70th Annual Crusade tallies second highest total in history

70th Annual Crusade tallies second highest total in history

The 70th annual WHAS Crusade for Children came to an end on Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 7:00pm EDT with a final tote board of $6,232,176.70 – the second highest total in the organization’s history. The Crusade’s 50th anniversary tallied $6,307,583 in 2003.

Since 1954, the WHAS Crusade for Children has raised more than $211 million.

100 percent of those donations have been returned to the community in the form of grants to schools, hospitals and agencies that make life better for children with special needs. 216 grants were awarded in the 2022-2023 fiscal year.


More in the Crusade’s press release:

(Louisville, KY) The 70th Annual WHAS Crusade for Children concluded just before 7:00pm EDT Sunday, June 4, 2023 with a grand total of $6,232,176.70 – the second highest total in the organization’s history. The Crusade’s 50th anniversary in 2003 tallied $6,307,583.

More than $211 million for the kids
In its first 70 years, the Crusade has raised more than $211 million for children with special needs. One hundred percent of all donations raised Crusade weekend are returned in the form of grants to agencies, schools and hospitals that make life better for children with special needs in Kentucky and southern Indiana.

At the heart of this effort are the thousands of people who come together each year to make the Crusade a success. From individual donors who drop pocket change into boots at firefighter collection sites to children with lemonade stands to corporations that offer payroll deduction, it all comes together during this annual miracle on the first weekend in June.

The Leaders
Nearly 60 percent of donations are collected by nearly 200 fire departments in Kentucky and southern Indiana. Fire departments have been involved with the Crusade since 1956 when Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Chief Ernie Bohler brought $400 on the Memorial Auditorium stage in Louisville and challenged all fire departments to get involved.

Stephensburg Volunteer Fire Department led the way in Kentucky with $655,400, thanks to a generous estate gift.

The top Indiana fire department was Lafayette Township Fire Department with $100,201.

LG&E and KU Foundation led the community organizations with $441,882 in contributions.

So many to thank
The annual Crusade Internet/radio/telethon kicked off at 1:00pm (EDT) on Saturday, June 3 and aired in its entirety on WHAS Radio (AM 840), WHAS-TV (Channel 11.1) and on WHAS11.com.

In addition, WBNA-TV (Channel 21.1) in Louisville will aired live broadcasts from 1:30pm to 6:30pm Sunday, June 4 from the Kentucky cities of Elizabethtown, Shelbyville and Bardstown. WBKO-TV in Bowling Green aired remote telecasts from Campbellsville on Saturday and Leitchfield on Sunday.


TOP KENTUCKY FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Stephensburg Volunteer Fire Department $655,400.00
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District $202,000.00
Shelby County Fire Department (with Simpsonville Volunteer Fire Department – $12,000) $153,150.45
Fairdale Fire Department $151,646.42
Fern Creek Fire Department $140,222.46

TOP INDIANA FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Lafayette Township Volunteer Fire Dept. $100,201.00
Monroe Township Volunteer Fire Dept. $85,988.06
Charlestown Volunteer Fire Dept. $60,000.00
Clarksville Fire Dept. $39,418.00
Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Dept. $34,460.20

TOP ORGANIZATIONS

LG&E – KU Foundation $441,882.00
Archdiocese of Louisville $233,777.00
Norton Healthcare $120,104.76
Jefferson County Public Schools $62,354.80
Jefferson County Clerk’s Office $37,811.80


RAFFLE WINNERS

GE Appliances Raffle:
Kitchen appliance package: Martin Seedler
Washer & dryer set: Sharon Burns
GE Profile ice maker: Neil Mueller

Milwaukee Tools Raffle:
Austin Sweeney

Quilt Raffle:
Karen Schner


Streaming Coverage

Binge watch the fun of Crusade weekend.

Crusade Saturday – June 3rd

WHAS11 Day 1 of the WHAS Crusade for Children: Ballardsville, Pleasure Ridge Park and Paristown Remotes: click here

WBKO-TV Campbellsville Remote: click here

70th Annual WHAS Crusade for Children Variety Show: click here

70th Annual WHAS Crusade for Children Variety Show performances: click here

70th Crusade Overnight Studio Show – Part 1: click here

70th Crusade Overnight Studio Show – Part 2: click here

Crusade Sunday – June 4th

WHAS11 Day 2 of the WHAS Crusade for Children – Part 1: click here

WHAS11 Day 2 of the WHAS Crusade for Children – Part 2: click here

WBKO-TV Leitchfield Remote: click here

WBNA-TV Elizabethtown, Shelbyville, and Bardstown Remotes: click here

WHAS11 News Recap of the 70th Crusade: click here

Relive the 70th annual WHAS Crusade for Children in 5 minutes: click here


Press Coverage

WHAS11 Moral Side of the News: Recap of the 70th annual WHAS Crusade for Children click here

WHAS Crusade for Children: “There’s nothing else like it.” click here

WHAS Crusade for Children: 70th Crusade total announced, click here

WHAS11 News: Crusade 70 years strong, click here

Grayson County News: click here

The Pioneer News: click here

Laker Counrty 104.9FM: click here

Oldham Era: click here

The Record: click here

Lebanon Enterprise: click here

The News Enterprise: click here


Alphabetized list of Donors

Here’s an alphabetized list of fire departments, groups, organizations and companies that contributed to the 70h annual WHAS Crusade for Children. This will continue to be updated.

Addy Clarkson – Lemonade Stand $330.00
AMVETS Post 61 $2,025.00
Anchorage Middletown Fire & EMS $74,072.96
Angelica Smith $600.00
Archdiocese of Louisville $233,777.00
Arlo Weisberg – Lemonade Stand $30.00

Bagdad Volunteer Fire Department $13,000.49
Ballard Family – in Memory of Lorne $18,777.62
Ballardsville Fire Department $11,149.97
Baptist Health Foundation $10,000.00
Be Kind Sisters from Oldham County – In Memory of Chris Sanders $500.00
Bedford Volunteer Fire Department $6,945.95
Bluegrass Street Rods $21,900.00
Boogie Down Crew $1,010.13
Boone Township Volunteer Fire Department $3,748.00
Boston Volunteer Fire & Rescue $5,506.03
Bradsfordville Fire Department $4,172.59
Breeding Volunteer Fire Department $2,365.71
Buddy Award – Theresa Fleischer

Campbellsburg Fire & Rescue Department $8,102.77
Campbellsville/Taylor County Fire Department $36,058.64
Central Hardin Fire Department $2,177.75
Charlestown Volunteer Fire Department $60,000.00
CHI Saint Joseph Health $7,000.00
Clarkson Fire & Rescue $14,782.02
Clarksville Fire Department $39,418.00
Columbia-Adair County Fire Department $39,156.30
Custer Area Volunteer Fire & Rescue Dept. $6,223.40

Daphne McDonald – Lemonade Stand $525.00
Diane Moore Miracle Dancers $8,500.00

East Grayson Co Volunteer Fire Department $6,749.01
Ekron Volunteer Fire Department $50,546.50
Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department $34,410.00
Elizabethtown Fire Department $16,401.00
Eminence Fire & Rescue $13,340.85
Empower Life $1,113.91

Fairdale Fire Department $151,646.42
Fern Creek Fire Department $140,222.46
Flaherty Volunteer Fire Department $17,110.12

GE Appliances Raffle Winners: 1st Martin Seedler; 2nd Sharon Burns; 3rd Neil Mueller
Gerry Reed – Lemonade Stand $300.00
Glendale Fire Department $4,242.72
Gravel Switch Fire Department $5,175.00
Green County Volunteer Fire Department $18,495.28
Greenville and Lafayette Township Fire Protection District $100,201.01

Hardin County EMT $500.71
Hardin County Grand Total Announced – $886,289.89
Hardinsburg Volunteer Fire Department $21,095.20
Harned Fire & Rescue $36,513.13
Harrison Township Corydon Fire Department $23,964.93
Heth Township Volunteer Fire Department $10,057.40
Highview Fire Department $100,000.00

In Memory of Frances L. Bruner $10,000.00
Irvington Volunteer Fire Dept. $7,744.43
Isaiah Ratcliffe – Lemonade Stand $525.00

JCC Summer Camp $200.00
Jefferson County Clerk’s Office $37,811.80
Jefferson County Public Schools $62,354.80
Jeffersontown Fire Protection District $109,264.48
Jeffersonville Fire Department $33,036.88
Johnny Watson $10.00

Kelly Knoop $10,287.00
Kentuckiana Business / Craft Fair and Car Show $500.00
Kentuckiana Corvette Club & Moose Lodge 5 $9,352.42
Kentucky Kingdom Check Presentation – Power Hour Sponsor $5,000.00
Kentucky Lottery $600.50
Knifely Area Volunteer Fire Department $1,639.85
Kroger $20,000.00
Kentucky 86 Fire & Rescue $22,068.68

LaGrange Fire and Rescue $26,362.86
Lanesville Volunteer Fire Department $17,415.97
Leavenworth Fire District $4,357.84
Lebanon Fire District $45,866.00
Lebanon Junction Fire Department $11,410.39
Leitchfield Fire Department $14,791.91
LG&E – KU Foundation $441,882.00
Livonia Fire & Rescue $1,489.30
Loretto Volunteer Fire Department $6,138.00
Louisville Fire Department $9,505.56
Louisville Street Rods $2,500.00

Magers Brothers – Lemonade Stand $275.00
Marion County Grand Total Announced – $69,403.91
McDaniels Fire & Rescue $11,750.00
McMahan Retirees $9,070.00
Meade County Fire and Rescue $18,877.99
Meredith Dunn School $1,354.00
Milltown Fire Department $26,620.00
Milwaukee Tools Raffle Winner: Austin Sweeney
Monroe Township Fire Department $85,988.06
Mt. Washington Fire Department $44,844.81

Nelson County Fire Department $12,000.72
Nelson County School Buddy Bash $4,300.00
New Castle Volunteer Fire & Rescue $12,048.52
New Hope Volunteer Fire Department $2,250.66
New Middletown Volunteer Fire Department $10,487.79
Nia Jackson – Lemonade Stand $770.00
Nichols Fire Department $18,175.48
Norton Healthcare $120,104.76

Okolona Fire Dept. Auxiliary & Milwaukee Tools Raffle (Austin Sweeney, raffle winner) $2,100.00
Okolona Fire Protection District $21,349.58
Okolona Street Rods $6,571.00

Palmyra Volunteer Fire Department $14,101.00
Paul Hall – Hazelwood Community Homes & New Vista $4,610.36
Payneville Fire Department $12,323.47
Pewee Valley Fire Department $18,460.04
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District $202,000.00
Pleasureville Volunteer Fire Department $14,000.00

Quilt Winner: Karen Schner

Ramsey Volunteer Fire Department $21,791.45
Raywick Volunteer Fire Department $8,052.32
Republic Bank – Power Hour Sponsor $7,000.00
Republic Bank Corporate Donation $10,000.00
Rineyville Fire Department $112,000.00
Rolling Fork Fire Department $14,710.21

Scottsburg Fire Department $12,092.70
Shelby County Fire Department (with Simpsonville Volunteer Fire Department ($12,000) $153,150.45
Shelbyville Fire Department $22,261.79
Shepherdsville Fire Department $35,948.09
Shively Fire Department $8,654.00
Sonora Fire and Rescue $6,036.48
South Oldham Fire and Rescue $65,233.43
Southeast Bullitt Fire Department $18,160.91
Sparkles & Spurs Dance Team $2,040.73
Split the Pot Winner: Hobert
Springfield – Washington County Fire Department $9,500.00
St. Matthews Fire Protection District $107,863.00
Stephensburg Volunteer Fire Department $655,400.00
Summersville Fire Department $5,272.09
Superior Van & Mobility – Power Hour Sponsor $7,000.00
Sweathogs Bar and Grill $2,000.00

Taylorsville – Spencer County Volunteer Fire Department $39,321.31
TEGNA Foundation $10,000.00
Terry Hickey $60,000.00
TOPS IN #20 $415.00

UofL Health $7,000.00
US Census Bureau $15,984.00

Valley Creek Fire Department $23,280.70
Vine Grove Fire Department $15,409.35
VIPS Cookout for the Crusade $1,826.00

Waddy Volunteer Fire Department $13,545.37
Washington County Grand Total Announced – $14,472.34
West Point Fire Department & Ambulance $9,611.18
Westport Fire Department $3,395.87
WHAS Crusade for Children Endowment $500,000.00
WHAS Crusade for Children Board of Directors $4,910.00
White Mills Volunteer Fire Department $5,383.38
Wilkins Family – Leavenworth Crusaders $5,326.00
Willisburg Fire & Rescue $4,972.34

Zoneton Fire Protection District $94,223.00

You can still donate!

Donate by Mail

WHAS Crusade for Children
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202.

Be sure to make note if the donation is in honor or memory of someone or to credit a fire department or church.


Donate Securely Online

Give online safely and securely. There is a section where you can honor/memorialize a loved one or credit a fire department or church. CLICK HERE

Donate via Facebook

Go to the Crusade’s Facebook page and donate securely. Click on the DONATE BUTTON near the top.
Facebook does not charge any fees. CLICK HERE

Venmo

Venmo a donation to @CrusadeForChildren. You can credit a fire department or church in the comments section.

Cash App

Use Cash App to make a secure donation to $CrusadeChildren. You can credit a fire department or church in the notes section.

ApplePay

You can donate to the Crusade using ApplePay.

PayPal

If you use PayPal, you can use it to donate to the WHAS Crusade for Children.

Donate your car to the Crusade

The Crusade works with Vehicles For Charity. Free towaway included. Learn more, CLICK HERE

Get a Crusade Kentucky license plate for your car

A special WHAS Crusade for Children license plate is available to residents of Kentucky. Learn more, CLICK HERE

Designate the Crusade in your will and estate planning

The WHAS Crusade for Children 1954 Society, named after the year when the organization was founded, is a special group of supporters who have designated a gift by will or trust. Learn more, CLICK HERE

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.


Who gave how much? It’s all listed here!

Here’s a running list of fire departments, organizations and companies as they appeared on the 70th Annual WHAS Crusade for Children. This list will be refreshed, updated and later alphabetized so keep checking back!

Ballardsville Fire Department $11,149.97
Be Kind Sisters from Oldham County – In Memory of Chris Sanders $500.00
LaGrange Fire and Rescue $26,362.86
Okolona Street Rods $6,571.00
Louisville Street Rods $2,500.00
Bluegrass Street Rods $21,900.00
Daphne McDonald – Lemonade Stand $525.00
LG&E – KU Foundation $441,882.00
In Memorial of Frances L. Bruner $10,000.00
Johnny Watson $10.00
Paul Hall – Hazelwood Community Homes & New Vista $4,610.36
Jefferson County Public Schools $62,354.80
JCC Summer Camp $200.00
Okolona Fire Dept. Auxiliary & Milwaukee Tools Raffle (Austin Sweeney, raffle winner) $2,100.00
Sparkles & Spurs Dance Team $2,040.73
VIPS Cookout for the Crusade $1,826.00
AM VETS Post 61 $2,025.00
Baptist Health Foundation $10,000.00
Jeffersonville Fire Dept. (Lt. Kenny Routh) grand total will be given on Sunday $1,200.00
Angelica Smith $600.00
TOPS IN #20 $415.00
Jefferson County Clerk’s Office $37,811.80
Boogie Down Crew $1,010.13
Meredith Dunn School $1,354.00
Kentuckiana Business / Craft Fair and Car Show $500.00
Gerry Reed – Lemonade Stand $300.00
Arlo Weisberg – Lemonade Stand $30.00
Isaiah Ratcliffe – Lemonade Stand $525.00
Terry Hickey $60,000.00
Magers Brothers – Lemonade Stand $275.00
Nia Jackson – Lemonade Stand $770.00
Addy Clarkson – Lemonade Stand $330.00
Kelly Knoop $10,287.00
Kroger $20,000.00
Diane Moore Miracle Dancers $8,500.00
Milltown Fire Department $26,620.00
Green County Volunteer Fire Department $18,495.28
Knifely Area Volunteer Fire Department $1,639.85
Columbia-Adair County Fire Department $39,156.30
Breeding Volunteer Fire Department $2,365.71
Summersville Fire Department $5,272.09
Campbellsville/Taylor County Fire Department $36,058.64
Superior Van & Mobility $7,000.00
US Census Bureau $15,984.00
St. Matthews Fire Protection District $107,863.00
Kentucky Lottery $600.50
South Oldham Fire and Rescue $65,233.43
Kentuckiana Corvette Club & Moose Lodge 5 $9,352.42
Campbellsburg Fire & Rescue Department $8,102.77
CHI Saint Joseph Health $7,000.00
Louisville Fire Department $9,505.56
Palmyra Volunteer Fire Department $14,101.00
Ballard Family – in Memory of Lorne $18,777.62
Fairdale Fire Department $151,646.42
Scottsburg Fire Department $12,092.70
UofL Health $7,000.00
Anchorage Middletown Fire & EMS $74,072.96
TEGNA Foundation $10,000.00
Livonia Fire & Rescue $1,489.30
Ekron Volunteer Fire Department $50,546.50
Highview Fire Department $100,000.00
Meade County Fire and Rescue $18,877.99
Jeffersonville Fire Department $33,036.88
Pewee Valley Fire Department $18,460.04
Buddy Award – Theresa Fleischer
Nichols Fire Department $18,175.48
Jeffersontown Fire Protection Department $109,264.48
Southeast Bullitt Fire Department $18,160.91
Westport Fire Department $3,395.87
Clarksville Fire Department $39,418.00
Monroe Township Fire Department $85,988.06
Harrison Township Corydon Fire Department $23,964.93
Heth Township Volunteer Fire Department $10,057.40
Wilkins Family – Leavenworth Crusaders $5,326.00
Boone Township Volunteer Fire Department $3,748.00
Sweathogs Bar and Grill $2,000.00
Okolona Fire Protection District $21,349.58
Shepherdsville Fire Department $35,948.09
Payneville Fire Department $12,323.47
Kentucky Kingdom Check Presentation (Power Hour) $5,000.00
Zoneton Fire Protection Disctrict $94,223.00
Ramsey Volunteer Fire Department $21,791.45
WHAS Crusade for Children Endowment $500,000.00
Charlestown Volunteer Fire Department $60,000.00
Norton Healthcare $120,104.76
Mt. Washington Fire Department $44,844.81
New Middletown Volunteer Fire Department $10,487.79
Republic Bank – Power Hour Sponsor $7,000.00
Republic Bank Corporate Donation $10,000.00
Leavenworth Fire District $4,357.84
Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department $34,410.00
Shively Fire Department $8,654.00
McMahan Retirees $9,070.00
Lanesville Volunteer Fire Department $17,415.97
Shelby County Fire Department (with Simpsonville Volunteer Fire Department ($12,000) $116,481.30
GE Appliances Raffle – 1st Martin Seedler; 2nd Sharon Burns; 3rd Neil Mueller
Archdiocese of Louisville $233,777.00
Marion County Grand Total Announced – $69,403.91
Washington County Grand Total Announced – $14,472.34
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District $202,000.00
Irvington Volunteer Fire Dept. $7,744.43
Clarkson Fire & Rescue $14,782.02
East Grayson Co Volunteer Fire Department $6,749.01
Custer Area Volunteer Fire & Rescue Dept. $6,223.40
Harned Fire & Rescue $36,513.13
McDaniels Fire & Rescue $11,750.00
Hardinsburg Volunteer Fire Department $21,095.20
Leitchfield Fire Department $14,791.91
Empower Life $1,113.91
Hardin County EMT $500.71
Elizabethtown Fire Department $16,401.00
Sonora Fire and Rescue $6,036.48
Rineyville Fire Department $112,000.00
KY 86 Fire & Rescue $22,068.68
Central Hardin Fire Department $2,177.75
Vine Grove Fire Department $15,409.35
Glendale Fire Department $4,242.72
West Point Fire Department/Ambulance $9,611.18
White Mills Volunteer Fire Department $5,383.38
Flaherty Volunteer Fire Department $17,110.12
Lebanon Junction Fire Department $11,410.39
Valley Creek Fire Department $23,280.70
Stephensburg Volunteer Fire Department $650,000.00
Hardin County Grand Total Announced – $886,289.89
Bagdad Volunteer Fire Department $13,000.49
Taylorsville/Spencr County Volunteer Fire Department $39,321.31
Eminence Fire & Rescue $13,340.85
New Castle Volunteer Fire & Rescue $12,048.52
Pleasureville Volunteer Fire Department $14,000.00
Waddy Volunteer Fire Department $13,545.37
Shelbyville Fire Department $22,261.79
Bedford Volunteer Fire Department $6,945.95
Raywick Volunteer Fire Department $8,052.32
Gravel Switch Fire Department $5,175.00
Bradsfordville Fire Department $4,172.59
Loretto Volunteer Fire Department $6,138.00
Lebanon Fire District $45,866.00
Willisburg Fire & Rescue $4,972.34
Springfield / Washington County Fire $9,500.00
Boston Volunteer Fire & Rescue $5,506.03
New Hope Volunteer Fire Department $2,250.66
Rolling Fork Fire Department $14,710.21
Nelson County Fire Department $12,000.72
Nelson County School Buddy Bash $4,300.00
Crusade for Children Board of Directors $4,910.00
Greenville and Lafayette Township Fire Protection District $100,201.01
Quilt Winner: Karen Schner
Split the Pot Winner: Hobert
Fern Creek Fire Department $140,222.46

About the WHAS Crusade for Children

$211 million raised for special needs children
In its first 70 years, the Crusade has raised more than $211 million. Thanks to generous contributions of goods and services, the Crusade is able to return 100 percent of all donations to organizations that serve special needs children in all 120 Kentucky counties and more than 50 southern Indiana counties. Fire departments raise more than 50 percent of the money each year by staging road blocks and other events

An independent board decides
An independent board of interdenominational ministers known as the Crusade Advisory Panel decides how donations are distributed each year.

Agencies apply for grants
Representatives from agencies, schools and hospitals apply for grants and appear before the panel during grant hearings held each spring. Once the hearings are complete, the advisory panel determines which agencies receive Crusade donations.

Since agency grant requests far exceed donations to the Crusade each year, the panel has difficult decisions to make.

For a complete listing of grant application rules, click here.

The Crusade telethon airs in June
The annual Crusade Internet/radio/telethon is held each year on the first full weekend in June and is aired on News Radio 840 WHAS (AM 840), WHAS-TV (Channel 11.1) and worldwide on WHAS11.com. Portions of the broadcast are also seen and heard on a Kentucky statewide network.

Millions of children have been helped
Millions of children have been helped by the Crusade since 1954.

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. The Crusade is the most successful and oldest local telethon in America.

To make a secure online donation, click here or call (502) 582-7706.

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