Amid near-record unemployment and a struggling economy, Highland County residents stepped up to pledge $148,300 to the Highland County Society for Children and Adults on March 31. With telethons put on by the Rotary Clubs of Greenfield and Hillsboro, the 38th annual event was deemed a success as it surpassed the 2009 total of $144,700.
The telethon has raised more than $2.5 million since its inception in 1973, donating all proceeds to help the HCSCA in its mission of "People Helping People." The society helps fill in the gaps for families and individuals struggling to pay bills and expenses due to an illness or medical limitation.
"We are extremely pleased with this number. Given what the economy is, we were worried, and it is amazing how people came through tonight," said Judge Rocky Coss, who has chaired the telethon board for the past 30 years. "I felt that if we hit $125,000 it would be a good evening. To pass last year and get to this number is a tremendous reflection on the people of Highland County."
In Greenfield, the pledge total at the end of the evening was $18,130.
Total donations received at both the Hillsboro and Greenfield locations were tracked on a poster board throughout the evening, and the number on the board steadily rose as thousands of dollars in donations were called in and checks were handed over.
Gayle Coss, in her fifth year as the society's executive director, talked about how emotional it is to see the faces of people whose lives have been touched by the society.
"I had three people come to me tonight and thank me personally. One was a little boy who had lost one of his hearing aids, and the society purchased one for him. He came up to me and said, 'Thank you.' It was incredible how much this hearing aid meant to him."
Gayle Coss said that the society helped more than 1,100 people last year, some the victims of accidents, and others just struggling to pay medical bills.
"Our adult spokesperson, Gary Green, was the victim of an accident that he says could have been avoided. Now he's in a wheelchair for the rest of his life," she said. "And then we have our telethon poster child, a little boy with a severe handicap. That has to be so tough for the whole family.”
Thirteen-month-old Easton Williams, who suffers from cerebral palsy, served as the poster child for the telethon this year. He and his mother, Rachel Williams, appeared at both telethon sites and his mother explained how they had benefited from the HCSCA.
Highlights at the Greenfield telethon included musical performances by McClain students and others who donated their talents to help raise awareness of the society’s efforts.
The money raised in the telethon stays in the county by providing assistance and health services to Highland County residents who need help paying for expenses for necessary medical treatment, transportation to hospitals, health equipment and devices. It also operates a free equipment loan closet providing items such as walkers, canes, wheelchairs and crutches, to name a few.
“The Greenfield Rotary Club would like to thank everyone who helped out with the telethon by working on the air or behind the scenes, the entertainers, Mr. Matt Raike and his staff of GCTV-3 and especially everyone who donated to make the telethon a success,” said Barb Barton, who coordinated the Greenfield telethon.
While the telethon is over for this year, it's never too late to donate. To contribute, contact any Rotary Club member or financial institution in Greenfield or Hillsboro, or mail a check or money order to Highland County Society for Children and Adults, 149 E. Main St., Hillsboro, Ohio 45133.