Holly Jolly Fundraiser Returns for 23rd Year
The students behind the Holly Jolly broadcast and fundraiser. Front row (back to right): Alyse Haddad, Abbie Waterman, Stephanie Haro, Peter Andrews, and Thien Hoang Bui. Back row (left to right): Sean Whitney, Bella Horn, Jamari Shelton, and Shawn Tombokon Flowers 
WXRT legend Terri Hemmert, who taught at Columbia, and student Jamelle Mayer, WCRX’s music director.
President Shantay N. Bolton, PhD, stopped by WCRX for an interview that will be part of the Holly Jolly broadcast.. For more than two decades, Holly Jolly has been one of Columbia College Chicago’s most cherished traditions. The event began as the “Holly Jolly Trolley,” when students collected nonperishable food, loaded it all into a trolley outside 33 E. Ida B. Wells, and delivered it to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Today, the student-led fundraiser continues its mission through an online pledge drive, which runs now through December 31.
Over its 23-year history, Holly Jolly has raised an estimated $25,000 and several tons of donated food for Chicagoland families, according to Matt Cunningham, associate professor in the School of Communication and Culture, who has been helping students with the fundraiser since 2010, first as station supervisor and later as its manager.
Student Voices and Community Partners at the Center
This year’s Holly Jolly broadcast first airs on Saturday, December 13. It features student reporting and interviews with nonprofits across Chicago. As part of their WCRX coursework, students selected community organizations (see sidebar) and conducted interviews that form the heart of the program.
The 2-plus hour recorded broadcast is hosted by graduating seniors Sean Whitney and Sean Tomboken Flowers, who introduce segments and share lighthearted reflections on holiday music, traditions, and treats.
“We want listeners to feel the spirit of the season while also highlighting the incredible work happening in our community,” Cunningham says.
For graduate student Abbie Waterman, who is pursuing a master’s degree in Media for Social Impact, the project offered a chance to connect her academic focus with her passion for sports and community work. Waterman chose to interview a representative from Girls in the Game after being inspired by the organization’s mission to expand access to athletics in underrepresented Chicago neighborhoods.
“This experience taught me how to research organizations and find one that matches my values,” Waterman says. “I was able to come up with meaningful interview questions and understand the organization on a deeper level.”
She believes the Holly Jolly model gives students something they can’t get in a classroom alone. “It exposes you to people and organizations you might never encounter otherwise,” she says. “It opens doors.”
For junior Stephanie Haro, a Radio major, the project brought a different kind of opportunity: A one-on-one interview with Columbia President Shantay N. Bolton, PhD.
"All semester I’ve been anticipating the chance to meet her,” Haro says. “I was excited it was finally my turn.”
Haro asked questions that blended holiday cheer with curiosity about Bolton’s vision for the college. “It felt less like an interview and more so a conversation,” Haro says.
A Holly Jolly Favorite: Terri Hemmert’s Playlist
The second half of the broadcast features a beloved tradition: Terri Hemmert’s Holiday Playlist.
WXRT DJ legendTerri Hemmert, who taught at Columbia for man years, visits WCRX annually to share the holiday CD she creates for friends. This year, the playlist segment is hosted by Jamelle Mayer, WCRX’s music director, who interviews Hemmert and introduces her curated song list.
A Broadcast With Real-World Impact
Holly Jolly is more than a fundraiser, though. It helps students understand their role as broadcasters.
“We hold a license that exists to serve our community,” Cunningham says. “This project teaches students what that responsibility looks like in practice.”
Students also produce public service announcements and social media campaigns, building professional skills while advancing causes they believe in.
Tune In and Make a Difference
The Holly Jolly broadcast will air on WCRX 88.1 FM on December 13, 25, and 31, and one additional weekend date to be determined, with online donations being accepted now.
“There is always someone who could benefit from the Greater Chicago Food Depository," says Alicia Crayton, a grad student in the Media for Social Impact program who participated in the broadcast. "And I believe that this fundraiser makes their efforts even more impactful.
Make your donation today!
• Alyse Haddad – Greater Chicago Food Depository
• Jamari Shelton – WINGS (domestic violence support)
• Abbie Waterman – Girls in the Game
• Alicia Crayton – Semicolon Bookstore & Gallery
• Stephanie Haro – Interview with President Shantay N. Bolton, PhD
• Bella Hornberger – CTAS (Created To Achieve Success)
• Aaliyah Jones – Bisexual Queer Alliance
• Peter Andrews – Brave Space Alliance