Crusade 61 starts Saturday at 1:00pm

In a few days, the WHAS Crusade for Children will begin its 7th decade of making life better for children with special needs. Thousands will come together to celebrate the 61st annual Crusade on June 7 & 8, 2014.

The WHAS Crusade for Children has raised more than $154 million since its beginnings in 1954. 100 percent of those donations have been granted to agencies, schools and hospitals that provide direct benefit to children with special needs. The Crusade funded nearly 200 grants last year across Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

“If you find yourself growing cynical about community or compassion, just remember that it’s Crusade time! Every year the WHAS Crusade for Children is a demonstration of caring and coming together for the greater purpose of helping children with special needs. Every dollar, dime or penny really makes a difference. Please be generous to the firefighters collecting now through June 8 and know that 100% of your contribution will go to the kids,” said Crusade President & CEO Dawn Lee.
 
Melissa Swan and Terry Meiners host 
Melissa Swan of WHAS11 News “On Your Side” and 84WHAS Radio’s Terry Meiners will host the 61st Annual WHAS Crusade for Children on Saturday, June 7, 2014 at the Kentucky Center’s Bomhard Theater in Louisville beginning at 7:00pm (EDT). Admission is free.

They will be joined by country favorite J. D. Shelburne; Crusade Cannonballer Patrick Hughes; songstress Melissa Combs; The Miracle Dancers; The Diane Moore Dancers; neo soul group Second Chance; pop country trio Southern Sirens; Todd Hildreth and the Crusade Quintet; magician David Garrard and classic rockers Mojo Bay along with hundreds of volunteers.
 
Flagship stations shine on!
The annual Crusade Internet-radio-telethon kicks off at 1:00pm (EDT) on Saturday, June 7 and will air in its entirety on WHAS Radio (AM 840), WHAS-TV (Channel 11.1) and worldwide on WHAS11.com until its conclusion at 7:00pm (EDT) Sunday, June 8.

Firefighters should the goodness!
Nearly 200 fire departments along with hundreds of companies, organizations and civic groups from Kentucky and Indiana will report how much money they’ve raised for Kentuckiana’s children with special needs. Each year firefighters collect more than 50 percent of all Crusade donations by staging road blocks and other events.
 
WBNA is part of love network (again!)
For the third year, WBNA-TV ION 21 is a strong partner in the Crusade Network. WBNA will broadcast live from Elizabethtown, Kentucky (Sunday 12:30pm to 2:00pm EDT), Shelbyville, Kentucky (Sunday 2:00pm to 4:30pm EDT) and Bardstown, Kentucky (Sunday 4:30pm to 6:30pm EDT). Bobby Jack Murphy will host the segments from Elizabethtown and Bardstown while WHAS11 First Alert Storm Team Meteorologist Ben Pine will host the Shelbyville broadcast. They will welcome area fire departments and civic groups to announce their fundraising efforts.

WBNA General Manager Tom Fawbush said, “We are glad to be a part of this annual miracle that brings people together to make Kentuckiana a better place to live.”

WBKO carries the torch for 12 years!
In addition to WBNA, for 12 straight years, WBKO-TV in Bowling Green, Kentucky will air live broadcasts from Campbellsville, Kentucky and Rough River State Resort Park on both Saturday and Sunday. The broadcasts will be hosted by WBKO Weather Director Chris Allen.

The stations of Commonwealth Broadcasting headquartered in Glasgow, Kentucky boost the Crusade’s statewide reach. Thanks to Steve Newberry, Commonwealth President & CEO, listeners hear a live simulcast of the Crusade Variety Show hosted by WHAS11’s Reed Yadon from 8:00pm to 10:00pm (EDT) Saturday.

Television Network
WHAS-TV, Louisville (Flagship station)
WBNA-TV, Louisville
WBKO-TV, Bowling Green

Internet Network
WHAS11.com
WHASCrusade.org

Radio Network
WHAS, Louisville (Flagship station)
WTCO, Campbellsville
WLBN, Lebanon
WBRT, Bardstown
WIEL, Elizabethtown
WHHT, Bowling Green
WTTL, Madisonville
WPKY, Princeton

Download the Crusade App
Yes, the Crusade has an app for that! The Crusade is happy to announce that through the Louisville company, Talgrace Media & Marketing, there’s now a Crusade App that can be downloaded for your Apple iPhone or Android phone. Just go to the Apple App Store for iPhone or the Google Play Store for Android and search for Crusade for Children.

Hashtag!
For fans of social media, the Crusade encourages everyone to use the hashtag #WHASCrusade when tweeting about the Crusade on Twitter. This will create an ongoing dialog and fun for Crusade supporters. You can follow the Crusade on Twitter: @CrusadeChildren or www.twitter.com/crusadechildren. Join the conversation!

Throughout Crusade weekend, there will be continual Facebook updates so be sure to make the Crusade your friend at www.facebook.com/crusadechildren.

Plus the Crusade’s Web site, www.WHASCrusade.org will feature updates throughout Crusade weekend.
About the WHAS Crusade for Children
The WHAS Crusade for Children is America’s most successful local telethon. Since 1954 the Crusade has helped millions of children.

In 2013, the Crusade awarded grants to nearly 200 agencies, schools and hospitals that make life better for children with special needs across Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Children with special needs are grateful for contributions to the Crusade.

There are many ways to make a donation to the WHAS Crusade for Children:
• Make a donation securely online at www.WHASCrusade.org
• Mail a check or charge information in an envelope to the Crusade for Children office
• Become a Crusade Angel through monthly automatic deductions
• “Scan to donate” our new QR code on fire boots and Crusade shirts with your smart phone
• Donate appreciated stock, life insurance policies or other non-cash property
• Consider including the Crusade through a bequest

Mailing address:
WHAS Crusade for Children
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202
Or call: (502) 582-7706

The mission of the WHAS Crusade for Children

The WHAS Crusade for Children improves the futures of children with special needs by inspiring people to give and awarding grants.

The WHAS Crusade for Children, established in 1954 by WHAS-TV, raises money for agencies, schools and hospitals to make life better for children with special needs.

Since 1954, the Crusade has raised more than $154 million, giving critical assistance to millions of children in 120 Kentucky and 50 Southern Indiana counties. The money donated in Kentucky stays in Kentucky and, likewise, money donated in Indiana stays in Indiana. No money is sent to any national charity or organization. Firefighters raise more than 50 percent of the Crusade’s annual donations.

The Crusade returns 100% of each donation to agencies that directly improve the lives of children with special needs. The WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Gifts are tax-deductible as permitted by law.
More is online at www.WHASCrusade.org.