Stephen Arnold Music teamed with Nexstar ‘s KRQE Albuquerque, New Mexico, on a theme song for the station's KRQE Cares campaign. The song, “Making a Difference” is being used in the station's promos and other media supporting an annual fundraiser that provides shoes and more to local children of families experiencing financial hardship. The campaign runs year round, culminating with a back-to-school phone bank.

Now in its ninth year, KRQE Cares was developed by the station's Community Relations Director Carolyn Rush to address kids' needs in a state where one out of four students live in poverty.

“Unfortunately, New Mexico ranks 50th in the nation for child well-being. We work directly with Title 1 schools to put new shoes on every child in the school,” Rush said in a statement. “Each year, KRQE, our viewers, and the New Mexico community work together to supply thousands of pairs of new shoes to kids. We're a local station with a tradition of community service and this is our way of making a difference.”

The song was intentionally composed to capture the community's spirt of giving.

“We were impressed by how well it's been embraced by the local community,” said Stephen Arnold Music President Chad Cook, also in a statement. “The campaign is optimistic and upbeat, and the song reflects that. It tugs at the heartstrings and conveys hope. We want to get people engaged and inspired.”

“Making a Difference” was crafted to work with both broadcast and online media, adapt to different time formats and complement a range of visuals.

“It also needed to function effectively with full lyrics and as an instrumental while projecting emotional force from start to finish,” Cook said. “We even produced a version that features kids' voices. There's just a touch here and there —enough to give you an authentic human connection without becoming syrupy.”

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Stephen Arnold Music has collaborated frequently with KRQE Media Group, providing sonic branding and original music for each of the four television stations it operates in New Mexico.

“They created a sonic identity for a station that previously lacked one, and reaffirmed the identity of another,” said KRQE Creative Services Director Bill Case. “They customized an existing theme for the morning newscast on a third station that helped propel it from a distant third in its market to competing for number one.”

“It's rare to find a station with such a strong commitment to philanthropy,” Cook said. “The station works very hard to make this campaign a success and ensure that it serves kids. Their staff not only deliver the shoes, they get down on their knees to make sure they fit. They give each student a book and snacks and make them feel special. It's personalized and genuine.”