Paul & Al Help Change Lives

Exuberant and zany are just two words that describe Paul Fuller and Al Matthews, hosts of 94HJY’s morning radio show. But did you know that these rock and rollers are equally caring and generous? They recently hosted a 28 ½-hour Rock ‘N’ Roll marathon to benefit Amos House. The event raised $21,000 to support our programs which uplift the poor, homeless and unemployed.

“I knew that Amos House, like many other organizations that help the community, needed financial help,” said Al, who was born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island by Lithuanian parents.. “It seemed like this past year was a particularly tough time for many people out there. So the timing was right to make an extra effort to raise some cash for Amos House.”

Their marathon featured call-in lines and an online auction with terrific items like restaurant gift certificates, a mountain bike, and box seat tickets to a Patriots’ game. Paul and Al also aired prerecorded interviews with Amos House staff members and residents. They gave donors of $25 and more a commemorative tee shirt and a pound of Dunkin Donuts coffee.

Giving back to the community is not new for WHJY (94.1 FM) – “The Home of Rock and Roll.” The radio station gives free airtime to many worthy causes. But Paul and Al described their marathon for Amos House as a learning, not just giving, experience.

“Who knew that Amos House was Redemption Center. I didn’t realize the extent of the successes of the graduates from Amos House,” said Paul, whose roots are in Indiana and Southern California. “With their ridiculously low recidivism rates, Amos House programs should be the playbook for the nation’s corrections facilities. [They] give people skills, give people hope.”

Paul and Al met in 1990 at WABB, a top 40 radio station in Mobile, Alabama. Al hosted its morning show with a partner who ended up leaving. Paul worked for the radio company’s Memphis station, which was on the brink of closing. Company managers thought the two might make a good team. Paul became Al’s new co-host in Mobile. Eight months later WHJY offered them a job. They’ve been hosting its morning show for the past twenty years.

Both Paul and Al are college graduates who describe themselves as “family” men. Married 30 years, Paul has three grown children and a grandchild on the way. In his spare time he reads books; plays guitar, golf, and tennis; bikes and does yoga. Al cherishes the time he spends every day with his 4-year-old daughter. Describing himself as “Mr. Mom,” he cooks dinner for his wife and child most nights. A foodie and gardener, Al also has a food blog.

Amos House thanks Paul and Al for being Life Changers through their generosity to our agency.  “As a Wise Dude once said, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me,’” Paul declared.