72nd WHAS Crusade for Children raises $5,890,189.77
72nd WHAS Crusade for Children tote board total celebration. Photographer: John Holthaus
The 72nd WHAS Crusade for Children concluded on Sunday, June 8, 2025, shortly after 7:00pm EDT with a final tote board of $5,890,189.77 – the 9th highest total in Crusade history.
Since 1954, the WHAS Crusade for Children has raised more than $222 million, and 100 percent of those donations have been returned to Kentucky and Southern Indiana communities in the form of grants to hospitals, schools, and agencies that make life better for children with identified health care, educational, and emotional wellness needs.
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 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. This year, Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District celebrates their 75th anniversary, and they once again led the way for Kentucky fire departments with $323,557.44. Fern Creek Fire & EMS reignited the friendly competition between fire departments for Fern Creek Chief Nathan Mulvey’s last Crusade before he retires at the end of July, and they brought in $208,345.38. Monroe Township Fire Department led the way in Indiana with $101,678.07. In the business and organization category, LG&E/KU Foundation and Employees topped the list again this year with $373,116.98.
2025 TOP DONORS
KENTUCKY
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District $323,557.44
Fern Creek Fire & EMS $208,345.38
Jeffersontown Fire & EMS $147,187.43
Anchorage Middletown Fire & EMS $124,311.09
St. Matthews Fire & EMS $124,048.00
INDIANA
Monroe Township Fire Department $101,673.07
Charlestown Fire Department $93,017.54
Jeffersonville Fire Department $78,075.87
Highlander Fire Protection District $65,687.49
Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department $34,491.45
ORGANIZATIONS
LG&E/KU Foundation and Employees $373,116.98
Archdiocese of Louisville $213,689.00
Norton Healthcare $114,216.54
Jefferson County Public Schools $51,484.00
Jefferson County Clerk’s Office $40,581.13
Crusade Network
The annual Crusade Internet/radio/telethon kicked off at 1:00pm (EDT) on Saturday, June 7 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 aired live broadcasts from 1:30pm to 6:30pm Sunday, June 8 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.
To Make a Donation
Tax-deductible contributions can be made year-round securely online on WHASCrusade.org or by mail:
WHAS Crusade for Children
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202
Digital donations can also be made using Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal.
List of on-air donors:
SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2025:
BALLARDSVILLE BROADCAST LOCATION
Grayson and Colton Webber – Lemonade Stand $128.00
Ballardsville Fire Department $14,775.77
North Oldham Fire Department $13,779.97
Ballardsville Remote – Lemonade Stand $1,246.30
UofL and UK Chair Raffle $400.00
UofL Chair Raffle Winner – Doug Broughton
UK Chair Raffle Winner – Ryan Means
LaGrange Fire and Rescue $31,185.97
PLEASURE RIDGE PARK TRAINING CENTER LOCATION
Okolona Street Rods $11,626.00
LG&E and KU Energy $373,116.98
KYANA Car Club $10,000.00
Easton Vest – Lemonade Stand $500.00
Bluegrass World of Wheels $22,270.25
Republic Bank Foundation $10,000.00
Republic Bank Power Hour $7,200.00
Peoples Bank Foundation $2,500.00
Norton Healthcare $114,216.54
COMMUNITY CELEBRATION IN CHRISTY’S GARDEN IN PARISTOWN HALL
Hazelwood Community Homes – Paul Hall $9,132.81
Jefferson County Public Schools $51,484.00
UAW Local 3058 $2,500.00
Trager Family JCC $200.00
Sparkles & Spurs $3,031.45
TOPS Indiana #20 $350.00
Visually Impaired Preschool Services $1,076.87
Jefferson County Clerk’s Office $40,581.13
AMVETS Post 1 $1,300.00
AMVETS Post 61 $2,425.00
Eclipse Bank $10,000.00
Mike’s Carwash $9,122.92
Louisville Triple Crown of Running $12,878.25
Down Syndrome of Louisville $2,575.00
Twins & Friends Lemonade Stand $1,850.00
Carlson Kids Lemonade Stand $360.00
Miracle Hughes Lemonade Stand $150.00
Reilynn, Joshia, Dmichael, and Joel Lemonade Stand $76.00
Estate of Edward Gahn – City of Hillview $43,789.73
Summit Academy Coins for Crusade $1,253.26
Lifelong Patsy Bloor Dance Team and Step-N-Out Ladies $2,590.00
Baptist Health Foundation $10,000.00
VARIETY SHOW AT PARISTOWN HALL
Addy Clarkson Lemonade Stand $400.00
Kelly Knoop $13,772.00
Churchill Downs $45,300.00
Kosair for Kids $100,000.00
Diane Moore – Miracle Dancers $17,100.00
Milltown Fire Department $17,000.00
CAMPBELLSVILLE BROADCAST LOCATION ON WBKO
Campbellsville/Taylor Co Fire Department $41,707.91
Breeding Volunteer Fire Department $3,018.50
Summersville Fire Department $5,831.51
Greensburg – Green Co Volunteer Fire Department $17,111.62
McCubbin Family – Lemonade Stand $550.00
Tripp – Lemonade Stand $2,164.00
SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2025:
WHAS11 STUDIO
Superior Van & Mobility $7,200.00
South Oldham Fire & Rescue $66,633.54
St. Matthews Fire Protection District $124,048.00
Kentuckiana Corvette Club $9,204.11
Fast Signs – given to Kevin Adams $3,200.00
Custom Concepts $500.00
Louisville Low Riders $424.00
In Memory of Lorne Ballard $17,000.13
Palmyra Volunteer Fire Department $22,171.08
Muldraugh Fire Department $1,586.16
WHAS11 Golf Card $8,254.00
UofL / UL Health $7,200.00
New Albany Township Fire Department $27,045.50
Livonia Volunteer Fire & Rescue $1,866.28
Campbellsburg Fire and Rescue Department and Lake Jericho Fire and Rescue $11,274.03
Ramsey Volunteer Fire Department $19,887.71
Southeast Bullitt Fire Department $25,420.30
Fairdale Fire Department $26,882.28
Pewee Valley Fire Department $22,150.00
Zoneton Fire Protection District $121,649.21
Throckmorton Golf Tournament $30,172.72
Clarksville Fire Department $33,655.00
Columbia-Adair Co Fire Department $64,971.33
Jeffersonville Fire Department $78,075.87
Glenn Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram $10,000.00
Leavenworth Fire District $3,634.00
Okolona Fire Protection District $27,650.53
Nichols Volunteer Fire Department $12,001.69
Leavenworth Crusaders $4,695.95
Shepherdsville Fire Department $31,453.45
Monroe Twp Volunteer Fire Department $101,673.07
Harrison Twp Corydon Volunteer Fire Department $17,974.17
Heth Twp Voulunteer Fire Department $16,069.01
Jeffersontown Fire Protection District $147,187.43
Mt. Washington Fire Department $37,285.00
Anderson County Fire Department $563.25
Anchorage Middletown Fire & EMS $124,311.09
Metz Family (Perry & Nancy in memory of Milton Metz) $5,450.00
Charlestown Volunteer Fire Department $93,017.54
Scottsburg Fire Department $9,089.90
Borden-Wood Township Fire Department $3,505.40
Shively Fire Department $9,292.31
Ekron Volunteer Fire Department $37,777.00
Crusade for Children Endowment $750,000.00
Lanesville Volunteer Fire Department $19,275.72
CHI Saint Joseph Health $7,200.00
JCFD Table Raffle $5,000.00
Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department $34,491.45
Boone Township Volunteer Fire Department $5,243.58
Archdiocese of Louisville $213,689.00
New Middletown Volunteer Fire Department $11,890.85
Payneville Fire Department $13,536.49
Kelly’s Lemonade Stand and Bugs $5,144.72
Paoli Girl Scout Troop & Troop Elementary $770.00
Meade Co Fire and Rescue $4,554.12
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District $323,557.44
WHAS Crusade for Children Board of Directors $16,229.52
Highlander Fire Protection District $65,687.49
Flaherty Volunteer Fire Department $18,815.94
Split the Pot Winner – Russ B
Fern Creek Fire Department $208,345.38
LEITCHFIELD BROADCAST LOCATION ON WBKO
East Grayson Co Volunteer Dept $4,799.89
McDaniels Fire/ Rescue Dept $10,000.00
Custer Area Vol Fire & Rescue Dept $5,100.00
Wesley’s Lemonade Stand $740.00
Clarkson Fire & Rescue $18,500.00
Harned Fire and Rescue $41,713.13
Hardinsburg Volunteer Fire Dept $16,137.92
Wax Fire & Rescue $5,104.42
Leitchfield Fire Dept $14,847.40
ELIZABETHTOWN, SHELBYVILLE & BARDSTOWN BROADCAST LOCATIONS ON WBNA
West Point FD $3,157.00
Glendale FD just over $5,000
Elizabethtown FD $13,913.54
Vine Grove FD $29,000.00
Sonora FD $8,500.13
Upton FD $10,435.82
West Hardin FD $11,185.35
Stephensburg FD $4,000.00
Rineyville FD $13,056.00
Kentucky 86 Fire & Rescue $26,315.32
Lebanon Junction FD $8,487.94
Valley Creek FD $21,000.00
Bagdad FD $12,123.26
Waddy FD $14,910.38
Mt. Eden Fire and Rescue $12,120.00
Eminence FD $16,877.80
Pleasureville FD $26,392.18
New Castle FD $13,641.45
Bedford FD $5,361.10
Taylorsville Spencer County Fire District $42,748.54
Ariella – Lemonade $105.00
Shelbyville FD $21,868.63
Dorman Preschool Lemonade $730.00
Shelby Co. FD $101,653.89
Raywick Volunteer FD $14,100.19
Bradsfordville FD $4,544.17
Gravel Switch FD $6,770.84
Loretta Volunteer FD $4,748.17
Lebanon FD $43,525.00
Willsburg Fire & Rescue $5,441.50
Springfield/Washington Co Fire $10,601.00
Boston Volunteer Fire & Rescue $2,075.00
New Hope Volunteer FD $2,500.00
Rolling Fork FD $21,100.46
Nelson Co FD $12,000.09
Bardstown Fire & Rescue $11,360.26
Northeast Nelson Fire Protection District $19,316.64
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