Beloved Kentucky Radio Personality Nominated for 2024 Girls Inc. Athena Award

To know Barb Birgy is to love Barb Birgy. The bubbly voice of WBKR's Midday Show has been gracing the airwaves with her infectiously positive personality for 25 years. She may be a proud Michigander, but her heart for Owensboro and the Tri-State area is an inspiration. Barb is NEVER one to toot her own horn, but that is what friends are for, so "toot! toot!"

Girls Inc. of Owensboro 2024 Athena Award Nominee

This week, Girls Inc. of Owensboro announced their nominees for the 2024 Athena Award.  I was not surprised in the least to find out that Barb made the list of wonderful women up for this prestigious title. She exemplifies the qualities of professional excellence, meaningful community servanthood, and uplifting other women to succeed. The winner of the award will be announced at a beautiful banquet on March 26th. I know it is kind of cheesy to say, but it honestly is an incredible honor just to be nominated.

Achieving Professional Excellence

Barb is one-of-a-kind. Her natural confidence and way with words on air is something all radio personalities aspire to. She has gained the respect of many in the business for her professionalism and work ethic, consistently going above and beyond "the call of duty." This past year, Barb has earned multiple accolades within the Townsquare Media family for her "Unstoppable" determination. Her creativity shines through in every story she writes, even inspiring other media companies across the country. WBKR listeners and friends love and adore her and so do we!

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A Community Advocate

Passionate about helping others in need, Barb is always supporting causes dear to her like local animal shelters, veterans organizations, and St. Jude Children's Hospital to name a few. Whether it be hosting events to raise money or writing stories to raise awareness in the community, she has made a difference in the lives of countless individuals.  Barb pours her whole self into everything she does. Not to mention, she is the ultimate hype woman for local musicians, small business owners, and non-profit organizations.

Phenomenal Director of Christmas Wish

This year, Christmas Wish made sure 8,252 children in the area had gifts under the tree on Christmas morning.  Absolutely incredible. A record-breaking year for the organization made possible by an outstanding team of volunteers led by Barb Birgy.  Dozens of businesses and donors stepped up to support with their generosity and time. It was inspiring and heartwarming to see how our community came together to help over 2,000 families in need.  This doesn't just take place in the month of December, Barb and her dedicated team work all year long (just like Santa's elves!) to prepare for this massive undertaking. You can read about Christmas Wish 2023 HERE.

A Woman Empowering Other Women

I have to mention how Barb has made a huge impact on me personally.  As I've navigated this new journey in the world of radio, there has been a LOT to learn. She has taken time out of her busy schedule to walk me through technical tips to help me be more confident and efficient. Giving me advice when she can tell I am struggling with something, Barb continues to support me with encouragement on days when I need it most.  She's also never afraid to give me constructive criticism with her sense of humor and quick wit.  I'm forever grateful for her kindness and most of all, her friendship.

So, like I said, you won't find Barb bragging about all of the amazing things she does. She probably feels strange even receiving this nomination for the 2024 Athena Award because attention and praise are not at all why she dedicates so much of herself to the community. That's just one of the many reasons she is so deserving of this honor.