Montgomery, Alabama, March 29, 2011 -- Balch & Bingham, Beasley Allen, Jackson Thornton, Montgomery Advertiser, Rushton Stakely and Starke present Spread the Joy, a downtown block party benefiting The Joy to Life Foundation.  This foundation provides free mammograms for medically underserved women in South Central Alabama.

WVAS, Alabama State's National Public Radio station, won seven statewide awards last week, including three ABBYs and four AP awards.

In Birmingham, WVAS's Rachine Francis won Alabama Broadcasters Association awards for medium market sportscaster, Melanie Hogan won for medium market reporter and the station was honored for best medium market regularly scheduled newscast. Three hundred radio and TV professionals from around the state attended the presentation at Cahabam Grand Conference Center.

The station won four Associated Press awards: Marcus Hyles won two awards for best regularly scheduled newscast and for best radio commentator for his feature "Hyles Files." Karen Brown was honored as best radio news reporter and Rachine Francis was named best radio sports anchor.