Click here to see hundreds of photos and many videos from Crusade weekend on our Facebook page.
$200 million milestone achieved!
The Crusade celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2003 and achieved a cumulative total of $100 million. Just 10 years later, in its 60th year, the Crusade had raised $150 million.
June 6, 2021 topped them all. At the conclusion of the 68th annual WHAS Crusade for Children, the final tote board read $5.1 million. Since 1954, the Crusade has now raised a cumulative total of $200 million.
In an emotional weekend, honoring many fallen firefighters, the people of Kentuckiana responded.
From the News-Enterprise in Elizabethtown:
Kudos: Praising positives
June 15, 2021
CRUSADE A BIG WINNER. The manner in which local fire departments and others collect money for the annual WHAS Crusade for Children doesn’t matter: Local residents are going to match the efforts with donations.
More than $131,000 was raised locally for this year’s Crusade for Children.
Fire departments, organizations and businesses have become more and more creative over the years after firefighters were removed from most of the county roadways as a collection site.
Whether it’s a fundraising meal, raffle or going to the door of a donor to collect a donation, we make it work in Hardin County every year to support a wonderful cause.
The Crusade has been a big part of the community and the region since 1954 when it was started by WHAS-TV. The effort is designed to raise money for agencies, schools and hospitals that benefit children with special needs.
Watch highlights of the 68th annual Crusade assembled by Troy Whittaker of WHAS11 News.
Top Organizations and Companies
LG&E & KU PPL Companies $409,064.00
Archdiocese of Louisville $235,419.00
Norton Healthcare $126,208.88
Jefferson County Public Schools $65,930.00
Cross Country Distributing $50,000.00
Top Indiana Fire Departments
Lafayette Township Fire Department $104,383.00
Monroe Township Volunteer Fire District $64,060.06
Charlestown Fire Department $63,554.00
Clarksville Fire Department $37,677.15
Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department $33,254.46
Top Kentucky Fire Departments
Pewee Valley Fire Protection $259,564.57
Zoneton Fire Protection District $195,438.87
Fern Creek Fire Protection District $185,261.79
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District $151,520.41
Highview Fire Protection District $91,550.61
You can still donate!
Donate By phone
Call 502-582-7706
Donate by Mail
Even though our office is closed for now during the pandemic, we are able to access our mail.
Send your donation to:
WHAS Crusade for Children
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202.
Please be sure to make note if the donation is in honor or memory of someone or if you’d like to give credit to a certain fire department.
Donate Securely Online
Give online safely and securely. There is a section where someone can honor/memorialize a loved one or credit a fire department.
Text to Donate
Supporters can now text CRUSADE to 50155 to complete a donation. There is the ability to honor a fire department on the donation link.
Venmo
Venmo a donation to @CrusadeForChildren. You can credit your fire department in the comments section.
Cash App
Just like Venmo, use Cash App and make a secure donation to $CrusadeChildren. You can credit your fire dept. in the notes section.
Paypal
If you use PayPal, you can use it to donate to the WHAS Crusade for Children!
Alexa
If you have an Amazon smart device, just say, “Alexa, donate to the Crusade for Children…” and Alexa will walk you through your secure donation, charging it to your card on file with Amazon.
Donate via Facebook
Go to the Crusade’s Facebook page to donate securely online. Facebook does not keep any fees for a charitable donation!
Donations are tax deductible
The WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Gifts are tax deductible as permitted by law. EIN #23-7075524.
Alphabetized list of Donors
Here’s an alphabetized list of fire departments, groups, organizations and companies that contributed to the 68th annual WHAS Crusade for Children. This will continue to be updated.
American Heroes Motorcycle Association $1,200.00
Anchorage Middletown Fire & EMS $87,735.45
Anchorage Schools $916.00
Angelica’s Charity Bracelets $300.00
Archdiocese of Louisville $235,000.00
Bagdad Volunteer Fire Dept. $12,487.47
Baptist Health Foundation $10,000.00
Bedford Fire & Rescue $11,000.00
Boone Township Vol. FD $9,653.00
Breeding VFD $2,012.19
Buechel Fire Protection District – Donated to Fern Creek $0.00
Camp Taylor Fire Department $36,603.18
Campbellsville/Taylor Co. Fire Dept. $35,625.44
CASA $522.50
Central Hardin Fire Dept. $4,517.31
Charlestown Vol. Fire Dept. $63,554.00
Clarkson Fire and Rescue $14,564.10
Clarksville Fire Dept. $37,677.15
Columbia – Adair Co. FD $46,500.00
Community Boat House $885.00
Cross Country Distributing $50,000.00
East 60 Volunteer Fire Dept. $8,237.57
East Grayson County V.F.D. $6,727.00
Ekron Vol. Fire Dept. $25,046.09
Elizabeth Vol. Fire Dept. $33,254.46
Elizabethtown Fire Department $10,773.00
Eminence Fire & Rescue $17,350.93
Fairdale Fire Department $33,675.36
FastSigns $1,500.00
Fern Creek Fire Department $185,276.79
Flaherty Vol. Fire Department $32,866.73
Georgetown Township Fire Protection District $20,238.81
Glendale Fire Dept. $10,169.16
Greater Clark County Schools $21,626.00
Greensburg – Green Co. Vol. FD $18,107.28
Harned Fire and Rescue $35,413.13
Harrison Twp./Corydon VFD $26,812.00
Hazelwood Center & Windsong $1,274.65
Heth Twp Vol Fire Dept. $11,632.58
Highview Fire Protection District $91,550.51
Jefferson County Public Schools $65,930.00
Jeffersontown Fire Protection Dist. – In honor of Fern Creek FD $72,137.84
Jeffersonville Fire Dept. $21,566.68
Jewish Community Center Lemonade Stand $100.59
Joe Huber Family Farm and Restaurant $2,150.00
Kelly Knoop $24,002.00
Kentuckiana Corvette Club & Moose Lodge 5 $8,568.00
Kevin Adams $3,800.00
Knifley Area Vol. Fire Dept. $694.22
Kosair Charities $200,000.00
Kentucky 86 Fire and Rescue $17,750.00
Lafayette Township Fire Protection Dist. $104,383.00
LaGrange Fire and Rescue $11,453.13
Lanesville VFD $20,528.67
Leavenworth Crusaders $7,442.00
Lebanon Junction Fire Dept. $11,379.82
Lexington Vol. Fire and Rescue $2,417.37
LG&E and KU PPL Companies $409,064.00
Livonia Fire Dept $1,250.00
Loretto Volunteer Fire Dept. $6018.15 (?)
Lorne Ballard $18,061.00
Louisville Fire *& Rescue $14,270.95
McDaniels Fire/Rescue Dept $5,280.00
Meade County Fire and Rescue $6,361.40
Meredith Dunn School $2,041.70
Milltown Volunteer Fire Dept. $19,400.00
Miracle Dancers $8,500.00
Monroe Township Volunteer Fire Dept. $64,060.06
Mt. Washington Fire Dept. $53,000.00
New Albany Fire Dept. $15,388.02
New Castle Vol. Fire & Rescue $9,329.00
New Hope VFD $4,310.68
New Middletown VFD $9,523.75
New Washington Vol. Fire Dept. $13,985.46
Nichols VFD $10,000.87
Norton Healthcare $126,208.88
Okolona Fire Protection District – Milwaukee Tools Raffle Winner – Kyle DeMent
Okolona Fire Protection District $60,592.41
Palmyra Fire Dept. $11,011.05
Payneville Fire Dept. $12,264.63
Pewee Valley Fire Protection $259,564.57
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District $151,520.41
Pleasureville Volunteer Fire Dept $6,705.97
Radcliff Fire Dept. $11,530.19
Ramsey Vol. Fire and EMS $14,854.52
Rauch, Inc. $450
Raywick Vol Fire Dept. $8,424.49
Republic Bank Foundation $10,000.00
Republic Bank Foundation “More for the Kids” Power Hour Sponsor $6,800.00
Retired McMahan Firefighters $10,620.00
Rineyville Fire Department $13,730.00
Sarah Sauer & Family $1,000.00
Sawyer Family $1,400.00
Shelby County Fire & Rescue $86,285.82
Shelbyville Fire Department $27,794.83
Shepherdsville Fire and Rescue $16,213.62
Sonora Fire and Rescue $5,137.24
South Oldham Fire & Rescue $48,365.87
Southeast Bullitt Volunteer Fire & Rescue $4,581.54
Sparkles & Spurs $596.17
St. Matthews Fire Protection District $83,948.00
Stephensburg Volunteer Fire Dept $4,581.00
Summersville Fire Dept. $6,360.33
Superior Van and Mobility – “More for the Kids” Power Hour Sponsor $6,800.00
Swope Family Foundation $34,363.00
Taylorsville/Spencer Co. VFD $30,000.00
Ted Throckmorton Crusade Golf Tournament $25,168.68
UofL/UofL Health – “More for the Kids” Power Hour Sponsor $6,800.00
Upton Volunteer Fire & Rescue Dept. $1,948.00
Utica Township Fire Dept. $2,420.50
Valley Creek Fire Dept. $18,063.50
Vienna Twp. Fire Dept. $4,426.88
Vine Grove Fire Dept. $16,188.13
West 84 Vol Fire Dept. $3,405.00
West Point Fire Dept/Ambulance $10,303.47
White Mills Volunteer Fire Dept. $2,980.93
Zoneton Fire Protection District $107,846.42
Who gave how much? Here’s a running list
Here’s a running list of donors to the 68th annual WHAS Crusade for Children. This will continue to be updated.
Hazelwood Center & Windsong $1,274.65
Cross Country Distributing $50,000.00
Jefferson County Public Schools $65,930.00
Okolona Fire Department – Milwaukee Tools Raffle Winner – Kyle D. $400.00
Sparkles & Spurs $596.17
Baptist Health Foundation $10,000.00
Jewish Community Center Lemonade Stand $100.59
Angelica’s Charity Bracelets $300.00
Kevin Adams $3,800.00
Greater Clark County Schools $21,626.00
Community Boat House $885.00
Republic Bank Foundation $10,000.00
Republic Bank Foundation “More for the Kids” Power Hour Sponsor $6,800.00
Meredith Dunn School – Penny War $2,041.70
Norton Healthcare $126,208.88
LG&E and KU PPL Companies $409,064.00
Anchorage Schools $916.00
Retired McMahan Firefighters $10,620.00
Rauch, Inc. $450
Miracle Dancers – Pre-recorded check presentation $8,500.00
Milltown Volunteer Fire Dept. $19,400.00
Kosair Charities $200,000.00
Kelly Knoop $24,002.00
Superior Van and Mobility – “More for the Kids” Power Hour Sponsor $6,800.00
Lorne Ballard – Pre-recorded check presentation $18,061.00
Fast Signs $1,500.00
St. Matthews Fire Protection District $83,948.00
South Oldham Fire & Rescue $48,365.87
Kentuckiana Corvette Club & Moose Lodge 5 $8,568.00
Sarah Sauer & Family $1,000.00
Palmyra Fire Dept. $11,011.05
Ted Throckmorton Crusade Golf Tournament $25,168.68
Livonia Fire Dept $1,250.00
Buechel Fire Protection District – Donated to Fern Creek $0.00
UofL/UofL Health – “More for the Kids” Power Hour Sponsor $6,800.00
Utica Township Fire Dept. $2,420.50
Meade County Fire and Rescue $6,361.40
Charlestown Vol. Fire Dept. $63,554.00
Vienna Twp. Fire Dept. $4,426.88
New Washington Vol. Fire Dept. $13,985.46
Clarksville Fire Dept. $37,677.15
Ekron Vol. Fire Dept. $25,046.09
Nichols VFD $10,000.87
Heth Twp Vol Fire Dept. $11,632.58
Fairdale Fire Department $33,675.36
Leavenworth Crusaders $7,442.00
Highview Fire Protection District $91,550.51
Flaherty Vol. Fire Department $32,866.73
Joe Huber Family Farm and Restaurant $2,150.00
Mt. Washington Fire Dept. $53,000.00
New Albany Fire Dept. $15,388.02
Jeffersontown Fire Protection Dist. – In honor of Fern Creek FD $72,137.84
Payneville Fire Dept. $12,264.63
Jeffersonville Fire Dept. $21,566.68
Elizabeth Vol. Fire Dept. $33,254.46
Monroe Township Volunteer Fire Dept. $64,060.06
Boone Township Vol. FD $9,653.00
West Point Fire Dept./Ambulance $10,303.47
Georgetown Township Fire Protection District $20,238.81
LaGrange Fire and Rescue $11,453.13
Southeast Bullitt Volunteer Fire & Rescue $4,581.54
New Middletown VFD $9,523.75
Pewee Valley Fire Protection $259,564.57
Campbellsville/Taylor Co. Fire Dept. $35,625.44
Greensburg – Green Co. Vol. FD $18,107.28
Columbia – Adair Co. FD $46,500.00
Summersville Fire Dept. $6,360.33
Breeding VFD $2,012.19
Knifley Area Vol. Fire Dept. $694.22
Sawyer Family $1,400.00
CASA $522.50
American Heros Motorcycle Association $1,200.00
Upton Volunteer Fire & Rescue Dept $1,948.00
Elizabethtown Fire Department $10,773.00
Radcliff Fire Dept. $11,530.19
Sonora Fire and Rescue $5,137.24
Central Hardin Fire Dept. $4,517.31
White Mills Volunteer Fire Dept. $2,980.93
Stephensburg Volunteer Fire Dept $4,581.00
Glendale Fire Dept. $10,169.16
KY 86 Fire and Rescue $17,750.00
West 84 Vol Fire Dept $3,405.00
Rineyville Fire Department $13,730.00
Lebanon Junction Fire Dept. $11,379.82
Vine Grove Fire Dept. $16,188.13
Valley Creek Fire Dept. $18,063.50
McDaniels Fire/Rescue Dept. $5,280.00
Lanesville VFD $20,528.67
Camp Taylor Fire Department $36,603.18
Anchorage Middletown Fire & EMS $87,735.45
Lafayette Township Fire Protection Dist. $104,383.00
Bagdad VFD $12,487.47
Taylorsville/Spencer Co. VFD $30,000.00
Shelbyville Fire Department $27,794.83
Pleasureville Volunteer Fire Dept $6,705.97
Eminence Fire & Rescue $17,350.93
New Castle Vol Fire & Rescue $9,329.00
Bedford Fire & Rescue $11,000.00
East 60 Volunteer Fire Dept. $8,237.57
Shelby County Fire & Rescue $86,285.82
McDaniels Fire/Rescue Dept $5,280.00
East Grayson County V.F.D. $6,727.00
Clarkson Fire and Rescue $14,564.10
Harned Fire and Rescue $35,413.13
Pleasure Ridge Park FD $151,520.41
Harrison Twp./Corydon VFD $26,812.00
Louisville Fire Dept $14,270.95
Lexington Vol. Fire and Rescue $2,417.37
Ramsey Vol. Fire and EMS $14,854.52
Archdiocese of Louisville $235,000.00
Loretto Volunteer Fire Dept. $6018.15 (?)
Raywick Vol Fire Dept. $8,424.49
New Hope VFD $4,310.68
Okolona Fire Protection District $60,592.41
Shepherdsville Fire and Rescue $16,213.62
Zoneton Fire Protection District $107,846.42
Fern Creek Fire Department $185,276.79
Swope Family Foundation $34,363.00
This year’s event is scheduled for June 5th and 6th and as always you can watch it on WHAS11 and WHAS11.com.
Three things to know about WHAS Crusade For Children:
- 100% of each donation to the WHAS Crusade for Children helps children with special needs.
- Through the Crusade, millions of children’s lives have changed in Kentucky and Indiana since 1954.
- Right now, Crusade is funding 1 in 3 children thanks to donations.
In its first 67 years, the WHAS Crusade for Children has raised more than $195 million. Thanks to generous contributions of goods and services, the WHAS Crusade is able to return 100% of all donations to organizations that make life better for children with special needs in all 120 Kentucky counties and 50 southern Indiana counties. Fire departments raise more than 50 percent of the money each year by staging road blocks and other events.
More about this year’s design
Fire departments have gone above and beyond for the WHAS Crusade for Children to help children with special needs in Kentucky and Southern Indiana in the midst of a pandemic. This year we honor firefighters for their service and sacrifice with a special design by Lonnie Walker of Primo Graphics.
The design includes two crossed axes with a firefighter helmet and badge that encompasses the Crusade’s logo. It will be featured on this year’s t-shirts and collectors pins, which will be available for purchase in the coming weeks.
The 68th WHAS Crusade for Children is June 5-6, 2021. Be sure to follow our WHAS Crusade for Children Facebook page, and stay tuned for more details. 100% for the kids! #WHASCrusade
Special thanks to our community partners: WHAS11 News, 840WHAS, WBNA-TV 21, WBKO Television, Terry Meiners, Kristin Goodwillie and MPC Promotions.
Here’s a look back at the 2020 Crusade
Due the worldwide pandemic, the 67th annual Crusade was held August 8th and 9th in 2020. It still raised $4.8 million thanks to your generosity.
