The people of Kentucky and Indiana have come together once again in support of the WHAS Crusade for Children.
The 65th edition of the Crusade raised $5,638,823.12. That tops the 2017 total by more than $138,000.
Nearly 60 percent of donations are collected by about 200 fire departments in Kentucky and Indiana.
McMahan Fire Protection District made its final appearance on the Crusade as it will merge into Jeffersontown Fire Protection District on July 1. McMahan topped the list of fire departments with a total of $193,508.68, a record for the district.
Here is the full press release from the WHAS Crusade for Children:
65th annual WHAS Crusade for Children tops last year
(Louisville, KY) - The people of Kentucky and Indiana came together and dug deep for the 65th annual WHAS Crusade for Children. The final tote board tallied $5,638,823.12 as America’s most successful local telethon came to a close.
That tops the 2017 total by more than $138,000.
The 30-hour Internet/radio/telethon was highlighted by a variety show hosted by WHAS11’s Rachel Platt and 840 WHAS radio’s Terry Meiners on Saturday, June 2. It concluded with Crusade volunteers crowding into WHAS-TV’s historic studio H singing the traditional "God Bless America" just before 7:00pm (EDT) Sunday, June 3, 2018.
“The WHAS Crusade for Children continues to be a demonstration of caring and coming together for the greater purpose of helping children with special needs. Every penny really makes a difference and we are so grateful for the continued generosity of this community. It is heartwarming to see the people of Kentuckiana once again step up to make life better for children with special needs. A huge thank you to all who gave, the firefighters who worked tirelessly to collect, and the dedicated volunteers that help every year,” said WHAS Crusade for Children President & CEO Dawn Lee.
100 percent of $180 million for the kids
In its first 65 years, the Crusade has raised over $180 million for children with special needs. One hundred percent of all donations raised Crusade weekend are returned in the form of grants to agencies, schools and hospitals that make life better for children with special needs in Kentucky and southern Indiana.
It takes a cast of thousands to stage the annual miracle. From individual donors dropping pocket change into boots at firefighter road blocks to children with lemonade stands to corporations offering payroll deduction, it all comes together each year on the first weekend in June.
New records for all three category leaders! Nearly 60 percent of donations are collected by about 200 fire departments in Kentucky and Indiana. McMahan Fire Protection District made its final appearance on the Crusade as it will merge into Jeffersontown Fire Protection District on July 1. McMahan topped the list of fire departments with a total of $193,508.68, a record for the district.
Fire departments got involved with the Crusade in 1956 when Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Chief Ernie Bohler brought $400 on the Memorial Auditorium stage in Louisville and challenged all fire departments to get involved.
Like last year, the top Indiana fire department was Lafayette Township Fire Department with their highest total yet of $111,838.
Also repeating from last year, the Archdiocese of Louisville led all non-fire organizations with a record $308,000 in contributions.
Top 5 Kentucky Fire Departments
McMahan Fire Protection District $193,509.68
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District $189,307.09
Fern Creek Fire Department $120,944.51
Zoneton Fire Protection District $88,616.97
Highview Fire Protection District $86,612.31
Top 5 Indiana Fire Departments
Lafayette Township Fire Department $111,838.00
Charlestown Fire Department $62,000
Monroe Township Fire Department $41,614.82
New Albany Fire Department & Harvest Homecoming $33,626.61
Georgetown Township Fire Department $30,464.00
Top Organizations
Archdiocese of Louisville $308,000
LG&E KU PPL Companies $229,240
Norton Healthcare $133,305.78
McAlister’s Deli $110,036.14
Jefferson County Public Schools $108,202.53
So many to thank: The annual Crusade Internet/radio/telethon kicked off at 1:00pm (EDT) on Saturday, June 2 and aired in its entirety on the booming clear channel signal of WHAS Radio (AM 840 – heard in 38 states at night!), WHAS-TV (Channel 11.1) and worldwide on WHAS11.com.
In addition, WBNA-TV 21.1 in Louisville aired live broadcasts 12:30pm to 6:30pm Sunday, June 3 from the Kentucky cities of Elizabethtown, Shelbyville and Bardstown. WBKO-TV in Bowling Green aired remote telecasts from Campbellsville on Saturday and Leitchfield on Sunday.
Television Network: WHAS-TV, Louisville (flagship station); WBNA-TV, Louisville; WBKO-TV, Bowling Green
Radio Network: 840 WHAS, Louisville (flagship station)
Internet Network: WHAS11.com, WHASCrusade.org
WHAS11.com provided LIVE video streaming of the entire broadcast visible anywhere in the world. WHAS11.com also simulcast the Crusade weekend program on YouTube and Facebook Live. On WHASCrusade.org, updates were posted all weekend long and donors across the country made secure online donations.
To honor a pledge
Tax-deductible contributions can be sent anytime:
WHAS Crusade for Children
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202
Donations can also be made securely online on www.WHASCrusade.org.
To view a complete list of all groups that made donations to the 65th annual Crusade, go to www.WHASCrusade.org.
About the WHAS Crusade for Children
The WHAS Crusade for Children, established by WHAS-TV in 1954, raises money for schools, agencies and hospitals that make life better for children with special needs. In its first 65 years, the Crusade has raised over $180 million. Thanks to generous contributions of goods and services, the Crusade returns 100 percent of all donations to organizations in all 120 Kentucky counties and more than 50 southern Indiana counties. Fire departments raise nearly 60 percent of the money each year by staging road blocks and other events.
Millions of children have been helped by the Crusade since 1954. The WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Gifts are tax-deductible as permitted by law.