The 68th Annual WHAS Crusade for Children Telethon is June 5th & 6th!

(Louisville, KY) - The 68th WHAS Crusade for Children is scheduled for June 5-6, 2021. Communities throughout Kentucky and southern Indiana have been a key part of the WHAS Crusade for Children since 1954. Crusade supporters come together each year to help make life better for children with special needs who are among the most medically fragile citizens we have in our communities.

This year’s telethon will feature a virtual style WHAS Crusade for Children Variety Show beginning at 7pm (EDT) on Saturday, June 5, hosted by WHAS11’s Shay McAllister and 840 WHAS Radio’s Terry Meiners. This show will bring the same great entertainment of the traditional Crusade Variety Show right to viewers’ homes with performances from JD Shelburne, magicians Lance Burton and Mac King, The Louisville Leopard Percussionists, virtual singing sensation DCorey Johnson, and many more. There will also be some live jaw-dropping magic from Magician David Garrard.

Crusade history

Since 1954, the WHAS Crusade for Children has hosted an annual radio/telethon. Over the years, it has moved around the calendar having been held in November, September, May and June. In 2020, it was moved to August due to the impact of COVID-19. A year-by-year history can be found at WHASCrusade.org/whas-crusade-for-children-history.

Firefighters still leading the way

Fire departments across Kentucky and southern Indiana raise nearly 60 percent of the Crusade donations each year by staging roadblocks and hosting other events. Some fire departments will also host drive through collection sites at their fire stations or at other convenient locations for donors to drop off donations. Check with your local fire departments and other civic groups to find out how they will be collecting donations this year.

To make a donation

The WHAS Crusade for Children has made it easy for supporters to donate with many different options. Donations can be mailed to:

WHAS Crusade for Children
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202

There are also many contactless ways to donate. Support fire departments fundraising efforts by ordering official WHAS Crusade for Children merchandise at CrusadeWear.com and entering the fire department’s name in the notes section. Fire departments also get fundraising credit if you include their name when using the following ways to give:

  • Text CRUSADE to 50155
  • Venmo @CrusadeForChildren
  • CashApp $CrusadeChildren
  • PayPal WHAS Crusade for Children
  • WHASCrusade.org


In addition, Facebook users can host a Facebook fundraiser for the WHAS Crusade for Children at https://www.facebook.com/fund/WHASCrusade/.

Crusade Network

The annual Crusade Internet/radio/telethon kicks off at 1:00pm (EDT) on Saturday, June 5 and airs in its entirety on WHAS Radio (AM 840), WHAS-TV (Channel 11.1) and on WHAS11.com. The tote board total will be announced around 7:00pm (EDT) on Sunday, June 6.

In addition, WBNA-TV (Channel 21.1) in Louisville airs live broadcasts 12:30pm to 6:30pm Sunday, June 6 from the Kentucky cities of Elizabethtown, Shelbyville and Bardstown. WBKO-TV in Bowling Green airs 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 will provide live video streaming of the entire broadcast visible anywhere in the world and also simulcast on Facebook Live. WHASCrusade.org will provide updates throughout the weekend and a complete list of all groups that make donations. 

100 percent for the kids 

In its first 67 years, the Crusade has raised nearly $195 million for children with special needs. Thanks to generous contributions of goods and services, the Crusade is able to grant 100 percent of all donations to agencies, hospitals and schools that serve children with special needs in all 120 Kentucky counties and more than 50 southern Indiana counties. 

It takes a cast of thousands for this annual miracle, from individual donors dropping pocket change into boots at firefighter roadblocks to schools hosting penny challenges to corporations offering payroll deduction.

About the WHAS Crusade for Children

The WHAS Crusade for Children, established by WHAS-TV in 1954, raises money for agencies, hospitals and schools that make life better for children with special needs. In its first 67 years, the Crusade has raised nearly $195 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 counties in southern Indiana. Fire departments raise nearly 60 percent of the money each year by staging roadblocks and hosting 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. 


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