The NAB Leadership Foundation has revealed the winners of the 2025 Celebration of Service to America Awards, honoring exceptional community service by local radio and television stations across the country.
This year, AM radio takes center stage, with three of the four top radio honors awarded to AM stations—a timely spotlight amid ongoing legislative debates about AM radio’s future in car dashboards. The awards celebrate stations that have provided vital information and connection during times of crisis, showcasing AM radio’s enduring role in public service.
Among the radio recipients, iHeartMedia Asheville’s WWNC-AM earned the Small Market Award for its crucial role during Hurricane Helene’s devastating floods. Audacy’s 830 WCCO-AM in Minneapolis will receive the Large/Major Market Award for its “Lifesaving Locks” campaign supporting families with autistic children. WBAL-AM in Baltimore will be honored with the First Informer Award for its rapid coverage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. In the Broadcast Ownership Group category, Beasley Media Group will be recognized for its “Community of Caring” initiative.
The awards ceremony will take place June 10 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., celebrating these and other distinguished honorees:
- Broadcast Ownership Group: Beasley Media Group, Community of Caring
- Large/Major Market: 830 WCCO-AM, Audacy, Lifesaving Locks for Families with Children with Autism
- Medium Market: WYCT, ADX, Pensacola, Cat Country Cares for Kids
- Small Market: WWNC-AM, iHeartMedia, Voice in the Storm
- First Informer Award: WBAL-AM, Hearst, Collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge
Television winners include Scripps, KCRA-TV Sacramento, and WIBW-TV Topeka.
NAB Leadership Foundation President Michelle Duke praised the winners, stating, “Broadcasters are always there when it matters most—guiding communities, raising awareness, and delivering support when it’s needed most.”