Melody of a Life: Local Listener Vicki Daniels Gives Back to WBHM

WBHM’s programming has been the melody of Vicki Daniels’ life for nearly 50 years. Not long after its establishment in 1976, she began tuning in during her hour-long commute to and from work in downtown Birmingham.

As a new listener, Daniels contributed what she could to the organization—sometimes just $25 or $30 a year. Now, as WBHM remains the consistent soundtrack of all the mundane and significant moments in her adult life, she does much more.

Apart from volunteering her time and efforts, serving on the board, and befriending WBHM’s community members, she has also committed a bequest through her will to help launch WBHM’s 1976 club. This club honors like-minded individuals who establish planned gifts to benefit the station and believe in the importance of strong, independent public media.

LOVE FOR RADIO RUNS IN THE FAMILY

When Daniels’ son, Adam, reached school-age, listening to the station became a family affair. Each morning, they listened to the news program as she drove him to school. Every afternoon after school, they listened to “All Things Considered”—the afternoon news special—as they made the trek back home.

“Adam and I were kind of like a captive audience in the car for more than two hours a day,” Daniels recalled.

At night, she cooked dinner while Adam listened to the radio reader, a program where books were read over the station. Daniels described this segment as an audiobook before they were common, reminiscing that the radio reader was one of Adam’s favorites.

After dinner, they would pile on the couch and listen intently to one of their favorite programs, a popular BBC sci-fi radio series called “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” until it was time for Adam to go to bed.

Although Adam has grown up and moved to Chicago, he and his wife still listen to local radio on the train into work.

VOLUNTEERING AND COMMUNITY

Daniels deeply values sacrificing time to causes in which she believes. When she retired, she and her husband had extra time on their hands. Since he was also an avid supporter of local public radio, they started attending events together and Vicki started volunteering at WBHM. Eventually, these events became not only a way to give back but a source of community for them.

“There’s the same group of people who are members that you meet over the years when volunteering,” Daniels said. “Every year, WBHM has a booth at the Magic City Art Fair, and I always volunteer at that. Over the years, you end up forming relationships with people who are as involved or more than I am.”

One of the friends she made through volunteering is Executive Director Will Dahlberg, who has been on staff at the station for over a decade. At the time, Dahlberg was the membership manager and helped with volunteers.

“Vicki and I first got to know each other during the long hours of answering phones throughout our on-air pledge drives. In between taking donations, we spent a lot of time getting to know one another, and she and I have been very close ever since,” Dahlberg said.

Daniels had been listening to WBHM for longer than Dahlberg had been alive, yet the two connected quickly—bonding over their love for public radio, the Birmingham community, and their shared idea of the treasure they found in WBHM.

Over the years, Dahlberg has progressed in his career at the station, and Daniels has had a front-row seat as she has served on the board and continued to volunteer. In 2022 Dahlberg was promoted to executive director and general manager of WBHM. With Daniels’ son living far away in Chicago, she refers to Dahlberg as her “Birmingham son.”

“She’s been a great advocate for me, she was a great board member, and she’s been a great ambassador for the station,” Dahlberg said. “She is very beloved by the station.”

THE IMPACT OF SUPPORT

Daniels’ support of the station is foundational to its mission. Around 80% of WBHM’s support comes from community members or local businesses. Gifts like Daniels’ allow the station to continue to be a free resource for the community.

“Our greatest source of support comes from individuals who give to us,” Dahlberg said. “The bulk of our operating revenue comes from people just like Vicki in our community who care enough about our work to give us money for the thing we give away for free. Vicki has demonstrated a very long and clear passion for WBHM and public radio but also the service that we provide to our community.”

Daniels’ desire in giving is that her financial support would allow the station to continue so listeners can enjoy it as she has for nearly 50 years. Directing a charitable bequest to this mission was an easy way for Daniels to enhance her outright support of WBHM and leave a lasting legacy for the station. Charitable bequests offer a simple way to support a charitable cause in the future, perhaps even offering some tax benefits, while not affecting your income today.

“I just hope that it will be able to sponsor a lot of programming for years to come—when I’m not here anymore—for the enjoyment of everyone who listens to the station,” Daniels said.   

Daniels encourages those who listen to remember WBHM’s motto: “It doesn’t matter how much money you give, it’s just that you give,” Daniels said. “Any amount you give is going to be used and will be appreciated.”

To learn more about how you, like Daniels, can support local public radio in the Birmingham community here.