Canadian Radio Fundraiser Raises $2 Million for Punjab Flood Relief

A Canadian private FM radio network has rallied communities nationwide to raise an impressive $2 million in just 48 hours, providing urgent relief to flood-ravaged Punjab.

The two-day radiothon, spearheaded by Red FM stations in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto, drew an outpouring of generosity from listeners. On Thursday, pledges surpassed $1.5 million, with Vancouver contributing a staggering $1 million and Calgary raising $460,000. The momentum carried into Friday, as Red FM Toronto listeners added nearly half a million dollars to the total.

The funds will go to Surrey-based Sikhi Awareness Foundation (SAF) International, a non-profit actively engaged in flood relief efforts in India. SAF plans to implement a three-phase response: immediate emergency aid, rehabilitation for displaced families, and long-term rebuilding projects in affected areas.

Punjab’s recent floods have submerged more than 1,900 villages, displacing thousands and leaving many in urgent need of assistance. Red FM’s initiative, supported by its stations in Surrey (93.1 and 89.1 FM), Calgary (106.7 FM), and Toronto (88.9 FM), has galvanized not only the Punjabi community but the wider South Asian diaspora in Canada.

“In our 19 years of hosting Radiothons, the response from our community has always been remarkable,” said Red FM president Kulwinder Sanghera. “The South Asian community continues to rise to the occasion, time after time, to help those in need.”

The campaign’s swift success underscores the strength of community-driven action and the enduring ties between Canada’s South Asian population and their homeland.