SLB Radio Productions, Inc.

I am extremely proud to support SLB Radio Productions because it stands for excellence, not only in its weekly Radio Broadcast, but also quite profoundly in its support of local, live musical talent. Especially notable are the programs which encourage and give stage to local young talent. SLB Radio Productions maintains a consistency of excellence elsewhere unmatched.

Richard Gordon Johnson
Highland Park, Pittsburgh

This organization serves the Western Pennsylvania community by helping to build media skills in local youth with state of the art recording and editing tools, and has been doing so for decades. In addition, they produce a popular internet/radio program which airs and streams on Saturday mornings. They deserve your support.

I can't imagine Saturday mornings without the Saturday Light Brigade. The games, the beautiful attitude of Larry and the wonderful music. What's really amazing is the morning list of what the staff did the previous week. They are truly amazing!

This is the place I tune in every Saturday morning to
"Get my weekend off to a good start!."
I'm thrilled to play along with the contests and quizzes every week. I love the selection of music... so often songs I have never heard before... and covers of familiar tunes... like a Beatles song in bluegrass style. Sooo much fun!
I also appreciate how Larry talks with youngsters who phone in....he really listens to them and makes them feel important...the same patience as
Mr. Rodgers.

A great way to start the weekend! I've been listening since it came on the air in 1978. Always a good show, great music and on-air puzzles.

Saturday Light Brigade is well regarded in the Pittsburgh region for empowering young people to use their voice and act for the good of the community.

SLB Radio is so refreshing! It's entertaining and educational. I enjoy the puzzles and look forward to listening each week. I like that the host works with students to showcase their talents and encourages them to achieve higher goals. I enjoy hearing the various artists who aren't "yet" mainstream. The SLB Radio show is the start to each of my weekends!

I love how they bring youth onto their program as well as the different efforts for youth they support in the Pittsburgh area.
The other thing I think is great is the alternative program on the radio Saturday morning. So refreshing

SLB provides family entertainment and presents an oportunity for school aged kids to write, produce and broadcast comunity features.

A Pittsburgh institution providing wholesome entertainment and opportunities for elementary and secondary students to learn and express themselves creatively.

My family and I have been steady listeners since the mid-1990s. My kids especially enjoyed the chance to get to talk on live radio when answering quiz questions. Over 20 years later as adults, they still both listen when in radio range. I can't think of a more wholesome place on the radio dial for kids, that is as entertaining, fulfilling and educational, than SLB, wherever it can be found, whether airwaves or online.

SLB consistently combines thoughtful, caring, interesting, and fun content that is a joy to experience. Their way with kids is just awesome. Have loved SLB for years!

For over forty years, the Saturday Light Brigade has provided a space for people of all ages, genders, races and backgrounds to share songs, stories and fun. Once virtual on the radio, the new Youth Media Center allows for interaction on a personal scale.

The Saturday Light Brigade is a unique organization that is well worthy of support and it would be great to see similar organizations all over!!

I have listened to SLB radio for over 25 years. Simply stated, this show is uplifting! I try to start every Saturday morning with it. The hosts (Larry and Ricky) a just wonderful. They are friendly, kind and patient with all callers, young and old, and just make me feel good. This is how ALL broadcasts should be! They gather people from all walks of life and do not divide. If I could give them more stars I would!!!

I love this org. So creative and caring. Thoughtful and clever. Love the puzzles and dialogue.

SLB is an amazing program and community resource! We love their in-house and incredible outreach programs. They are an invaluable assets for our city, especially for our youth! :)

SLB Radio Productions has a long history of creating increasingly empathetic and equitable communities throughout the Pittsburgh area and Western Pennsylvania through the power of storytelling. As a former intern at the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies in Johnstown, PA working with Larry and the SLB team, I learned so much about the storytelling process and importance of active listening and intellectual humility in sharing stories of resilience, transformation, and community pride. Their work is so important and helps to create knowledge and understanding that crosses boundaries of diversity and difference in the region.

Saturday Light Brigade continues to serve multiple constituencies in Pittsburgh, especially a diverse sampling of young people, but also musicians and songwriters. A pillar of the community.

My husband has religiously followed SLB for over 20 years! It was and still is the highlight of his week! He began listening when we lived in the Pittsburgh area and listens now from our home in NC. He eagerly participates in the games, puzzles, and trivia. He enjoys the conversation and music that is unique to this program. We Get every weekend off to a great start listening to Larry Berger and SLB together!

I have been listening to The Saturday Light Brigade for over 35 years. I am a strong supporter and avid listener to independent public radio and SLB strongly showcases what that medium can do. 35 years ago it was cool and different; then it became cool, different and vital. Our community is a better place because it gives a voice to people who might otherwise feel their voices don't matter. Especially young people. There is much power in its gentleness.

Listener sensitive and responsive radio. Nice people doing good work. Transparent management and finances.

I've appeared on SLB twice in the past ten years, and both times I've come away with an incredible sense of the care and respect the entire team puts into every segment. An incredible community program.

I had a great experience being on their radio show - they share stories and amplify voices in an intentional and meaningful way. Community building at a time we really need it!

I love SLB's commitment to generating media that matters. It features earnest performers and important topics, and it facilitates high-value community conversations. It is an excellent example of what personal and thoughtful media can be when it sets out a clear mission and sticks to it.

I had grown up listening to the Saturday Light Brigade with my dad and brother- from calling in with trivia answers to hearing really unique selections of music. To this day there are songs that pop in my head from this station (for example, Little potato by Metamora) To see the work they do with younger generations and musicians is a wonderful thing. It feels very much like a passing of the torch of the arts in many forms, and the general tenor of kindness has always struck me like Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Hope to see this station continue its tradition indefinitely.

I'm from Pittsburgh and started to listen to this goofy show on Saturday mornings on a small indie station, WYEP. I guess the station was the last I listened on Friday night. Anyway, two guys, Larry Berger and "Trivia" Bill Luker had a Saturday morning show that was mostly for family and kids. For me it was really a rest after a busy Friday night.
I'm 77 now and I'm still listening. I am absolutely amazed that Larry Berger, along with his wife, Ricky, have kept the show the same, though my Friday nights are less hectic.
I am amazed that Larry has built this small community show into something much, much larger, thanks to Larry and Rickie's vision.

My Saturday mornings are made enjoyable by the games, music, and chatter on SLB. No one else plays songs like “Life’s too short o fold underwear”.

I have listened to the Saturday Light Brigade since late 1980’s. They provide an inclusive, positive influence to the Western PA area that is unparalleled. It is a great show with an amazing reach to the young people in our region.

Love this delightful, lighthearted, luminescent Saturday morning radio show. Have been listening since the 1970’s. Upbeat music, word games, name games, interviews with local musicians of all ages, sound effects…what a fun way to start your weekend out right!! Give it a listen!! You won’t regret it.

Why have I been listening to the Saturday Light Brigade for over 30 years? Because There is no other place on the radio where I can find the mix of music, word games, interviews with interesting people, and an intelligent, gracious host as on SLB Radio. The work that they do in engaging young people from the community is outstanding, and there is always something on that is of interest to al ages. I don’t think there was any radio program anywhere that does what SLB Radio does.

SLB has been a staple in my life for more years than I can count--almost from the very beginning! Love the show. Love that they have kept up with the times and I can see them Facebook when I can't tune in--I am a huge fan of the word puzzles ! All around, a true gem!

I've been listening to SLB for as long as I can remember. It always gets my weekend off to a great start! :)

A refreshing commercial free radio program that gets strangers connected and become radio “friends”. Larry and Rickie are very devoted hosts, thanks for your years of devotion.

I listen to the Saturday Light Brigade almost every Saturday. I especially appreciate the promotion of young musicians and their programs. I enjoy the early morning puzzles, and the playful, casual manner that host Larry Berger uses in hosting the show.

I have been a fan of SLB for many years, but I have valued it particularly in the past six months of pandemic times. Because such a great sense of community surrounds SLB, listening to "Saturday Light Brigade" on Saturday mornings and trying to solve puzzles, singing along with favorite songs, etc., was really comforting during the several months when I basically was home alone all the time. I always have enjoyed listening to the show on the radio, but I have looked forward to it since March in a way I never did before the pandemic. Many times, it was a highlight of my week. The show is calming and reassuring in troubled times.

SLB Radio has been a vital part of our families Saturday morning routine for many years. The show brings the community together, interviewing children, musicians, community organizers, big brothers/Big Sisters, and more. It's interactive, in a creative and fun way.

They have expanded their work well beyond the radio show by taking it into the Pittsburgh Public and charter schools, working with children and youth on radio dramas, interviewing skills, summer programs, and internships.

They are a model of what a non-profit can be, with vision, organizational skill, and community support.

Ok I’m biased... I’m Larry’s brother ������
But I have also witnessed his tireless dedication to this form of public programming since he was in his teens.
Larry and SLB are committed to both family-friendly entertainment/ engagement and the empowerment of community that transcends the circumstances that divide us. What could be a greater or more necessary voice in these and all times?

SLB provide a crucial and timely platform for voices and visions of people among us that are often overlooked, undervalued and oppressed. SBL helps to expand a more inclusive understanding of the world we live in and who were are.

The best program on radio. I’ve made it a part of my Saturday mornings for decades and it always is a great way to start the day.

I'm on my way to college next year, and I've listened to SLB, almost every Saturday, for as long as I can remember!
The music and games are fun, and the host Larry Berger is always full of cheerful energy. It's a great show for the weekend! Whether in winter, summer, spring, or autumn, SLB always offers something exciting to hear about! I hope this show won't ever stop!

SLB Radio and Larry Berger helped to bring a new and exciting learning opportunity to my high school students. I attended a podcast workshop at the SLB studio and was so impressed by all of the possibilities for use in an educational setting that I applied for a grant from our district foundation. I was able to purchase 5 sets of audio recorders and our students LOVE having the option to create a podcast to demonstrate their knowledge.

An very valuable organization giving unique music opportunities to so many young people. And led by such a dedicated and ethical man. Kudos!

In addition to their work in the community, SLB provides a weekly opportunity for kids to develop and share a love of music, games and learning with their parents. We have been listening for over 25 years and still enjoy SLB every Saturday.

Great place that does a wide variety of work to engage with the community.

SLB Radio is a unique institution that is deeply respected in the Pittsburgh children's community for providing music, fun and games to a younger audience. It is also a show that adults love for the way it promotes and supports local singer-songwriters in Pittsburgh.

I have listened to SLB for almost 30 years. Our family starts listening st 6am. We love the puzzles, and how interactive the show is. We feel line part of a bigger family.

I am a regular listener and more so a regular admirer of all that SLB provides to the community. They provide such an important venue to voices that we might not otherwise hear.

SLB provides on air opportunities for many talented local kids, in a caring and encouraging environment.

For many years the SLB has taken a leading role in the Pittsburgh area to tell the stories of ordinary residents of the city, the stories that would never have been told. In creating this archive of oral histories the SLB has made great connections between all age groups. They have done this in very effective process that shows respect and appreciation of all who take part in their programs. Kudos to all the staff of the SLB in connecting generations, neighborhoods, and child-centered institutions throughout Pittsburgh

SlB Radio produces one of the best radio programs for all members of the community and beyond. I have been listening to the Saturday Light Brigade every Saturday morning for 25 years. Today, more than ever before, I appreciate having this program wherein I can escape the harsh rhetoric and dissention encountered on the news programs and social media. Larry Berger, the host, treats everyone with respect and civility. In addition, SLB Productions supports young people with the various programs it sponsors for them. I can confidently say that there are young people whose lives have been positively impacted by participating in these programs.

an invaluable treasure in Pittsburgh doing important and interesting work.

The entire team at SLB is exceptional. They are master craftsmen and we are fortunate to have them in our region

SLB is a great program. I've listened to and witnessed their work with kids. Larry and his team are truly committed to area youth. We're fortunate to have this program in Pittsburgh.

SLB and Larry Berger are a delight and provide a great service for Pittsburgh and beyond!

This is a gem for Pittsburgh! From provoking kids' laughter to offering teen radio programs to provoking adult inspiration, the SLB team are a blessing to all of us.

This is a great non profit that brings the community together through stories, music, and games!

SLB does a wonderful job highlighting local musicians, encouraging students in their learning initiatives and supporting other non-profits.

We’ve been listening to SLB for around 30 years . It’s what gets our weekends started. Larry does such a tremendous job of keeping us entertained. We love it

SLB provides an avenue for a variety of talented young musicians to perform before the Greater Pittsburgh audience. No local mass media show allows such a broad swath of young performers to display their talents. It is an invaluable addition to regional radio programming!

Our family of 4 parents of 2 children discovered Saturday Light Brigade at least 30 years ago. We listened, played games solved puzzles and even phoned in answers. SLB is a valuable resource! It was entrenched into our weekend activities.

SLB Radio has been providing upbeat and family-friendly radio programming on Saturday mornings for many years. As one of the few positive non-political talk radio programs available, it is a joyful listen and a breath of fresh air. I and many many others in our community appreciate the work they do. If you have not heard the program, please tune in and discover this gem for yourself!!

SLB is an essential fixture on the western Pennsylvania radio dial. It is community radio at its very best, bringing together adults, children and families for word games, trivia, entertaining stories, local events, live music -- and especially raising up the talents and accomplishments of youth. Larry Berger and SLB are a treasure.

I’ve been listening to the Saturday Light Brigade since I was too young to remember! My mom and I always loved participating in the games and puzzles, plus enjoying the awesome music that you wouldn’t typically hear on a radio show. Even after I grew up and moved out of my mom’s house, this show still closes the distance between us as we always listen on SLB on Saturday - it’s the show that gets your weekend off to a great start!

In a world so full of negativity SLB pours positive energy into my soul.

SLB is an important part of our Saturday mornings. We love to play the games along with our kids and we enjoy listening to music, much of which is new to us. Since moving out of state we've been able to hold on to our Pittsburgh roots through such wonderful programming. SLB is a part of our family and always has been.

SLB is a wonderful family oriented interactive program. The music, quizzes, games and live performances are always a way to challenge all ages to engage together every Saturday morning. The Saturday Light Brigade is a must do every Saturday morning and visits to the studio are always memorable. This program is just another gem in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas. The Krhovsky household has been listening and sharing for years and years. Thank you for always being there!

SLB Radio is an outstanding program that is entirely unique and intriguing. The puzzles, games, candid interviews and eclectic musical features make this one-of-a-kind broadcast such a treat for fans of radio. My family and I feel very lucky to have and be a part of this local program. We listen every week and look forward to participating in the games, solving puzzles, and being introduced to wholly unique musical pieces that we would otherwise go unaware of. Thank you, SLB, for your continued work on such a gem.

I’ve been listening to the radio program for years! But they also do good work in the community gathering stories and giving a voice to people whose stories need to be heard.

Larry Berger and the Saturday Light Brigade have been bringing excellent family friendly entertainment to this region as long as I can recall. Interesting and talented guests, thought provoking discussion, fun and challenging, interactive puzzles - these are just some of the regular offerings that make the Saturday Light Brigade a favorite of people of all ages.

I love listening to the SLB broadcasts. Interesting & fun-filled family programming.

The Saturday Light Brigade has been part of our family for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest family memories are of calling in to the show with my dad, solving the puzzles, and singing along to some of the songs we would only ever hear here. As we've gotten older and busier, SLB still brings us together; we can all listen through streaming services or different local stations and play along together. This is a great family-friendly, but not exclusively for children, show that is fresh, charming and fun week after week.

SLB radio hosted an amazing program that allowed my son to work on his literacy skills. receive a laptop, and introduced to exceptional men in the community. Thank you SLB!

SLB is a great show. They have hosted my daughter and allowed her to share her musical talents for the past 3 years. They are very supportive and encouraging of the areas youth.

I was invited to play original music on SLB and the folks running the program were welcoming and most professional. I had a wonderful experience and appreciate the effort to expand reach of local performing arts with youth audiences in mind.

Saturday Light Brigade truly places the community and the people before all else - never failing to bring a diversity of fun, exciting, and challenging material, and staying true to it's core purpose. It provides avenues for people of all backgrounds, ages, and callings, and is a shining example of the honest spark of creativity that drives us all, and the neighborly kindness and acceptance that makes our world a better place. They do their work and they do it well. Please explore, educate yourselves and support them.

My band Sean Howard Orchestra was a guest on SLB. What a pleasure. The Host Larry kept us focused, and the engineers made us sound fantastic! Hope to be back to follow up on the progress of the band!

The Saturday Light Brigade make Saturday morning fun and informative for kids of all ages, including kids like me whose childhood is quite a bit in the rear view mirror.

I was invited to speak on the radio at this station this past summer. It was a great experience. The members of the staff were all friendly and made sure I felt welcome.

The best part of waking up is SLB in you ears (on Saturdays)!

SLB does great work and are wonderful people to work with! I collaborated with them as part of the Heinz Endowments Youth Philanthropy Internship program, and it was one of the best things I've created in my life.

Fantastic radio show with folk music, interviews and local performers as well as segments that promote wholesome community events.

Saturday Light Brigade has been a part of our Saturday morning for years. Although we don't have children of our own, as teachers we find a deep appreciation for what SLB represents to families throughout the area. This program treats children with great respect and showcases their many talents. It represents a wholesome and fun activity time that encourages everyone to think and share. We believe that SLB demonstrates what a powerful media radio can be.

SLB Radio host Larry Berger is the one Pittsburgher who I revere as much as Mr. Rogers. He interacts with young folks that well, but he is also very deep, insightful and knowledgeable of music ranging from classical to folk to rock-n-roll, which makes SLB one of my favorite radio programs, a must listen for all ages.

I’ve been listening to SLB for at least 20 years. It was fun on Sat mornings with my kids, and it’s still great now. And the educational programs teaching all kinds of skills (research, organization, interviewing, public speaking, etc etc etc) are invaluable in today’s society.

My four year old wakes up looking for the show and asked when Saturday is coming. He loves going to the live feeds.

SLB radio has been part of our lives for 30 years. We love the games, the family atmosphere, the interviews, the music, the community, everything about the show. I've lived all over the country and there is nothing else like this show.

SLB Radio is an incredible community asset. Their work to help young people use their voice, tell their story, and learn from others is unparalleled. Thank you to the entire SLB team for their work throughout the region.

Saturday Light Brigade is a community-oriented radio broadcast. It works on the principle of family programming. Often that sounds cloying, but not so with SLB. Larry Berger believes that it's possible to engage listeners of all ages. For example, he creates puzzles that can be equally enjoyed by young and old alike. SLB has been a consistent voice for community engagement for decades.

An outstanding, longtime show that promotes local musicians and youth and increases the listeners knowledge of many genres of music. Larry Berger is also an excellent interviewer.

SLB has added so much to my family for many years. Saturday would not be Saturday without them

Continue to do the great work you all are doing. Many would not have a chance without our Non-profits that make lives much happier.

SLB has been a great experience in my young professional career. As a segment of The Heinz Endowments Summer Youth Philanthropy internship program, I had the fortune of working with Larry and the gang at SLB two summers in a row. At their studio, I learned the importance of creating unbiased, balanced radio pieces, and what exactly that process entails. I learned the skills of editing, interviewing, and critical thinking; skills that are often taken for granted as a millennial, but crucial to learn. I was able to experience just how cool radio is, something that I formerly saw as a dying art. I built a sense of awareness, and an urge to learn more about of the voices in Pittsburgh in the process of researching for each radio piece. My experiences at SLB have also indirectly better prepared me for college by strengthening my group work skills, ability to talk with strangers, and general media editing skills. I cannot speak more highly about this nonprofit, and truly recommend everyone, adults and children alike, to become involved with radio via SLB.

SLB has been a Saturday morning mainstay in our lives for more than 25 years. We listened with our two sons regularly. Last year our older adult son, a music professional, played guitar as a guest on SLB. A nice connecting of the dots in our lives.

We have listened to the Saturday Light Brigade on and off since 1993, it's like hearing a member of the family on the radio. We like the riddles and puzzles. The Birthday Greetings are great , too.

I am writing this on behalf of my husband who never misses this radio program. He gets up extra early every Saturday to listen and participate in the riddles and other challenging trivia. Even when we go out of town, he takes his laptop along, gets up early and tunes in! He has been a faithful follower for years. We both enjoy the unique music selections! Sometimes we solve puzzles together. He has even gotten our grandkids involved while visiting. Saturday Light Brigade is to Saturdays as church is to Sundays at our house! We are listeners and supporters. Thank you for this amazing production!

Sharon
Apollo, PA

In an age where parents let devices do the parenting, it's nice to see long running endeavors like The Saturday Light Brigade out to capture kids' attention and challenge their minds. This is a fantastic and creative local resource that has truly become a regional treasure.

Through participating in two different SLB events, my teen daughter connected with students that she'd never have met in our conservative suburban area. SLB programming helps shrink our world and gives a comfortable, safe place for kids to explore exciting aspects of their lives and showcase their abilities.

Best way in Pittsburgh to get the weekend started! Fun for all! A hidden treasure!

SLB gives a precious opportunity to the young people of our community to be heard, to be applauded, to be inspired. Bravo to Larry, Rikki, and team!

Been listening to Saturday Light Brigade on and off since it started, back in the stone age. It is Pittsburgh's equivalent of Prairie Home Companion - not exactly the same type of show but an institution. Always delightful, an outlet for good live music, and on-air games & quizzes that are fun for children & adults alike. (My daughter, now living in another city, was a fan of SLB when young.)

Over the years I've also had the chance to get to know Larry Berger a bit in person. One extended visit came when he showed me around SLB's present quarters in the Children's Museum & explained some of the community programming that the org has undertaken, in addition to the Saturday morning show. I haven't had direct contact with that but it seems very worthwhile. Being a media person myself - and having worked with Fred Rogers when he was alive - I must say that Larry is one of the truly nice guys in the business. He reminds me of Fred in many ways ... and one could say that in many ways, he has carried on the Mister Rogers tradition.

This radio show is beloved by generations of my family! We love hearing new folk music, interviews, and fun games. They even broadcast a congratulations to me on my wedding day!

SLB is an amazing organization that does great community outreach while putting on an awesome show.

I've been listening to SLB for about 2 years and am so impressed by the variety and talent that each week is presented to the community. Although the programing is just a few short hours on Saturday, (at least I know of) I cannot imagine all the off air hours it takes to put together the program. THANK YOU, Larry, Ricki, (I hope I spelled it correctly.) and the rest of the staff.

SLB Radio Productions does amazing work, and is a great regional asset. SLB unites the community by giving a variety of people the chance to share their voices and their skills with others via radio, and by being a fun place that people can experience together safely.

A family focused organization that enhances and encourages student involvement and musical expression.

I loved working with SLB for my summer philanthropy internship! It was so much fun visiting them in Pittsburgh and making a radio doc to help bright light to situations in the area.

SLB radio supported my sons senior project of a bluegrass concert and invited him and his band to perform on the air as part of the project and also to bring awareness to the actual concert. It was an excellent experience for the young musicians of his band and for their families as well. And of course, the concert was a great success.
SLB also regularly promotes our annual bluegrass festival and has been instrumental in its success.

My daughter was just talking the other day about her two seperate experiences w slb and how empowering each is. It's been years tbh I'm surprised she remembered but she brought it up from nowhere. I wish I had recorded it. It was great. My response was similar as my own experiences being on slb have been very memorable and it is one of the unique treasures that will always make Pittsburgh special. Thanx slb! Love joy

This amazing family and community centered radio program has been a Pittsburgh staple for decades! A hot cup of tea and the Saturday Light Brigade are the way I start my weekend!

SLB host their annual New Years Eve Countdown to Noon for children and the Children's Museum. I have taken my grandson for the last four years. This is an awesome event for the children and the parents. It allows children to acknowledge and celebrate the incoming New Year with their family and friends. The event is always pack to the gills with children and families. They get to make their own noise makers and other fun activities, before going into the garage for the countdown to 12 noon, to live music and a live broadcast with Larry Berger and the SLB crew!!

My grandson and I spent many hours travelling to Saturday morning youth football games. I would turn on SLB and we would solve the puzzles and laugh at the sillier songs like "mom is not a napkin". One Saturday he got the answer to a puzzle, called in and got to hear himself on the radio! I love SLB!

This nonprofit is the reason I got to see a Theremin for the first time.

I had no idea what it would look like- and was amazed when I finally saw it.
I also got to see someone play a saw, and see a whole brass band fit their huge sound into this nonprofit's tiny studio.

I spent a lot of Saturdays watching this nonprofit work, from the stairs outside their window.
I listened to a lot of their stories, and took a lot of their advice.

This nonprofit taught me about sound, and how to make it for others. When I was working at the nonprofit next door, they were always running out to fix my contraptions, so that I could make even more sound after their shows, for the people that hung around.
(I think they probably helped replace a lot of microphones, too, because of me. :))

This nonprofit introduced to me to a thousand new things. Thousands of new people, and millions upon millions of sounds.
I moved away, but knowing this nonprofit, and its people, was a highlight of my life.
And of course, thanks to radio- I can still feel like I am sitting outside their studio, on the stairs; watching them craft a wonder current of real, live, sounds.

With decades of experience connecting communities, Saturday Light Brigade has become one of the most essential resources for learning of cultural, arts, and regionally historical opportunities in the Pittsburgh area. Presenting the information in an educational and entertaining way, Larry and Ricki Berger and the rest of the crew open up new worlds each and every Saturday morning in a way that feels like you're part of a greater family. We are so lucky to have Saturday Light Brigade here.

SLB does amazing work giving Students opportunities to create meaningful media that elevates the collective youth voice.

Slb has been a part of my Saturday Morning for almost 15 years. I enjoy the word games and musical choices. I went down to the studio to hear peter, from peter Paul and Mary. Got to be in the studio when he played. Very inspiring. I often check out pittsburgh events after hearing about them in the am.

I'm a grandfather in my 60s. I have been listening to the Saturday Light brigade for what seems like decades. I remember turning it on when my children were young and after the first week the ask "Can we listen to that radio show we listened to last week?" My grandchildren are of the age to start listen with "pap pap" and the tradition will be carried on.
I honestly don't recall the exact first time I listened in, but I was thrilled to find it online when I did. There's a lot to be said for quality radio programs and I know as I was in radio for 40 years as a DJ, Program Director, General manager and owner with various formats mixed into my career. The Saturday Light Brigade is, year after year, one of the finest programs I have listened to and ranks with "Prairie Home Companion," "What Do you Know," "Wait Don't Tell Me" and others of that ilk when it comes to originality and content. Well done!

SLB Radio Productions, Inc., through a partnership with the Heinz Endowments of Pittsburgh and the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies of Johnstown, has been providing training and support to the Foundation's youth philanthropy interns for five years. Through SLB, interns have completed a number of radio documentaries that range in content from highlighting local community development to investigating the issues of our time as they pertain to communities in Western Pennsylvania. Apart from the professional development benefits of this partnership, SLB's mission to educate and inform the next generation of citizens, leaders, and doers has impacted me personally, as well as countless other young people in the Pittsburgh and Johnstown regions. Because of my experiences with Larry and Chanessa at SLB, I have become an increasingly empathetic listener and a more engaged member of my community - both critical components of their programming that are so desperately needed in our nation's communities.

Have you listened to this show on Saturday mornings? Really, it's a joy, and enjoyable for all ages, and is community-focused and gentle and smart and caring.

People talk about specific music being the soundtrack of their lives. Saturday Light Brigade is that for me. The sound track of my Saturdays every week for more years than I can keep count of.

Larry Berger and the incredible folks at SLB have changed the lives of young people in the Pittsburgh area. I first got envolved with SLB almost 4 years ago the opportunities that they have granted me have opened so many doors for as I went onto college.

This is such a wonderful community asset. The radio program they do is unique, high quality, and great for the whole family.

Larry Berger and the staff at SLB are just AWESOME. They not only care about community, they've been become intricate of it, involving our youth, let them have a voice, in the Neighborhood Voices series. SLB also provides a skill set for youth....their isn't enough accolades to describe this wonderful non-profit

SLB is a great community asset to the New Concord, Ohio WMCO listening community. I'm so glad it is syndicated live week-to-week! A wonderful program to educate, entertain, and inform.

This radio program, SLB, has down to earth content which is relevant to a broad spectrum of listeners. It also appeals to the younger listing audience as well, featuring local talent as well as national musical talent; all delivered in a very personal way be the staff.

I give it a 5 out of 5 or a 10 out of 10, depending on which scale you want to use.

Sincerely, J. Paul Basinger

The Saturday Light Brigade is a great radio station. As a listener it provides a variety of different styles. It also gives many young performers a chance to display their talents. As a family this station is very important to us in our children's development as future musicians.

SLB Radio Productions, Inc inspired me at the beginning my own journey toward capturing the voices of children and sharing their great stories. I discovered them during a visit to Pittsburgh. Their studio space at the Children's Museum and their partnerships with schools and others in the area was truly inspiring. Their radio station and sound projects, which includes stories and interviews recorded by children, are of the highest quality. When I discovered their mission, I knew my own passion for capturing children's stories was valued and important work. I can't thank you enough SLB Radio Productions, keep on sharing young voices!

Been listening since I was a kid with my uncle. Now listening in Minneapolis online every Saturday.

SLB radio is where I listen when I want to hear non commercial national and local singer-songwriters. It needs a wider audience so new listeners will know how wonderful their programs really are. Their live guests are great, especially the young artists. As if their radio shows aren't enough, SLB also provides opportunities for young people to learn about the radio business.

I had a wonderful time being interviewed by the youth and getting to know them better when they visited my office to hear more about my business.The staff was awesome and very knowledgable.

SLB has been a terrific experience for my kids. They have had the honor and opportunity to play their music on air and enjoyed learning about the behind-the-scenes secrets and hard work that goes into it. My oldest also was given voice a few years ago for MLK Day to express his thoughts on civil rights and have a discussion with peers. I hope young people all over Pittsburgh know about this resource and enjoy and appreciate it.
Larry Berger and staff are welcoming, encouraging and really just warm and friendly in keeping with the best-of-Pittsburgh traditions.

Larry, Ricki and their staff have succeeded in taking a long-standing radio show and transforming it into a platform for the nurturing and development of the creative impulses resident in children, providing them an outlet and a path for individual and collective growth that has, and will, positively impact the youth and communities of Pittsburgh for generations to come.

SLB Radio has done great work teaching children and youth how to share their stories through the medium of radio. SLB staff is highly skilled and knows how to work effectively with children and youth. I particularly enjoy the Green Compass and Crossing Fences projects. (Full disclosure - I work for a foundation that supported those projects.)

One of the highlights to my week! This broadcast got me through one of the most difficult years of my life. Every week I knew at least one day would start with laughter. That was Saturday, when I could tune in to SLB and joke, smile, test myself, and sing! Thank you SLB!

SLB Radio is an amazing non-profit that really understands what "grass roots" means. It encourages participation at every level, and diversity of viewpoints and content creators isn't just a line in their mission statement -- it's something they live. And along the way, they create great, entertaining local content.

Long may Larry, Rikki and their crew thrive!

We have been "Brigadeers" since the very beginning, in fact my body awakes every Saturday morning at 6AM no matter how late my Friday night was. If we're home we're listening, and in our own quiet way participating.

I used to listen to Ed & Wendy King's radio show Party Line as a kid, it was a great show, but this is even better. The discussions, the music, the guests, the information, everything about this show exhibits all the Goodness that our great land is capable of. I truly believe that this world is a better place because of this show and those it has affected. So very intelligent, gentle, accepting, educational, well-rounded, eclectic, it truly does have something for everyone and we encourage all of our friends to listen at every chance.

It's perfect for kids, even the youngest, it encourages them to participate and accepts and enjoys all of their participation... and it also is interesting, educational and encouraging for adults, in ways that even kids can appreciate.

I really truly believe it sets the best example for how good radio, and in extension, human communication, can be. Long Live The Saturday Light Brigade!

Larry Berger and The Saturday Light Brigade are Pittsburgh treasures. Larry's engagement of young people and all that is healthy for heart and soul are the center of his passion for bringing great radio to the Pittsburgh airwaves. His show is both classic and contemporary, and he retains relevancy in the community by his commitment to his audience.

There are few places that take such a personal and professional interest in what you can offer them to keep their programming at its highest levels. I've never had an an uncomfortable moment with this folks and have watched them interview many performers with dignity and respect...they are outstanding.

I've listened to Saturday Lite Brigade for years and years. I love their music selections and their fun word riddles. But I'm particularly impressed with their commitment to encouraging young people in the arts through their interviews of kid artists and broadcasts of live kid performances. Pittsburgh wouldn't be the same without a weekly dose of Saturday Light Brigade. Keep up the great work.

You are very lucky to have Rob Gray on your team. He is an amazing song writer and musician.

SLB radio provides amazing opportunities to present talents to listeners nationwide. I've heard violinists, soloists, saxophone trios and the like showcase their best renditions of pieces for all to enjoy. There are fun and mind-stumper trivia questions posted on Facebook. A great Saturday morning spent with Larry Berger, the host and his staff! Tune in once and you'll be hooked for life!

SLB radio creates and presents opportunities to young people by teaching young students to create quality, informed broadcast content city wide. I cannot tell you how much content research has been done and presented through SLB sponsorship and mentoring. I recently attended an awards ceremony on films presented by high school students on topics of their choice, all done through SLB and Larry Berger and Ricki Berger's efforts. Every team who made a video was in attendance, with their families, full of pride in what they had created. And the videos, each a short non fiction story, completely researched and credited, were fascinating. It is a tremendous community resource and deserves to win. I am proud to be associated with Saturday Morning Light Brigade.


Carol McCague, Board Member.

Larry and the entire crew at SLB are an amazing group of people who strive to provide a platform for Pittsburghers young and not so young to showcase their talents, as well as the positive things they have going on in the community. As a staff member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh we have had the honor of featuring a BBBS "Match of the Month" for over 8 years. Having a monthly opportunity for our Bigs and LIttles to share their stories not only provides these individuals a chance to express their individual feelings and experiences - which our matches really enjoy; but also hopefully sparks interest in our program to increase enrollment of potential volunteers and or children.
Having been a guest along side out matches on many of these monthly features I can say without hesitation that Larry does an amazing job of listening to each and every Big and Little and helping them share all the unique things about them with the listening audience. Sometimes he does such a good job that he has had a few Bigs (and the staff on hand) in tears as they might have shared out loud for the first time the impact that being a Big has had on their life...sometimes those emotions sneak up on you and Larry has been the one to ask the question that lets them share those real , often powerful, feelings.
This weekly radio show is a gem and as an agency BBBS of Greater Pittsburgh appreciates their support and as an individual always feel enriched and happier after participating in and listening to the weekly programming!

I have been listening to SLB's inventive, family-friendly radio show since the mid-80s. When you turn on the show, it's like walking into a house filled with great music, talented neighbors, games that make you think, and friendly folks that like you just fine. I think Larry Berger is a master at setting people at ease and radiating genuine respect and appreciation for every guest and caller. SLB is one more thing that makes me proud of this old steel town.

SLB is an absolutely awesome organization that encompasses not only the hard-working steel town work ethics of Pittsburgh past, but also the technological know-how that encompasses Pittsburgh's future. The ability to captivate children and families from many backgrounds has been a time-honored tradition of SLB for many years and one that certainly is not easy to achieve. Year after year, SLB manages to out-perform themselves in forging an atmosphere that fosters family togetherness and youthful pride. Great work, everyone!!!!

The folks at SLBRADIO never cease to amaze me. Not only do they provide a weekly, six hour trip to a transgenerational collage of music, art, and community activity, they often surprise with delightfully subservsive activities such as developing awareness of social, environmental, and education issues. They foster budding musicians, provide exposure to world class singer-songwriters, and simple entertain.

Enjoy this very family friendly program - interesting challenges for all ages. Airs local talent in the studio. Larry knows how to bring out the best in people in his interviews!! Can't think of another program like it!

My daughter was on the SLB radio show to discuss participating in an art contest at the Gilda's Club. The staff helped her feel comfortable before and during the show. It was a positive experience she will never forget!

Larry of SLB led a group of teachers and writers (of which I was part) in a writing and audio activity this summer. He really excited us about the possibilities for incorporating more audio into the work we do with children! Also, SLB's radio program offers teachers and other organizations a place to send youth who want to share their thoughts and stories with a wider audience. And, of course, I see SLB folks captivating children at just about all the youth-oriented festivals in Pittsburgh.

SLB is an invaluable community asset for the children and families of Pittsburgh! Their weekly radio show continues the tradition of quality family entertainment that is not only enjoyable by all members of the family, but also educational, information, and engaging. Not just that, SLB's community outreach programs help empower children, youth, teens, and adults by putting the power of media into their hands, letting them tell their own stories, the stories of their communities, and create connections to others. Pittsburgh wouldn't be the same without SLB.

SLB is one of the great things happening in pittsburgh. They present a level of diversity that is hard to matchTheir show with the pittsburgh savoyards was great. Thank you SLB

I've worked with Larry Berger since the start of SLB at WYEP. Larry has developed community-based programming that empowers young people. There are very few other media-related groups that impact as many kids as Larry and his team. In addition to the live broadcasts, SLB has created an oral history archive of the Pittsburgh region.

From my early experiences with SLB at "Empty Bowls" to the annual Father-Daughter Valentine's Day Dinner Dances at the Children's Museum, I have been a huge fan. I always look forward to receiving the SLB Weekly Puzzle to share with my family and friends and test my insight.

The staff at SLB conduct insightful interviews with youth, community agency staff, and the people in the greater Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania neighborhoods. They are providing opportunities for children to display and develop their abilities in music and drama and for youth and young adults to learn and apply their radio arts skills as no one else in the area, state, and nation is doing. All of this is done with a keen awareness of the developmental needs of those with whom they interact and with a kindness that seems second nature to them. This program, with its numerous community outreach programs, is a fitting carrying on of the legacy of Pittsburgh favorite neighbor.

As a community partner, I have seen SLB radio in schools, in community, in studio, and working with kids ranging from kindergarteners to high schoolers. This is a unique form of communication, and a unique way to giving children voice - with guidance. The fundamental respect and genuine interest that SLB takes and shows its audience and its participants are consistent no matter where they are and what they do. I have worked with 4 different members of the team over the last 5 years, and each and everyone is highly skilled and extremely collaborative.

In addition to all the other great programming others have mentioned, the SLB gives many amazing opportunities to local musicians--reserving quite a few for youth. This year, the Pittsburgh Concert Society Young Artists were featured on the show, and I was lucky enough to have the honor of being one of them. The Saturday Light Brigade not only gave me and other young musicians a chance to get our voices (or instruments) heard, but also the amazing feeling of being on radio for the first time. The staff there was very encouraging and enthusiastic, and I truly felt like being on the show has been one of the highlights of my playing the piano. This was unforgettable!

The Saturday Light Brigade used to just be a local treasure, but now we must share them with the rest of the nation. And that's fine with me. The more that know about SLB, the longer they'll be with us! I've been a loyal listener and on-air contributor for almost 20 years and am always impressed by the variety of music, interviews, and community outreach they achieve each week. They never fail to jump-start my brain and I hope I'm able to return the favor in my own small, call-in way.

SLB staff and leadership is really effective in working with youth, particularly teens. SLB empowers the youth it works with by providing them with the skills, training and equipment that they need to develop and create compelling audio narratives. SLB is great at amplifying the voice of youth in Pittsburgh.

The Saturday Light Brigade is truly a great family radio show, with music and puzzles that are entertaining for adults and children. It is a fantastic local radio show, promoting local organizations, events, and artists. And it is an excellent educational radio show, providing a forum to share information and educating about radio broadcasting.

I have been a faithful listener of SLB Radio's The Saturday Light Brigade since its inception. I don't call in very often (my cal-in name is "John in Lincoln Place"), usually only when one of the games has most of the listeners stumped and I think I know what the answer is. But I really enjoy just listening to the music, interviews, stories, and general chit-chat with other listeners. When SLB Radio moved from one radio station to another a few years back, I was afraid the quality of the programming would deteriorate. Thanks to the new station, however, the programming expanded from 2 hours to 6, allowing for more, and better, of everything. In an age when politically-oriented and hate-filled diatribes dominate the airwaves, it is important to have family-oriented shows such as The Saturday Light Brigade on the air and internet to bring a few calm, relaxing, fun-filled, and - yes, loving! - hours to the hectic week. This show is definitely worth keeping. Please donate to make sure it stays on the air.

We have been listening to this show since the kids were small, and they always have a quality, family production that you can't find anywhere else. They do so much to promote community organizations, too. Honestly, I don't know how they have time to do it all!

The show has been a wonderful part of my life for over 20 years. Larry Berger successfully uses radio to build a sense of community with his listeners, callers, and guests. He plays music that is rarely heard on broadcast radio, giving the program a unique sound. He offers several word puzzles and invites listeners to call with answers. The callers range from very young children to seniors, and there is a harmony in the many voices that are heard. Additionally he spotlights local performers and special events that are happening in the city, to encourage people to get out and enjoy more of what the area has to offer. I personally think this should be the more typical use of radio, but it is rarely done as well as it is done on The Saturday Light Brigade.

SLB radio show is just wonderful! My daughter has been on the program a few times over the past two years promoting children's theater events. The staff is very professional, great with the kids that are being interviewed and do a fantastic job at promoting theater arts and children's programming in our city. This radio interview is always a highlight of my daughter's show experience and has even inspired her curiosity in broadcasting and theater tech! Great job SLB!!!

The Bergers have been supportive of many community endeavors throughout the years. Not only through their own show but also through promotion of worthwhile community events.

First, as a listener to this wonderful, family-friendly interactive program. Then, as the community relations person for a small non-profit cultural organization, who has always found in SLB a ready ear (and voice) for our programs and projects.

For the past ten years SLB Radio has helped promote fundraising efforts for the homeless shelter at which I work. St. Joseph House of Hospitality has a yearly bluegrass benefit concert and SLB radio has had musicians from that concert perform on the Saturday morning prior to that concert. Not only does this help promote the concert, but it also keeps the issue of homelessness and efforts to alleviate homelessness in the public's awareness. Also, as a musician who has performed on SLB, the opportunity to perform on live radio is an experience that is truly unique and gratifying. SLB Radio is a real asset to our community in its promotion of social awareness and promotion of the performing arts.

My 7th and 8th grade students have worked with the Saturday Light Brigade (SLB) for past two years on an outstanding project entitled Allegheny Voices. This entire project came into being after a casual conversation I had with Larry Berger and Jeff Barron of SLB. I was mistaken that our conversation was casual. A few weeks later, Larry and Jeff presented an outlined plan which included the core ideas of our conversation and proposed how we can expand upon it by working with the Andy Warhol Museum. I was blown away. SLB spearheaded the task of organizing this project and provided a variety of training and technical resources to our students throughout the process. The trainings included everything from interviewing techniques, to proper use the digital equipment and to editing digital media, just to name a few. They also opened the doors of SLB for our students to conduct their interviews in the studio. What I found most amazing was that while SLB was working with our students on the Allegheny Voices project, they were concurrently facilitating other unique educational projects throughout the city. The magnitude of opportunities SLB provides our community to expose our youth to new experiences, does not seem possible with such a small full-time staff. But after working with them, these past two years I can attest that their dedication and enthusiasm to provide unique opportunities to children is contagious… which makes it possible for them to impact so many.

Committed listener and occasional caller. I like personal, local approach and the interesting local music groups that are featured. Great music all around.

To interact in person & on the radio, for over 10 yrs., with all three of our children. This is the most family freindly, iteractive media source, that educates the masses, thru fun games,music,conversation, and caring about people!

The Saturday Light Brigade connects the Pittsburgh community in countless ways. It provides a venue for fledgling performers and quality programming for families of young children who can "go there" physically or virtually via their radios, computers, or TV's. It also creates novel educational programs for children in the city of Pittsburgh, especially when kids need extra reasons to care about learning, or to revel in their heritage across generations.

My wife and I have been listening to the Saturday Light Brigade for more that 25 years. As host, Larry Berger brightens Saturday mornings with guests, jokes, games and anecdotes in a wonderfully entertaining mix of local color.

SLB Radio makes a difference in the lives of children, families and within their community. Mr. Larry Berger is easy to work with in arranging programs that educate and entertain. The children I brought to the station enjoyed their visit, enjoyed being on-air and appreciated to the opportunity to have some hands on training on the equipment. I am grateful that I have had the chance to work with SLB Radio. That they have freely given thirty years or so of their life to help children learn and to bring people and families together is a blessing for this community. Larry's warmth and skill at interacting with children is a gift that I hope he will able to share for years to come.

SLB Radio has always been a great supporter of the efforts of the music community to get information out about what is going on around us. They continue to invite local artists to perform live in the studio and have always been easy to work with and very professional. We appreciate all that they have for us in the bluegrass community and for their listeners. They are truly an asset to not the bluegrass community but the entire listening community as well.

SLB is an outstanding community resource here in Pittsburgh. I've known Larry Berger, the show's producer and voice, for over 25 years, and have enjoyed listening to his varied, family-oriented show. Larry has hosted many open houses where he invites the community to come in to visit with him and the staaff as they produce on-air, live radio. I took our two young children in to see how radio is done about 15 years ago when SLB was originating from the campus of Chatham College (now University). Both kids enjoyed meeting Larry, and having breakfast goodies. I commend SLB and Larry and Rikki Berger for their commitment to excellence in family radio. Bob Kenneweg rdkenneweg@yahoo.com

What a true example of community and people-oriented radio! For more than 25 years, I've listened to this show grow and become more and more community-oriented and motivated in it's drive to explore the achievements of kids and teens in the arts, and to engage families the last few years at the Children's Museum as it's own "exhibit", where families can experience radio and media first hand. Also Larry is a real networker, motivated by his care for kids and families, instead of giving lip service to the term like other radio programs do. Plus the quizzes are great fun for all ages, and Larry has a wonderful, warm way with kids and adults.

SLB is open and giving. They listen and hear as well as broadcast content - it's truly a two-way street. People of all ages love the programming. I've been interviewed a couple of times for very different reasons, and it's always been a fun and gentle experience designed to make the community a better place. The host (Larry Berger) can be a little amateurish sometimes, but it's part of the charm. He is very earnest and innovative in a "folk radio" way, and I wouldn't change a thing about him. SLB is a treasure.

I have both listened-to and been involved with SLB for over ten years. It is, by all accounts, a remarkable organization. Larry and Rikki Berger have developed a very effective model that mixes entertainment with community action. It is, in my opinion, a very important part of this community.

It was a great day for me as the Executive Director of a Pittsburgh area youth orchestra and for me personally when I met the wonderful and talented crew of the Saturday Light Brigade. They have provided the opportunity for many young musicians to have the exciting experience of playing live on a radio show. They even worked with me to put a full orchestra performance on the air live from their studios. It was a memorable and spectacular day!

The Saturday Light Brigade has truly enhanced the quality of life in Southwestern Pennsylvania through its weekly programming of music, guest speakers from area arts, literary, and other non profit groups, and audience participation, which involves all ages. I listened weekly when I lived in Butler and Pittsburgh, PA. Now I am in Wisconsin, and I still listen to SLB via the internet whenever I can. Its program appeal reaches beyond SWPa. I have encouraged them to think about going national.

SLB is an outstanding supporter of community arts, and has a special mission to helping children of the community grow in the arts. There is no grater joy than hearing local children call into the show to encourage other children while the perform.

I have listened to SLB for years. The program features great folk and children's music. Also, it involves listeners with interesting games and trivia. It's great programming for progressive families; somehow it seems best enjoyed in the kitchen listening on a table radio.

The Saturday Light Brigade radio program and youth programming has built on the compassion and experience of it's founders and staff over three decades to meet the needs of children and families.

Saturday Light Brigade is, first and foremost, run but some of the most caring and intelligent individuals I have had the pleasure to meet in Pittsburgh. They are sweet and smart, and are really talented when it comes to interviewing----anyone from professional adults with professional demanors to 2 year olds too shy to speak (at first). Hearing the show is always a delight, with a focus on the community unlike any other public radio station in the region. I may get news from NPR stations and the like, but I can tell how my community is really functioning when i hear the youth orchestra, a short theatrical preview, short interviews with students about their aspirations, or a talented local band performing in the studio, which happens to be located in the fabulous Children's Museum. Combine the weekly show with the amount of work they put into teaching elementary school students the art of radio and sound recording, and give those students the experience to express themselves on air, and there is no reason not to adore the people behind it all. Much love, SLB.

This radio program is the best in Pittsburgh and most likely in the whole United States. I found it while on my way to work one Saturday...about 15 years ago, and Ive been hooked ever since! This is a great way for families to connect and spend time with each other! The interviews are great and the music and games are wonderful for all ages! I cant imagine a Saturday without the Saturday Light Brigade