Donate Today

An Open Letter to Our Summit FM Family

To our loyal listeners, passionate members, business underwriters, and the foundations that believe in us:
You have spoken. And we heard you loud and clear.

When federal funding disappeared, you stepped up with 130,000 reasons to smile — not just dollars, but proof that our community values something different. Something real.

We're not chain restaurants serving the same meal everywhere. We're not homogenized radio pumping out corporate playlists. We're six people who live here, shop here, and love the communities we serve — Akron, Youngstown, and Athens. Places filled with rich history that's sometimes misunderstood, often underrepresented, and too easily forgotten.

But you haven't forgotten us. And we will never forget you.

The Summit exists because you believe music matters. Because you understand that in a world full of noise, agenda, and division, there's power in pure sound. Power in community. Power to the people.

We promise to work harder than ever as stewards of the music you love. We'll keep paying it forward through sound and wellness, through discovery and connection. Because that's what you've asked us to do. That's what you've made possible.

Thank you for making the difference. Thank you for choosing authenticity over algorithms. Thank you for proving that local still matters.

Power to the people. You have spoken.

With endless gratitude,

Tommy Bruno
The Summit FM
General Manager