2008 TELETHON PHOTOS
Tiger Cubs Choir |
Fifth Third Bank employees present donation |
Pamida employees make pledge |
Little Katelyne Adams sings "Stand by Your Man" |
Karee Barrett, Jessica Eubanks and Alex Anderson of "Beauty and the Beast" |
Dick Fagan of the Greenfield Eagles presents big checks at telethon |
Merchants National Bank employees help the society |
Gayle Coss and society representatives appear at Greenfield telethon |
The Great Bernardo does a trick for Barb Barton |
Highland County Society for Children and Adults: People Helping People
2008 telethon yields pledges totaling $200,000!Highland Countians reached out to their neighbors March 26, 2008, pledging $200,000 towards the Highland County Society for Children and Adults as the telethon continued a proud 36-year tradition of “People Helping People.”
Sponsored jointly by the Hillsboro and Greenfield Rotary Clubs, all proceeds stay in Highland County to help the HCSCA in their mission of helping Highland County residents. The society helps fill in the gaps for families and individuals struggling to pay bills and expenses due to an illness or medical limitation.
It was a record-setting evening at McClain High School, where the Greenfield portion of the telethon brought in $24,050.
In Hillsboro, the event was broadcast from U.S. Bank.
The Greenfield telethon had many highlights, but by far the largest donations came from the Greenfield Eagles Aerie. Dick Fagan of the Eagles presented not one but two large checks. One from the Eagles was for $3,500, and an even larger check was presented for $10,000 as a result of the annual Eagles Charity Run sponsored by the lodge. The Eagles also announced that the seventh annual Eagles Charity Run will take place Saturday, July 12, 2008 at the Eagles lodge.
Other highlights included musical performances by 7-year-old Katelyne Adams, the Greenfield fourth grade Tiger Clubs choir directed by Mrs. Shonkwiler, a preview of “Beauty and the Beast” by McClain cast members, magic by local magicians David “Boonie” Brizius and Bernie “Bernardo” Hester, and songs performed by Dianna Coffey with Susan Long, Terry Staten, and members of the classic rock band Dumbfounded.
Hosts for the Greenfield telethon in the GCTV-3 studios at McClain High School included Charley Stevens, Barb Barton and Larry Hayes, with many Rotarians and spouses helping out by answering the phones and doing other jobs as needed.
Candy Hedge, adult representative for the telethon, appeared with Gayle Coss, executive director of the Society for Children and Adults, to talk about how the society has helped her since she became stricken with rheumatoid arthritis.
In Hillsboro, recognition was given to Ernie Blankenship, who has hosted the event for more than three decades. U.S. Congressman Mike Turner (R-Centerville) and State Rep. David T. Daniels (R-Greenfield) recognized Blankenship for the volunteer work he has performed over the years in the community.
Blankenship said that each year he is asked by individuals how much money he thinks they will raise during the telethon.
"I don't answer, because I don't know," Blankenship said. "We get out here and we try to raise as much as we can. If we fall short (of a record-breaking year) then we just get back out there and start raising money for next year. If we don't break a record, it doesn't mean we have failed by any stretch."
The society’s first telethon was a 24-hour marathon conducted in 1973, resulting in total pledges of $1,715. Over the years it has grown at an amazing rate as evidence of the society’s effectiveness has been seen by county residents. While the $200,000 pledged in 2008 is a bit less than the $217,290 figure from 2007, it is still an amazing figure for a county this size. Over the years, the telethons have raised more than $2.4 million.
Society executive director Gayle Coss said that she is continually surprised at the support Highland County is able to provide for the organization, even in difficult economic times.
"I think that people are proud to be able to say that they can do this for their community," Coss said. "There is a real sense of community here, and people are so proud that a rural community of this size in southern Ohio can bring in the support they do."
"This goes to help so many people," Coss said of the money raised. "In this past year the society has helped more than 1,000 people in Highland County. We never know when it might happen to us."
Contributions to the society are accepted at any time. Checks payable to the Highland County Society for Children and Adults are tax-deductible and may be sent to: P.O. Box 258, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133.