With notification of an estate gift, WHQR announced recently it has raised more than $1 million in cash and commitments to support the goals of its emPowering Our Future major initiative and capacity-building campaign.

The campaign's goal is to support service expansion, new technologies, advanced community engagement and connection as well as stability and service, according to a news release from the Wilmington-based NPR station.

The most recent gift came from longtime WHQR listener Justine Lerch. With a commitment to make a gift from her estate, "she joins the increasing number of WHQR donors in the WHQR Legacy Society, created to spread awareness of and participation in planned gifts such as bequests," the release stated.

“We are very pleased and thankful for the generosity of all the donors who have helped get us to this point," campaign co-chairs Tim Costello and Kim Nelson said in the release. "Just over three years ago, we were working to pay down our debts. Now we have purchased our own space, have launched a second signal and are celebrating a milestone like this because of the commitment of Justine Lerch and our other emPowering Our Future investors.”

The station still has much work ahead to achieve its overall campaign goal, WHQR general manager Cleve Callison said in the release, but added, "We are committed to WHQR’s future, and we are driven by the outpouring of appreciation expressed by our listeners. It is humbling to be able to serve this community through WHQR and I am grateful to be here at such a transformative time.”

The WHQR board made a decision to embark on a major gifts campaign in order to control the station's destiny, Callison continued. "They understood that WHQR is much more than a radio station. It is a valued partner in the community, providing a forum for art, culture, insights, and information. It is the community’s 'Town Hall'."