32 hours of radio for kids

Sleep is overrated when you're collecting toys for needy children.

Just ask Dick Biondi.

The Chicago radio legend is returning this morning to Lombard's Yorktown Center for his annual holiday toy drive.

As part of a 32-hour marathon radio broadcast, Biondi will urge listeners to bring new, unwrapped toys or cash donations to his location inside the mall.

"I've been very, very lucky. This is my way of paying back a little bit," Biondi said. "It's a very fun thing to do. I like being around toys. I'm still a kid at heart."

The beneficiary of this weekend's event is the Uhlich Children's Advantage Network, which supports abused, troubled or neglected children.

This year, the network has added the Lombard-Villa Park Food Pantry to its list of partners. So some of the donations will benefit area residents served by the pantry.

"It (Uhlich) is just an amazing organization," said Lombard firefighter Mike Heimbecker, who spearheads a fire department toy drive that benefits Biondi's event.

"Each year, they're helping more kids," Heimbecker said. "It's making a big difference for a lot of kids."

Yorktown is near Butterfield Road and Highland Avenue.

From his post inside the mall, Biondi will hit the airwaves on WZZN 94.7-FM and online at www.947trueoldies.com at 10 a.m. today and keep spinning the oldies until 6 p.m. Saturday.

"We're certainly excited to have Dick Biondi at Yorktown mall," Village President William Mueller said. "He's legendary."

Special musical guests onsite at various times will include the Ides of March, The Buckinghams, The Cryan' Shames and Ronnie Rice of New Colony Six fame.

Around midnight Friday, the cast of "Phantom of the Opera" is slated to perform live. Another potential guest is "American Idol" finalist Leslie Hunt, a St. Charles native.

Other celebrities who can't make the trip to Lombard are expected to call in to show their support, including Frankie Avalon, Brenda Lee, Terry Johnson of the Flamingos and Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits.

"The fact that Dick Biondi's name is behind it, makes the difference," said Michael LaCrosse, the radio station's program manager. "He's a living legend of not only broadcasting but also rock 'n' roll history."

Biondi, who's in the Radio Hall of Fame, started in 1950 on a small New York station before landing a gig in the early 1960s on WLS 890-AM. His late night show introduced rock 'n' roll to listeners in 40 states.

In February 1963, Biondi became the first disc jockey in the country to play a Beatles record, "Please Please Me." A year later, he met the Fab Four just before introducing them at the Hollywood Bowl in California.

"So many people grew up listening to him," LaCrosse said. "They recognize that he genuinely loves what he does and he's passionate about music."

It's because he's so genuine and passionate that celebrities, listeners and organizations want to be involved and help, he said.

Those supporters include VietNow, Bogies Ale House in Mount Prospect and the Lombard Fire Department, which is holding a toy collection parade from Main and Grove streets at 10 a.m. Saturday to the mall.

"He has all of Chicagoland's admiration," LaCrosse said of Biondi.

The toy drive

What: Dick Biondi Toy Drive

When: 10 a.m. today to 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: Yorktown Center, Highland Avenue and Butterfield Road in Lombard

Donations sought: New, unwrapped toys or cash

For more information: Visit www.947trueoldies.com