Liz Delany

“My hope is that I can always help my listeners start their day a little better,” she said, “and that they will carry it forward to the people they encounter.”

At the very least, she wants to evoke a laugh or two from her loyal audience.

Delany co-hosts the Alice 95.5 morning show 6-10 a.m. weekdays with Kevin Howard. In her nearly seven years as an on-air personality for Clear Channel Radio Springfield, Delany has earned plenty of praise.

For four years running, Delany and Howard have been voted 417 Magazine’s Favorite Radio Show.

Delany, who personally battled cervical cancer, has used the platform to champion causes she holds dear and to educate the masses.

“I encouraged every woman to follow through with an annual checkup,” she said. “I received hundreds of calls and e-mails from women thanking me for convincing them of the importance of maintaining their personal health care.”

The creation of “Boobapalooza” eight years ago is Delany’s proudest accomplishment. The annual event promotes awareness about breast cancer prevention and raises money for the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks. Delany serves on the foundation’s advisory board.

“The success of this event is immeasurable because its true value is in the open discussions spurred by the light-hearted approach to prevention of a devastating disease,” she said.

Following the event last year, the foundation said requests for free mammograms increased. Many women said they had learned of the screening program on Alice 95.5.

Delany has also been instrumental in raising funds for Ozarks Food Harvest, a Springfield-based food pantry serving southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas. Delany spent 40 hours straight soliciting donations for the nonprofit’s Hungerthon this year, which raised $109,000 – $30,000 more than last year’s total.

In March, after tornadoes caused widespread damage in Christian County, Delany and Howard organized a relief effort for victims. They also spent a day on-air to promote an American Red Cross effort to provide shelter and supplies for Hurricane Katrina victims in the Ozarks.

“I am truly inspired by all that Liz has done to help our community,” said Paul Windisch, vice president/market manager of Clear Channel Radio Springfield. “She gets involved with so many incredible causes and does it for nothing more than the sincere passion she feels in helping the less fortunate.”

Personally speaking

As a young child, what did you hope to be when you grew up?

A math teacher. Math came very easy to me and was my favorite subject.

Please tell us about your family.

Mom and Dad have been married 56 years, and they live at Lake of the Ozarks. My younger brother, Andy, lives in Kansas City. My husband, Joe, works for Aerocomm Inc. and travels extensively, leaving me and our 15-year-old, Buster, at home to take care of our three dogs, one cat and a pond full of fish.

What book are you reading now?

I’m actually in the middle of writing a book right now. It’s about my experience with gynecological cancer. I don’t know if anyone will read it, but it has been very therapeutic.

Besides your parents, who do you consider a mentor or role model?

Oprah is a good role model, only because she is generous with herself and her resources. And she uses her show to promote health and well-being, which is what I would like to do with my show. But the one person who has influenced me the most in my life is my dad, who taught me to be involved in my community and to make a difference in people’s lives.

Beyond the Golden Rule, what philosophy do you live by?

Give until it hurts!