El Sembrador, a Burbank-based non-profit organization for evangelism, recently raised more than $2 million, most of which will be placed toward the purchase of its own radio station facility to produce Catholic radio programming.

The funds came as a result of a "matching grant" effort, in which an anonymous donor promised to match up to $1 million in donations earlier this spring, said Ofelia Neri, public relations director for El Sembrador.

"By Pentecost Sunday, we had received 1,022 pledges of $1,000 each," Neri said. "This money will be used toward the down payment to purchase the radio station, and to research the possibility of extending the coverage area to the greater Los Angeles area."

Radio Católica El Sembrador, whose Burbank television studios were blessed in June 2002 by Cardinal Roger Mahony, currently airs Catholic programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week, primarily in Spanish (with some in English on Friday mornings) over KHPY-AM (1670). With its studio and transmitter in Moreno Valley, its signal (10,000 watts daytime) is heard mainly in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, and parts of Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

El Sembrador's goal, said Neri, is to "produce and promote a variety of dynamic and creative Catholic programs with special emphasis on adults and youth." Its programs include talk shows, spiritual/teaching, music, news and children's/youth shows.