RALEIGH, N.C. — A huge crowd packed Raleigh's BTI Center Friday morning to take in the

Tom Joyner Morning Show

.

The host of the nationally-syndicated radio show calls it a "party with a purpose." Hundreds of fans braved the cold, wet weather to be a part of the "Sky Show."

"[I've been] standing out here in 10-degree weather in the snow for three or four hours," participant Cynthia Vaughan said.

Anthony Whitaker was the first person in line for the Tom Joyner Morning Show. He arrived at 5 p.m. Thursday.

"I got here for the first session of snow and I held [on] for the second," he said.

Most people like Neal Foote said the show's early start time and the winter weather mattered much.

"We've got a couple thousand folks who fought the weather, fought the ice and fought the snow because Tom Joyner's here," said Neal Foote.

The Sky-Show featured marching bands, a guest appearance by comedienne Kim Cole, scholarship award presentations and a musical performance by the O'Jays.

The Tom Joyner Foundation helps raise money for historically black colleges. This year, North Carolina Central University received $250,000.