At 6:30 p.m. on its 16th birthday, Radio Lollipop began with a familiar tune from the past, “Livin La Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin. It was the same song that played as the radio first went on the air on October 5, 1999. Dingy Debbie, the only original Radio Lollipop volunteer still here kicked off the celebration. Throughout the night, songs from that first year on-air played including Destiny’s Child’s “Jumpin Jumpin.” It was an ode to the group that visited the studio in 2000 to celebrate the first birthday of the volunteer and patient-run radio station.
Radio Lollipop volunteers not only run the radio station bringing music to patient rooms, but they do so much more. In one year, the volunteers prepare 22,500 crafts, give our 4,950 prizes and go through approximately 155 pounds of glitter!
Notable Radio Lollipop guests from the last 16 years include:
- Destiny’s Child
- Bellaire Little Leaguers (US National 2000 Champions)
- Lil Bow Wow
- James Buescher (NASCAR driver and Texan)
- Demi Lovato
- Tracy Lawrence
- Hillary Duff (came to celebrate the hospitals 50th birthday and visited the studio)
- The Cheetah Girls
- Third Eye Blind
- Rodeo clowns, including “Flame” (a good friend of our very own Cowboy Kelly)