Following the WHAS Crusade for Children’s fiscal year end audit, here are the final tallies for the top fire departments from the 67th annual Crusade that was held August 8 & 9, 2020.
Top Kentucky Fire Departments
Fern Creek Fire Protection District $121,559.41
Jeffersontown Fire Protection District $107,654.09
Highview Fire Protection District $ 96,014.02
St. Matthews Fire & Rescue $ 93,278.75
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District $ 77,417.63
Shelby County Fire & Rescue $ 75,438.44
Ekron Volunteer Fire Department $ 64,180.97
South Oldham Fire & Rescue $ 54,896.38
Zoneton Fire Protection District $ 52,923.53
Lebanon Fire Department $ 39,125.00
Top Indiana Fire Departments
Charlestown Fire Department $ 57,667.00
Lafayette Township Fire Department $ 49,636.69
Monroe Township Volunteer Fire District $ 44,675.26
Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department $ 29,350.58
Jeffersonville Fire Department $ 20,633.40
Ramsey Volunteer Fire Department $ 19,905.38
New Albany Fire Department $ 19,821.81
Greenville Township Fire & Rescue $ 17,377.09
Milltown Volunteer Fire Departmen $ 17,330.96
Lanesville Volunteer Fire Department $ 13,240.39
Harrison Township Volunteer Fire Department $10,680.48
Top Organizations and Companies
LG&E & KU Foundation $241,621.00
Archdiocese of Louisville $214,856.00
Norton Healthcare $129,302.04
2020 WHAS Crusade for Children Grants announced
This editorial was published in The News-Enterprise in Elizabethtown on September 3, 2020.
Crusade shares every penny
The 67th annual WHAS Crusade for Children was postponed more than two months but the charity did not ask its recipients to wait for their money.
Three weeks after completing the annual telethon, the independent panel of interdenominational ministers which reviews requests from across Kentucky and Southern Indiana announced its 238 grants.
As always, every penny collected is invested in caring. Thanks to contributions of goods and services, the Crusade is able to return 100 percent of all donations to organizations that serve special needs children. The telethon raised $4.8 million and that’s what the 238 grants totalled.
The Hardin Memorial Health Foundation received a $90,000 grant which will be used to purchase pediatric equipment for the hospital’s emergency department and for new equipment in its Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which opened in 2015 and has been a frequent recipient of support from the Crusade,
The list of grants with direct local impact is significant: Hardin County Schools special education department, $40,000; HCS designated for West Point, $18,000; Boy Scouts of America, Lincoln Heritage Council, $16,500; Sunrise Children’s Services, $16,000; Special Olympics Kentucky, $15,000; CASA of the Heartland, $11,000; Elizabethtown Independent Schools, $10,000; Rachel’s Fun for Everyone splash pad project, $10,000; LaRue County Schools, $7,000; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana, $5,000; and Mission Hope for Kids, $4,000.
Since it was established in 1954, the Crusade has raised more than $195 million.
The Crusade has touched local residents and people across Kentuckiana in many ways. The Crusade truly is a blessing to all it touches.
This editorial reflects a consensus of The News-Enterprise editorial board.
2020 WHAS Crusade for Children grants
The WHAS Crusade for Children announces its grants for 2020 – 2021. 238 grants have been awarded totaling $4,800,000. That matches the tote board at the conclusion of the 67th annual WHAS Crusade for Children which was rescheduled to August 8-9, 2020 due to the worldwide pandemic.
Grant funds become available as the Crusade for Children begins a new fiscal year on September 1, 2020.
100% of the $4.8 million collected this year helps make life better for children with special needs throughout Kentuckiana.
Click here to learn more about the WHAS Crusade for Children grant process.
Click here to see a recap of the 2020 67th annual WHAS Crusade for Children.
SEE HUNDREDS OF PHOTOS FROM CRUSADE WEEKEND ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, CLICK HERE.
2020-2021 GRANTS LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
1 Adair County BOE $40,000.00
2 Allegro Dance Project $5,000.00
3 American National Red Cross $15,000.00
4 American Printing House For The Blind $9,000.00
5 Anchorage Independent School District $25,000.00
6 Appalachian Regional Healthcare $15,000.00
7 Archdiocese of Louisville $40,000.00
8 ARHHC $5,000.00
9 Art Center of the Bluegrass $1,650.00
10 Arts for All Kentucky $8,000.00
11 ArtsThrive $23,000.00
12 Asbury University-Scholarships $22,000.00
13 Baptist Health Foundation Greater Louisville $100,000.00
14 Baptist Health Foundation Madisonville $10,000.00
15 Baptist Health Foundation Paducah $25,000.00
16 Bardstown Independent Schools $11,500.00
17 Barren Heights Christian Retreat Center $6,273.00
18 Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center $9,000.00
19 Bath County Schools-Crossroads Elementary $10,000.00
20 Bell County School System $19,000.00
21 Bellarmine University- Scholarships $16,000.00
22 Bellarmine University-Program $87,000.00
23 Berea Independent School District $8,000.00
24 Best Buddies International $6,600.00
25 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana $5,000.00
26 Bluegrass Care Navigators $8,000.00
27 Bluegrass Center For Autism $30,000.00
28 Boone County Public Schools $15,000.00
29 Boy Scouts of America-Lincoln Heritage Council $16,500.00
30 Boys & Girls Club of Harrison County $3,000.00
31 Boys & Girls Clubs $9,500.00
32 Breckinridge County BOE $25,000.00
33 Bullitt County Public Schools $30,000.00
34 Burgin BOE $25,000.00
35 Camp Tessa $4,500.00
36 Camp Tessa of Meade County $5,000.00
37 Campbellsville Independent Schools $14,000.00
38 Carriage House Educational Services $61,000.00
39 Carroll County Schools $4,000.00
40 CASA By The Lakes $5,000.00
41 CASA of Lexington $14,000.00
42 CASA of the Bluegrass $6,000.00
43 CASA of the Heartland $11,000.00
44 CASA of the River Region $9,000.00
45 CASA Program For Bullitt County $16,000.00
46 Centerstone of Ky – Seven Counties $160,000.00
47 Central Kentucky Education Cooperative $35,000.00
48 Central Kentucky Riding For Hope $2,400.00
49 Cerebral Palsy KIDS Center for Ped. Therapies $20,000.00
50 Child Development Centers of The Bluegrass $2,000.00
51 Clark County Youth Shelter and Family Services $15,000.00
52 Cleveland Home -Life Adventure Center $4,000.00
53 Cliff Hagan Boys & Girls Club $3,000.00
54 Cloverport Independent School District $37,000.00
55 Commonwealth Theatre Center $6,000.00
56 Communities In Schools of Clark County $9,000.00
57 Community Action of Southern Indiana $10,700.00
58 Critically Loved $4,000.00
59 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation $5,000.00
60 Deaf Youth Sports Festival $13,000.00
61 Dorman Preschool Center $20,000.00
62 Down Syndrome Association of Central Ky $3,500.00
63 Down Syndrome of Louisville $16,000.00
64 Dream Riders of Kentucky $10,000.00
65 Dreams With Wings $7,500.00
66 Dyslexia Association of The Pennyrile $3,000.00
67 Easter Seals Cardinal Hill $700.00
68 Easter Seals West Kentucky $2,000.00
69 Eastern Kentucky University-Autism Therapy $5,600.00
70 Eastern Kentucky University-Scholarships $19,000.00
71 Eastern Kentucky University-Technology $15,500.00
72 Elizabethtown Independent School System $10,000.00
73 Eminence Indpendent School $23,000.00
74 Englishton Park Academic Remediation $4,400.00
75 Exploited Childrens Help Organization $11,000.00
76 Family & Children’s Place $27,000.00
77 Family Ark $16,000.00
78 Family Enrichment Center $8,000.00
79 Family Scholar House $15,000.00
80 Father Maloneys Boys & Girls Haven $79,000.00
81 Feat of Louisville $14,000.00
82 Flaget Memorial Hospital Foundation $35,000.00
83 Floyd Memorial Foundation $38,031.15
84 Franklin County Schools $15,000.00
85 Friends of Canaan $12,000.00
86 Friends of Open Door Youth Services $5,700.00
87 Friends School $27,800.00
88 Fund For The Arts $6,000.00
89 Gateway Children’s Services $2,300.00
90 Gateway Community Action $4,500.00
91 Gildas Club Louisville $12,500.00
92 Graves County BOE $16,000.00
93 Grayson County Schools $12,700.00
94 Greater Clark County Schools $15,000.00
95 Green County BOE $15,000.00
96 Green Hill Therapy $15,700.00
97 Green River Area Down Syndrome Association $10,000.00
98 Green River Regional Education Cooperative $7,500.00
99 Hancock County Public Schools $8,500.00
100 Harbor House of Louisville $7,500.00
101 Hardin County – West Point Schools $18,000.00
102 Hardin County Schools Special Ed. Department $40,000.00
103 Hardin Memorial Hospital Foundation $90,000.00
104 Harlan County Public Schools $5,100.00
105 Harrison County Exceptional Learners Coop. $17,000.00
106 Hart County BOE $15,000.00
107 Henry County Public Schools $39,000.00
108 Heuser Hearing & Language Academy $26,500.00
109 Hindman Settlement School $10,000.00
110 Home of The Innocents $80,000.00
111 Hosparus -Program $30,000.00
112 Hosparus Health -Capital Project $20,000.00
113 Jefferson County Public Schools ECE Assistive Technology Program $45,000.00
114 Jefferson County Public Schools ECE Audiology and Deaf and Hard of Hearing $7,800.00
115 Jefferson County Public Schools ECE Autism Program $6,000.00
116 Jefferson County Public Schools ECE Communication Disorders $6,000.00
117 Jefferson County Public Schools ECE Early Childhood Special Services Program $5,500.00
118 Jefferson County Public Schools ECE Moderate to Severe Disabilities $60,000.00
119 Jefferson County Public Schools ECE Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy $40,000.00
120 Jefferson County Public Schools ECE Visually Impaired Program $13,170.00
121 Jeffersonville Township Public Library $3,300.00
122 Jennings County School Corporation $7,400.00
123 Jessamine County Schools $3,000.00
124 Jewish Community of Louisville $48,000.00
125 Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana $2,650.00
126 Kendyl And Friends Foundation $7,200.00
127 Kentuckiana Children’s Center $20,000.00
128 Kentucky Educational Development Corporation $8,000.00
129 Kentucky Hemophilia Foundation $5,975.65
130 Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation $20,850.00
131 Kentucky School For The Deaf $10,000.00
132 Kids Cancer Alliance $12,500.00
133 Kore Academy $6,000.00
134 Lake Cumberland Community Action Agency $5,000.00
135 LaRue County Public Schools $7,000.00
136 Lexington Hearing And Speech Center $7,000.00
137 LifeSpring Health Systems $2,500.00
138 Lighthouse Academy at Newburg $3,500.00
139 Lincoln County Schools $5,000.00
140 Madison Area Educational Special Services Unit $8,000.00
141 Madison Consolidated Schools $34,000.00
142 Make-A-Wish Foundation $9,000.00
143 Marion County Public Schools $10,500.00
144 Marty’s Orchid House $8,000.00
145 Maryhurst $30,000.00
146 Mayfield Independent Schools $11,000.00
147 Meade County Public Schools $20,000.00
148 Menifee County Schools $2,643.00
149 Meredith-Dunn Learning Center $20,000.00
150 Middlesboro Independent Schools $5,600.00
151 Mini-Versity Child Development Center $10,400.00
152 Miracle Dancer Scholarship Foundation $7,500.00
153 Miracle League of Louisville $36,000.00
154 Mission Hope For Kids $4,000.00
155 Mountain Comprehensive Care Center $10,000.00
156 Nativity Academy At St Boniface $26,750.00
157 NELCASA $8,250.00
158 Nelson County Schools $25,000.00
159 New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding $10,000.00
160 Newport Independent Schools $9,475.00
161 Northern Ky Childrens Law Center $11,000.00
162 Northern Ky Cooperative For Educational Services $3,000.00
163 Norton Children’s-Weisskopf STAR -Comprehensive Services $48,100.00
164 Norton Children’s – Infectious Diseases $18,500.00
165 Norton Children’s – Learning and Attention Disorders $36,100.00
166 Norton Children’s Hospital – Capital Request $320,000.00
167 Norton Children’s Medical Group – Pediatric Endocrinology $21,300.00
168 Norton Children’s -Pediatric Nutrition Program $38,500.00
169 Norton Children’s -Pulmonology $4,995.00
170 Oldham County BOE $40,000.00
171 Operation Open Arms $10,000.00
172 Orange County – First Chance Center $22,000.00
173 Our Lady of Providence High School $7,300.00
174 Owen County School District $6,304.00
175 Owensboro Dance Theater $12,000.00
176 Owensboro Health Foundation $32,000.00
177 Paoli Community School-Throop Elementary $20,000.00
178 Paws With Purpose $20,000.00
179 Personal Counseling Service $19,000.00
180 Pitt Academy $10,325.00
181 Providence Self Sufficiency Ministries $13,000.00
182 Puzzle Pieces $18,000.00
183 Rachels Fun For Everyone Project $10,000.00
184 Rauch $13,500.00
185 Rockcastle County Hospital $38,000.00
186 SAFY of Kentucky $3,600.00
187 Saint Joseph Berea Hospital Foundation $13,000.00
188 Saint Joseph London Foundation $80,000.00
189 Saint Joseph Mount Sterling Foundation $25,000.00
190 Shelby County Public Schools $75,000.00
191 Shriners Hospitals For Children $10,000.00
192 Society of St Vincent de Paul $15,000.00
193 South Central Area Special Education Cooperative $16,000.00
194 Spalding University $3,470.00
195 Special Olympics Kentucky $15,000.00
196 Spencer County Public Schools $30,000.00
197 Spina Bifida Association of Kentucky – Kosair $17,600.00
198 Sproutlings Pediatric Day Care & Preschool $5,728.00
199 St Josephs Catholic Orphan Society $25,000.00
200 St Josephs Catholic Orphan Society-Capital $60,000.00
201 Stage One The Louisville Childrens Theatre $5,000.00
202 Summit Academy of Greater Louisville $9,654.20
203 Sunrise Childrens Services $16,000.00
204 T J Samson Community Hospital $35,000.00
205 Taylor County BOE $32,000.00
206 TC Cherry Elementary School $20,000.00
207 Telford YMCA $8,690.00
208 The Center for Courageous Kids $35,000.00
209 The de Paul School $10,000.00
210 The Morton Center $25,000.00
211 The Point Arc of Northern Kentucky $12,000.00
212 The REATH Center $7,500.00
213 The Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East $20,000.00
214 University of Louisville – Dept of Psychology $16,000.00
215 University of Louisville – Music Therapy Clinic $9,000.00
216 University of Louisville – Peace Hospital $21,000.00
217 University of Louisville – Planetarium $4,500.00
218 University of Louisville -Ctr. for Women & Infants $84,000.00
219 University of Louisville- Scholarships $17,000.00
220 Vincennes Community School Corporation $21,000.00
221 Visually Impaired Preschool Services – Indiana $42,000.00
222 Visually Impaired Preschool Services – Lexington $42,000.00
223 Visually Impaired Preschool Services – Louisville $80,000.00
224 Volunteers of America Mid-States $36,000.00
225 Washington County Schools $9,000.00
226 Wayne County Hospital $5,000.00
227 Wendell Fosters Campus For Dev. Disabilities $24,000.00
228 West Clark Community Schools $24,873.00
229 Western Kentucky University-Kelly Autism $21,000.00
230 Western Kentucky University-Renshaw Ctr. $26,000.00
231 Western Kentucky University-Scholarships $22,000.00
232 Whitley County BOE $2,343.00
233 Wilderness Trace Child Development Center $10,000.00
234 Woodford County Public Schools $6,000.00
235 Working The Puzzle For Autism $5,000.00
236 YMCA Safe Place Services; YMCA School Aged Child Care; and YMCA for Floyd, Clark, Bullitt County $35,000.00
237 Youth Ethics And Skills Center $7,500.00
238 Youthbuild Louisville $5,000.00
TOTAL $4,800,000.00
About The WHAS Crusade for Children
Our Mission: The WHAS Crusade for Children makes life better for children with special needs by inspiring generosity with our community partners.
Our Vision: Together we provide resources to impact all children with special needs.
- 100% of each donation to the WHAS Crusade for Children helps children with special needs.
- Through the Crusade we’ve changed the lives of millions of children in Kentucky and Indiana since 1954.
- Right now we’re funding 1 in 3 children who need the Crusade.
Change a child’s life, support the WHAS Crusade for Children.
To make a donation securely online, click here.
The WHAS Crusade for Children Endowment
In September, 2002, the WHAS Crusade for Children Board of Directors voted to create the new Crusade Endowment.
It guarantees that 100 percent of the Crusade’s annual telethon collections continue to go directly to agencies that help children with special needs. It ensures that millions more children will be helped for decades to come.
- 100% of each donation to the WHAS Crusade for Children helps children with special needs
- The Crusade Endowment Campaign fully funds our future.
- Beyond your annual contribution, we need your Crusade Endowment donation now.
Change a child’s life forever, support the WHAS Crusade Endowment.
To make an Endowment donation securely online, click here.
How the Crusade works
The WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc. established in 1954 by WHAS-TV, raises money for agencies, schools and hospitals to better the lives of special needs children.
$195 million raised for children with special needs
In its first 67 years, the Crusade has raised more than $195 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 WHAS Radio (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. In 2020, due to the worldwide pandemic, the 67th annual WHAS Crusade for Children was rescheduled to August 8 – 9, 2020.
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.
Tuesday, May 5 is “Giving Tuesday NOW.” And you can make a difference in a child’s life. Support the WHAS Crusade for Children.
To make a secure online donation, click here or call (502) 582-7706.
With the 67th annual WHAS Crusade for Children Weekend postponed to August 8th & 9th, there are many NEW IDEAS to donate, collect and raise funds all while maintaining social distancing.
Facebook Fundraiser
Many fire departments and organizations have set one of these up and they are very successful.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Click the 3 dots on your “Create A Post” section
2. Scroll down to “Support Nonprofit”
3. Select WHAS Crusade for Children and finalize your fundraiser
We are happy to guide you through this if you need assistance. Call the Crusade office at 502-582-7706.
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 and list the fire deparment in the comments section. We have yard signs that we can drop off at fire stations to promote Venmo.
Donate Securely Online
Give online safely and securely. There is a section where someone can honor a loved one or a fire department.
To make a secure online donation, CLICK HERE or 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.
New feature makes it easier than ever to help the Crusade!
There’s a new and exciting way to donate to the WHAS Crusade for Children: TEXT TO DONATE!
It’s safe and secure. All you need is your cell phone.
Here’s all you do:
1) Text crusade to 50155 (It’s not case sensitive – you can type crusade or CRUSADE.)
2) You’ll get a text in reply.
3) Complete the donation form on your phone.
4) You’ll then receive a confirming text.
5) You also receive an email.
Thanks for your continued support of the WHAS Crusade for Children.
And of course, you can always make a donation securely online, just click here.
Help the Crusade!
Every time you shop on Amazon, if you go to www.smile.amazon.com and select the WHAS Crusade for Children as your charity of choice, Amazon will make a donation to the Crusade. It’s simple. And it costs you NOTHING!
We all need supplies and we all want to help children with special needs — now you can do both!
THANKS for your continued support of the WHAS Crusade for Children. (Just click on the graphic below.)
Shop AmazonSmile for the WHAS Crusade for Children
Sign up TODAY
Plan ahead for Mother’s Day, Derby, “just because” by shopping the Kendra Scott virtual event, benefiting the Crusade Engagement Council and the WHAS Crusade for Children.
Two Day Event
Friday, April 10
Saturday, April 11
Use code: GIVEBACK6796 at checkout. Begin your shopping journey! Click here.
Learn more about the Crusade Engagement Council, click here.
There are so many ways to make a difference and so many people who help the WHAS Crusade for Children. Please meet just a few.
Steve & Annette Roberts
Many who work for the public good during their lifetimes want those efforts to continue once they’re gone. Our WHAS Crusade for Children “1954 Society” honorees, Steve & Annette Roberts, plan to continue to help children with special needs by remembering the WHAS Crusade for Children in their bequest.
Barbie Meyer
Barbie Meyer, continues to help children with special needs by remembering the WHAS Crusade for Children in her bequest.
The WHAS Crusade for Children 1954 Society
Learn more about the Crusade’s 1954 Society, click here or call (502) 582-7706. It’s a simple way to make a long term difference.
To make a secure online donation anytime, click here or call (502) 582-7706.
Longtime producer, director, and writer at WHAS-TV, Bob Pilkington passed away on March 4. He participated in the WHAS Crusade for Children from the very first year in 1954 until last year – that’s 66 in a row. He was the last survivor who had a part in every Crusade for Children telethon.
The photo below, taken in WHAS11 Studio H during the 60th annual WHAS Crusade for Children in 2013, shows (left to right) WHAS11’s Melissa Swan, longtime volunteer Ted Throckmorton, Bob Pilkington, WHAS broadcast pioneer Milton Metz, and WHAS Radio’s Terry Meiners.
Ted, Bob and Milton appeared annually on the Crusade telethon for more than 60 years. Ted passed away in 2015 and Milton in 2017.
And we recently received this from Bob’s son:
“He also did “Small Talk,” “Randy & Lolita” (the talking parrot, a cartoon show), covered races at Churchill Downs, specials, and special events. Then Louisville Productions…Those earlier shows haven’t got much mention…
Thanks for the great article, we really appreciate how the station has remembered him.”
There are more photos of Bob on the Crusade’s Facebook page, just click here.
See this video from the 60th annual WHAS Crusade for Children on the Crusade’s Facebook page, just click here.
Here’s his obituary as published in the Courier-Journal:
Louisville – Bob Pilkington, age 94, of Louisville, KY, passed away on March 4, 2020. He was predeceased by his wife of 40 years, Audrey E (Wedel) Pilkington, and brother Thomas A Pilkington. He is survived by his children Robert P Pilkington and wife Kaoruko H Yoshida-Pilkington, of Boston, MA; Dr. Constance J Pilkington, of Williamsburg, VA; and David B Pilkington and wife Lisa A (Kersten) Pilkington of Grayslake, IL and their, two sons Colin D Pilkington and Corey R Pilkington.
He served in the infantry in World War II, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, was a POW, and was awarded the Purple Heart. His career as a producer, director, and writer at WHAS-TV began in 1951, retiring from there in 1989. Notable credits include: weekly television shows such as Hayloft Hoedown and T-Bar-V Ranch; numerous local and regional documentaries; and 66 years of volunteer work with the WHAS Crusade for Children. He was an avid volunteer at Historic Locust Grove and Reading for the Blind. Memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2020 at St. John Lutheran Church, 901 Breckenridge Lane. Visitation will be Thursday, March 12 from 5-8 p.m. at Pearson’s, 149 Breckenridge Ln. and Friday from 3-4 p.m. at the church. As a memorial, the family would appreciate donations to WHAS Crusade for Children or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Published in The Courier-Journal from Mar. 8 to Mar. 9, 2020
Bob received the Crusade’s Buddy Award in 2007
Here’s the story as it appeared on WHASCrusade.org in 2007.
One of the original Crusaders, veteran WHAS-TV producer-director Bob Pilkington was honored with the WHAS Crusade for Children Buddy Award. The “Buddy” is given annually to someone who goes above and beyond in supporting the Crusade. It’s named in honor of longtime Crusade Executive Director Bud Harsbmeier.
Bob was given the award during the 54th annual WHAS Crusade for Children on Sunday, June 3, 2007 in the 3:00pm hour.
Bob Pilkington is what one would call a TV pioneer. Working at WHAS-TV in the 1950’s and 60’s, he produced daily live TV shows. Writing content like comedy sketches from scratch each and every day. He directed legendary WHAS-TV shows “T-Bar-V” and “Hayloft Hoedown.” This was in the day when all TV was LIVE without the benefit of editing to correct a miscue.
“Pilk,” as his pals call him, is one of only four people who have participated in all 54 annual WHAS Crusade for Children telethons. And he worked on the two Cerebral Palsy telethons, the granddaddy of the Crusade, that aired on WHAS-TV in 1952 and 1953. The Crusade was born in 1954. The other three original Crusaders are Milton Metz, Ted Throckmorton and Dave Dumeyer, Sr.
Even during this year’s Crusade, Pilk did his usual shift as he’s done for years. Strapping on a headest and telling camera operators what shots to get, he directed the live broadcast in Studio G Control for a 3-hour shift.
When presented the “Buddy” by Crusade CEO Rebecca Jackson and award namesake Bud Harbsmeier, he was speechless. With his signature dry wit, he said, “I’m just getting back at all the people who did that to me!” Meaning those people who wouldn’t say much when interviewed in Bob’s day.
But later, he said, “I’m very grateful for the honor and the recognition.” Congratulations Pilk!
According to studies at the Centers for Disease Control, one in nine babies in Kentucky is born prematurely, which can lead to a host of medical issues. The Anderson family faced the challenge of their son Austin’s premature birth. But they found timely help thanks to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital and the WHAS Crusade for Children.
Since 2014, Owensboro Health Regional Hospital has received $177,000 in Crusade grants. Those funds have given families confidence that there is healthcare available to allow premature babies like Austin to get a proper start in life.