The 46th annual Easterseals Telethon ended at 7 p.m. Friday, April 14, with a final total of $936,339 raised for the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center. All proceeds will help to provide inclusive early education and essential therapy services for Tri-State children and adults with disabilities. Easterseals also shared mission stories, recognized supporters, and celebrated the organization’s impact in the local community during the broadcast.
The show aired live on ABC 25/CW7 from the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center, 3701 Bellemeade Ave. in Evansville. ABC 25 is the only station in the U.S. donating 100% of production and air time costs for a local Easterseals Telethon. Hosting the show were Eyewitness News team members Shelley Kirk, Brandon Bartlett, Brad Byrd, Gretchen Ross, Wayne Hart, Stacey May, and Ron Rhodes.
The E’ville Iron Street Rod Club hosted their annual Telethon Cruise-In during the show. The local street rod enthusiasts are among Easterseals’ largest supporters.
Many individuals, businesses and groups presented checks and several matched viewers’ pledges. “Pacesetter†volunteers presented donations raised in advance of the show. Local Community members gave at the Cruise-In Kaiser Aluminum “fishbowl.â€Â Easterseals volunteers answered phones from viewers calling in pledges throughout the day. Tri-State businesses and groups competed to raise funds by making outbound calls from the “Dialin’ and Duelin’ for Dollars†call center.
Among many individuals featured on the show were local Easterseals Child Ambassador Waylon Jackson and Adult Ambassador Michelle Schmitt. Viewers learned about our ambassadors through video stories created and donated by “Direction by Newman†in cooperation with ABC 25 and The CW 7.
Mayor Lloyd Winnecke appeared on the broadcast to proclaim “Easterseals Day†in the City of Evansville. Several individuals, businesses and organizations appearing on the show received Easterseals Mayor’s Awards for their generous support of Easterseals
The Easterseals Rehabilitation Center serves approximately 5,200 individuals with disabilities from a 31-county area of Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. Core services are provided on a sliding fee scale, regardless of ability to pay. All donations stay local to provide inclusive early education and life-changing therapy services for Tri-State children and adults with disabilities.
