322:-like containers) before the cameras. Before the "dump," a representative from each department usually reads a list of significant contributors, businesses who helped the department during fund-raising efforts, and numerous others who helped in any way, a process which can be lengthy. Crusade organizers have tried to streamline the process of the years in the same way awards shows have attempted to reduce acceptance speeches to reduce time, to mixed results.
228:
657:, among other charges. Barth was accused of embezzling at least $ 189,000 from the Crusade. Barth faced trial in October 2011, Barth pleaded guilty to 15 felony counts in June 2012. As part of a plea bargain agreement, the court ordered him to pay full restitution to the WHAS Crusade for Children and sentenced him to 41 months in federal prison without any possibility of an early parole.
25:
289:
338:
and elsewhere, which also allows those fire departments to keep their equipment and trucks in their areas to allow emergency deployment. The increase in fire department donations forced the
Crusade to broadcast a pre-telethon show, featuring the departmental reports and remotes from across the area.
595:
The Moral Side of the News,', a long-running public affairs program on WHAS-TV and Radio where local clergy discuss current events. (The program remains one of the longest-running continually aired broadcasts of any kind in radio history.) In later years, the panel's
Crusade duties grew larger than
612:
The
Crusade prides itself in the fact that 100% of all donations go directly to grants, a fact particularly emphasized in its 2011 campaign and later. All overhead costs of the Crusade organization are covered by donations from businesses, and more recently from proceeds of an endowment set up for
159:
The total does not include bequests, which go into a special endowment set up in 2004 that is used to pay the expenses of the
Crusade organization so that 100 percent of all monies collected by the public go directly to children's special needs, a practice that the Crusade promotes in many of its
592:
Throughout the year, various agencies throughout
Kentucky and southern Indiana apply for grants from the Crusade. These applications are evaluated, and grants are made by the Crusade Advisory Panel, a group of local clergy. This task was originally administered by the panel of
205:
The
Crusade broadcast is normally held on the first weekend of June each year, beginning on Saturday afternoon and ending sometime on Sunday night (in past years, it occasionally even into the wee hours of Monday). In 2020, the Crusade was postponed because of the
608:
will be assigned to grant requests from that county. This has been
Crusade policy since the beginning. All grants are on an annual basis; thus, charities must reapply each year. Grant requests typically total about three times the amount collected.
325:
In the past, the fire departments brought the collections directly to the television studio, parading their trucks down the street outside with sirens blaring. But the number of participating departments has become so large that in recent years,
624:
was named the
Crusade's executive director in 2005. Jackson was the first Crusade director to come from outside the WHAS corporate organization. She replaced Dan Miller, a longtime WHAS-TV employee who left in 2004 to become vice president at
479:
natives, have been featured on several
Crusade broadcasts. Other local artists with multiple Crusade appearances include Melissa Combs, JoAnn Hale, Judy Marshall, Karen Kraft and Kiks, The Monarchs, and Louisville's
680:
186:, but many of those have since fallen by the wayside while the Crusade rolls on. The Crusade for Children may be an anachronism, but a hugely successful one. It is by far the most successful local telethon in
362:
Departments compete each year to win the Jim Walton Trophy, given to departments that record the largest percentage increase in donations from the previous year. The trophy is named for Jim Walton, a
315:
ask motorists to put donations in boots. On a
Saturday or Sunday in late spring, it's not uncommon for someone driving across metro Louisville to encounter multiple road blocks manned by volunteers.
667:
by firefighters, and is deposited on arrival at the studio or remote broadcast location. The traditional pouring of money from boots and buckets into fishbowls during the broadcast now is merely a
506:
The Crusade broadcast goes on through Saturday night and Sunday morning, as is traditional with most telethons, but some of the overnight portion of the show consists of segments taped beforehand.
645:
was brought against Paul Barth, chairman of the Crusade's board of directors and then chief of the McMahan Fire Protection District volunteer fire department. The charges accused Barth of federal
837:
812:
378:
Almost every Crusade features a celebrity guest, who usually performs on Saturday night during a variety-show segment that leads off the traditional Crusade telecast. In 2006,
746:
604:
Grants are made in all 120 Kentucky counties and in 50 Indiana counties. The Crusade returns donations from a certain area to that area—for instance, donations from
759:
182:
In the early days of television, local telethons were quite common. In recent years, most local telethons gave way to well-produced national telethons such as the
704:
822:
370:
for 26 years and was its first executive director. Fire department collections typically account for more than half of the Crusade's final total each year.
503:
is one of a handful of people who have been involved with every Crusade since the inaugural event; he appeared on every Crusade until his death in 2016.
249:
146:
339:
In 2007, Crusade organizers simply moved the official start of the broadcast to 1:30 p.m. local time, with a one-hour break for local and network
359:, the earliest on-air finish in many years; since then, the telethon has ended at or near the same time, mainly because of the NBA Finals commitment.
514:
In recent years, all or portions of the Crusade have been telecast by stations other than WHAS television and radio. In 2007, television stations in
832:
807:
817:
190:, by almost any measure, though its outreach has grown well past the Louisville metro area. It is second in longevity only to a local telethon in
596:
the program, hence the name change in recent years; additionally, other members outside of the show have been added to the panel, so that the
842:
613:
that purpose. During the years of Bingham family ownership of WHAS, the stations and the family covered many of such costs themselves.
160:
promotions. The record tote board total for the Crusade, not including bequests, was more than $ 6 million (2004, the 50th edition).
156:
The 2022 telethon, the 69th of the series, was broadcast on June 5-6 and raised $ 5,133,684.69, up slightly from the 2021 telethon.
275:
68:
35:
82:
253:
550:) in Louisville. Starting in 2010, WBKO has carried remote broadcasts of its own from locations in south Central Kentucky.
660:
As a result of the incident, tighter controls have been placed on money as it comes in to the Crusade. Money is placed in
626:
344:
318:
During the telethon, each fire department brings in those donations, dumping them out of the boots and into "fishbowls" (
621:
827:
726:
238:
50:
617:
257:
242:
46:
671:
utilizing a smaller amount of money for show, with the contributed amount pre-counted and revealed at that time.
562:
481:
383:
183:
547:
307:
who collect millions of dollars each year. Most of those donations come at road blocks set up at hundreds of
605:
515:
331:
633:. Jackson retired at the end of 2008. Dawn Dison Lee became the current Crusade director in February 2009.
553:
On radio, stations from the Commonwealth Broadcasting Company group carried the telecast in Bowling Green,
570:
351:; the telethon broadcast its final total during halftime of Sunday night's ABC broadcast of Game 2 of the
150:
303:
The backbone of the collection efforts, and the signature of the Crusade itself, are the dozens of local
343:. The 2008 Crusade followed a similar schedule, except for a two-hour break Saturday afternoon for the
202:; that telethon was first produced in March 1954, seven months before the first Crusade for Children.
163:
The Crusade has become a major local institution. For months before the telethon broadcast each June,
847:
630:
467:, a popular Gospel singer and Louisville resident, has appeared on many Crusade telecasts. Magicians
367:
191:
105:
496:
764:
668:
566:
558:
523:
391:
348:
308:
125:
438:
387:
296:
382:
made his second appearance as the headline guest, and returned for his third in 2013. In 2007,
554:
531:
211:
207:
120:
650:
539:
485:
446:
335:
327:
464:
442:
430:
402:
356:
352:
304:
292:
134:
153:
as the celebrity guest. Contributions on the first telethon totaled more than $ 156,000.
210:
to August 8–9, with most of the broadcast done in large or outdoor venues to facilitate
199:
288:
801:
492:
422:
414:
410:
187:
661:
654:
472:
458:
450:
434:
418:
406:
394:
379:
499:
are the co-hosts of the Crusade telecast. Longtime WHAS radio and television host
500:
454:
426:
312:
227:
164:
142:
130:
295:
are preparing to go on-air with the WHAS Crusade for Children; this one is the
646:
642:
172:
168:
81:
664:
101:
581:
476:
468:
398:
340:
319:
109:
93:
108:. The telethon benefits a wide range of children's charities throughout
577:
543:
535:
363:
195:
176:
113:
97:
167:
collection efforts are held throughout the area—from "pickle jars" at
355:. In 2011 the Crusade ended at 6:30 p.m., in order to clear the
119:
The Crusade was begun in 1954, in large part through the efforts of
53:. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed.
681:
List of attractions and events in the Louisville metropolitan area
488:
chorus. Mel Owen directed the Crusade Orchestra for many decades.
287:
129:
newspaper together. (WHAS-TV is currently under the ownership of
546:) carried portions of the broadcast, as well as sister station (
527:
519:
221:
18:
16:
Annual telethon for children's charities in Louisville, KY, US
782:
600:
panel members are now a subset of the Crusade Advisory Panel.
80:
705:"WHAS Crusade for Children raises more than $ 5.1 million"
123:, the patriarch of the family that owned the stations and
792:
42:
787:
214:. The telethon resumed its traditional dates in 2021.
760:"WHAS Crusade for Children raises over $ 5.6 million"
390:—are the headliners. Other past guests have included
813:Local television programming in the United States
838:Children's charities based in the United States
580:via the WHAS-TV website and on the Crusade's
8:
330:are set up in outlying communities such as
256:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
145:) The first telethon was telecast from the
747:Paul Barth Receives Prison Time for Thefts
729:. Business First of Louisville. 2009-02-04
783:WHAS Crusade for Children (Official site)
698:
696:
276:Learn how and when to remove this message
69:Learn how and when to remove this message
727:"CEO selected for Crusade for Children"
692:
491:WHAS radio and television personality
405:headliners with roots in Louisville),
7:
823:Recurring events established in 1954
254:adding citations to reliable sources
141:— while WHAS Radio is now owned by
366:personality who was the Crusade's
14:
758:Shafer, Sheldon S. (2014-06-09).
226:
179:and hundreds of similar events.
23:
833:1954 establishments in Kentucky
808:History of Louisville, Kentucky
818:Events in Louisville, Kentucky
1:
510:Broadcast and webcast outlets
311:throughout the region, where
843:Charities based in Kentucky
49:the claims made and adding
864:
484:, a world champion men's
198:that benefits those with
90:WHAS Crusade for Children
637:Charges against chairman
495:and WHAS-TV news anchor
384:The Kentucky Headhunters
184:Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
137:, which still owns the
133:—spun off in 2015 from
386:—whose origins are in
300:
85:
291:
149:, and featured actor
84:
631:Georgetown, Kentucky
588:Where the money goes
576:The Crusade is also
368:master of ceremonies
250:improve this section
192:Green Bay, Wisconsin
106:Louisville, Kentucky
765:The Courier-Journal
573:and Elizabethtown.
482:Thoroughbred Chorus
349:2008 Belmont Stakes
147:Memorial Auditorium
126:The Courier-Journal
828:American telethons
627:Georgetown College
439:Florence Henderson
388:Edmonton, Kentucky
301:
297:Highview, Kentucky
175:games, to benefit
86:
34:possibly contains
707:. Courier Journal
374:On-air performers
347:broadcast of the
328:remote broadcasts
286:
285:
278:
212:social distancing
208:COVID-19 pandemic
121:Barry Bingham Sr.
79:
78:
71:
36:original research
855:
770:
769:
755:
749:
744:
738:
737:
735:
734:
723:
717:
716:
714:
712:
700:
651:money laundering
620:Judge-Executive
618:Jefferson County
447:McLean Stevenson
305:fire departments
293:Fire departments
281:
274:
270:
267:
261:
230:
222:
218:The firefighters
74:
67:
63:
60:
54:
51:inline citations
27:
26:
19:
863:
862:
858:
857:
856:
854:
853:
852:
798:
797:
788:WHAS (AM) Radio
779:
774:
773:
757:
756:
752:
745:
741:
732:
730:
725:
724:
720:
710:
708:
702:
701:
694:
689:
677:
639:
622:Rebecca Jackson
590:
512:
465:Larnelle Harris
443:Diahann Carroll
431:Bobby Goldsboro
376:
357:2011 NBA Finals
353:2008 NBA Finals
282:
271:
265:
262:
247:
231:
220:
139:Courier-Journal
135:Gannett Company
75:
64:
58:
55:
40:
28:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
861:
859:
851:
850:
845:
840:
835:
830:
825:
820:
815:
810:
800:
799:
796:
795:
790:
785:
778:
777:External links
775:
772:
771:
750:
739:
718:
703:Kobin, Billy.
691:
690:
688:
685:
684:
683:
676:
673:
638:
635:
589:
586:
563:Campbellsville
511:
508:
497:Shay McAlister
375:
372:
284:
283:
234:
232:
225:
219:
216:
200:cerebral palsy
77:
76:
31:
29:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
860:
849:
846:
844:
841:
839:
836:
834:
831:
829:
826:
824:
821:
819:
816:
814:
811:
809:
806:
805:
803:
794:
791:
789:
786:
784:
781:
780:
776:
767:
766:
761:
754:
751:
748:
743:
740:
728:
722:
719:
706:
699:
697:
693:
686:
682:
679:
678:
674:
672:
670:
666:
663:
658:
656:
652:
648:
644:
636:
634:
632:
628:
623:
619:
614:
610:
607:
606:Hardin County
602:
601:
597:
587:
585:
583:
579:
574:
572:
568:
564:
560:
556:
551:
549:
545:
541:
537:
533:
529:
525:
521:
517:
516:Bowling Green
509:
507:
504:
502:
498:
494:
493:Terry Meiners
489:
487:
483:
478:
474:
470:
466:
462:
460:
456:
452:
448:
444:
440:
436:
432:
428:
424:
423:Tammy Wynette
420:
416:
415:Steve Wariner
412:
411:Lee Greenwood
408:
404:
400:
396:
393:
389:
385:
381:
373:
371:
369:
365:
360:
358:
354:
350:
346:
342:
337:
333:
332:Elizabethtown
329:
323:
321:
316:
314:
310:
309:intersections
306:
298:
294:
290:
280:
277:
269:
259:
255:
251:
245:
244:
240:
235:This section
233:
229:
224:
223:
217:
215:
213:
209:
203:
201:
197:
193:
189:
185:
180:
178:
174:
170:
166:
161:
157:
154:
152:
148:
144:
140:
136:
132:
128:
127:
122:
117:
115:
112:and southern
111:
107:
103:
99:
96:broadcast by
95:
92:is an annual
91:
83:
73:
70:
62:
59:December 2022
52:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
21:
20:
763:
753:
742:
731:. Retrieved
721:
709:. Retrieved
659:
655:embezzlement
641:In 2010, an
640:
615:
611:
603:
599:
594:
591:
575:
571:Madisonville
552:
513:
505:
490:
473:Lance Burton
463:
459:Cab Calloway
451:Merv Griffin
435:B. J. Thomas
419:Ricky Skaggs
407:Kenny Rogers
395:Lance Burton
380:Peabo Bryson
377:
361:
324:
317:
313:firefighters
302:
272:
266:October 2022
263:
248:Please help
236:
204:
181:
162:
158:
155:
138:
124:
118:
89:
87:
65:
56:
33:
848:June events
501:Milton Metz
455:Eydie Gorme
427:Alan Thicke
169:restaurants
165:grass-roots
151:Pat O'Brien
143:iHeartMedia
131:Tegna, Inc.
802:Categories
733:2009-02-04
687:References
665:money bags
647:mail fraud
643:indictment
598:Moral Side
486:barbershop
299:Fire Dept.
43:improve it
567:Princeton
559:Bardstown
536:WQTV/WQWQ
524:Lexington
403:Las Vegas
392:magicians
341:newscasts
237:does not
104:Radio in
102:WHAS (AM)
47:verifying
675:See also
582:Facebook
477:Kentucky
469:Mac King
399:Mac King
320:aquarium
177:concerts
110:Kentucky
94:telethon
793:WHAS-TV
616:Former
578:webcast
555:Glasgow
548:WBKI-TV
544:WYMT-TV
532:Paducah
475:, both
364:WHAS-TV
336:Corydon
258:removed
243:sources
196:WBAY-TV
188:America
114:Indiana
98:WHAS-TV
41:Please
711:6 June
662:secure
584:page.
540:Hazard
538:) and
457:, and
401:(two
173:bingo
171:, to
713:2022
669:prop
653:and
528:WKYT
520:WBKO
471:and
397:and
241:any
239:cite
100:and
88:The
629:in
530:),
522:),
345:ABC
252:by
194:on
45:by
804::
762:.
695:^
649:,
569:,
565:,
561:,
557:,
461:.
453:,
449:,
445:,
441:,
437:,
433:,
429:,
425:,
421:,
417:,
413:,
409:,
334:,
116:.
768:.
736:.
715:.
542:(
534:(
526:(
518:(
279:)
273:(
268:)
264:(
260:.
246:.
72:)
66:(
61:)
57:(
39:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
