Welcome to the 11th annual Crusade Children’s Calendar! The WHAS Crusade for Children is creating a 15-month calendar that will begin in October, 2018.
The contest is open to children who are not older than 5-years-old by June 1, 2018.
How it works
As child photos are submitted, they will be seen here on WHASCrusade.org. People then vote for their favorite child by sending in donations to the Crusade. The child with the most donations (votes) will appear on the calendar cover. The child with the second most donations will appear on his or her favorite month. Third place will choose his or her month and so on til all months are filled. Please read the official rules below.
The Crusade will have professional photos taken of the top 16 children and those are the photos that will appear in the calendar. All children will be included in the calendar. Those who don’t make the top 16 will get day and date spots chosen in finishing order. Vote getter number 17 will get first choice of day and date, then number 18, etc.
Get started here
All entrants must fill out the Calendar Entry Form.
Follow these simple steps:
1. Read the complete rules below
2. Click on the graphics below to download the forms
3. Fill out the ENTRY form
4. Email or mail the completed ENTRY form, $25 entry fee and baby picture
Send in your child’s photo and entry forms!
Those interested, must send in one (1) child photo or CD containing one (1) child photo. The photo will not be returned.
Via Email
Email your photo, Calendar Entry Form plus the $25 entry fee to:
Deandra Jackson
To e-mail Deandra, click here
Via Postal Service
Mail your photo, Calendar Entry Form and $25 entry fee to:
WHAS Crusade for Children
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202
Deadline
Photos and entry forms must be received by 4:00pm EDT April 13, 2018.
Questions?
Call (502) 582-7706
Read these complete rules
1. The WHAS Crusade for Children will create a 15-month calendar starting October, 2018.
2. The contest is open to children who are not older than 5 years by June 1, 2018.
3. One child photo or CD with photo and child’s name must be submitted and will not be returned.
4. Parent(s) must check the box on the ENTRY FORM RELEASE AGREEMENT allowing use of child’s image.
5. Photos & entry forms must be received by 4:00pm EDT April 13, 2018.
6. All child photos will be posted on www.WHASCrusade.org
7. The Crusade will photograph the top 16 children for calendar publication.
8. Winners will be determined by the largest monetary donation (voting by contribution).
9. All donations must be received by 4:00pm EDT May 25, 2018.
10. The winner will be featured on the calendar cover.
11. The second place winner gets first choice of a specific month.
12. The third place winner gets second choice of a specific month.
13. The fourth through 16th winners will get choice of the remaining months.
14. The winners finishing 17th and beyond will get choice of specific days in the year.
15. The top 16 finalists will receive one free 8″x10″ photo.
About the WHAS Crusade for Children
The WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc. established in 1954 by WHAS-TV, raises money for schools, agencies and hospitals to better the lives of special needs children. In its first 64 years, the Crusade has raised more than $175 million.
Thanks to generous contributions of goods and services, the Crusade for Children is able to return 100% 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.
Millions of children have been helped by the Crusade since 1954.
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.
Congratulations to Monroe Township Fire Department, Northeast Nelson County Fire Protection District, Highview Fire Protection District, Cub Run Fire Department and Cross County Distributing for the highest percentage increases in donations to the WHAS Crusade for Children from 2016 to 2017.
This year, thanks to firefighters, businesses and the good people of Kentucky and Indiana the WHAS Crusade for Children raised $5.5 million. Today, fire crews and one business are being recognized for showing the largest percentage increase in their totals for the 2017 Crusade. These awards are called the Walton Awards and the Phyllis Knight Award. Both are named for pioneering TV hosts and former Crusade directors, Jim Walton and Phyllis Knight.
The Jim Walton Awards
In the category from $1,000 and $9,999 in donations:
Cub Run Volunteer Fire Department
2016 total: $500.00
2017 total: $1,698.15
Increase of 240%
(Cub Run was unable to attend the ceremony.)
In the category from $10,000 and $49,999 in donations:
Northeast Nelson Fire Department
2016 total: $14,308.13
2017 total: $137,734.97
Increase of 863%
In the category from $50,000 and $99,999 in donations:
Monroe Township Volunteer Fire Department
2016 total: 35,918.64
2017 total: $50,396.16
Increase of 40%
In the category from $100,000 in donations and above:
Highview Fire Proteciton District
2016 total: $106,733.33
2017 total: $261,755.13
Increase of 145%
(Okolona, Buechel & Camp Taylor gave Highview their collections in memory of firefighter Kevin Bayens.)
The Phyllis Knight Award
Each year in honor of former Crusade Executive Director Phyllis Knight, the Knight Award is given to the business or organization with the largest percentage increase in its donation.
This year that award goes to:
Cross Country Distributing
2016 total: $50,052.00
2017 total: $75,177.00
Increase of 50%
We want to point out that Steve Hancock and Cross Country Distributing have raised $948,000 dollars since 1990. That means if they raise $52,000 dollars in the coming year they’ll cross the million dollar mark in donations to the WHAS Crusade for Children.
This is why fire departments do so much
Meet Zoe! She’s a shining example of what a difference your Crusade donations can make in the life of a child.
Fire departments raise nearly 60 percent of the Crusade for Children’s donations each year by staging road blocks and other events.
It all started in 1956 when Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Chief Ernie Bohler stood on stage during the third annual Crusade in a steamy un-air-conditioned Memorial Auditorium and challenged all fire departments to join the cause. The challenge was heard loud and clear.
Click here to see the complete list of fire departments that participate annually in the WHAS Crusade for Children.
Firefighter Rib Cook Off October 7
Don’t miss the Tri-City Van & Storage Yard Sale benefiting the WHAS Crusade for Children.
It’s this weekend Oct 6-7th located at 7th & Industry in Louisville.
Southeast Fire Benefit Car, Bike, and Tractor Show October 7
Charlestown FD Biscuit & Gravy Breakfast October 7
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) — He was a fixture on the WHAS Crusade for Children from its beginnings in 1954.
It is with great sadness that we report the death of WHAS-TV and Radio legend, Milton Metz. He died peacefully in Louisville at the age of 95.
Milton became one of this area’s most recognized personalities, first heard on WHAS Radio in 1946. He helped put WHAS-TV on the air. In fact, he was one of the first faces you saw on WHAS-TV in 1950.
Milton just celebrated his 95th birthday in September in rehab. The WHAS Crusade for Children staff brought him a cake. More than 300 viewers mailed get well cards to him after he had fallen and broken his shoulder in the summer and was in recovery last August. He loved every card and letter, and along the way, he always said he was getting wonderful care.
His trailblazing nighttime radio show called “Metz Here” was one of the first nighttime talk shows in the United States. It ran from 1959 to 1993.
He also hosted “Omelet” on WHAS-TV, an interview program that aired before the Noon News on WHAS-TV. He picked Faith Lyles as his co-host.
He retired from 840 WHAS-AM in 1993 but kept doing ads for TV and Radio.
He came to Louisville from Columbus, Ohio and married his beloved wife Mimi whom he met in Louisville. She died last April. He is survived by his son Perry Metz.
Funeral arrangements are pending through the Herman Meyer Funeral Home.
Watch Milton on the 10th annual WHAS Crusade for Children opening in 1963.
Watch Milton’s appearance on the 63rd annual WHAS Crusade for Children in 2016.
Watch a reflection of Milton’s career and life captured by WHAS11 news.
Click here for more coverage from WHAS11.com.
Click here for more coverage from The Courier-Journal.
Click here to hear Milton Metz interview a 20 year-old Muhammad Ali on 840 WHAS when he was still Cassius Clay. It was originally broadcast on WHAS on November 29, 1962.
See highlights of Crusade 63 on social media!
Crusade Wear merchandise still available
You can purchase the shirts, hats and collectibles that you saw on TV over Crusade weekend securely online. Learn more, just click here.
“The Greatest!”
Just days after Louisville legend Muhammad Ali passed away, the people of Kentucky and Indiana dug deep and championed the 63rd annual WHAS Crusade for Children. The final tote board tallied $5,465,933.47 as “The Greatest” local telethon in America came to a close.
The 30-hour Internet/radio/telethon kicked off with an up tempo variety show headlined by Louisville Orchestra Music Director Teddy Abrams’ Jazz Band, hosted by WHAS11’s Rachel Platt and 840 WHAS radio’s Terry Meiners on Saturday, June 4. It all ended with Crusade volunteers crowding into WHAS-TV’s historic studio H singing the traditional “God Bless America” just before 7:00pm (EDT) Sunday, June 5, 2016.
“It truly is an annual miracle. We’re thrilled that the wonderful people of Kentuckiana stepped up once again to help children with special needs in our community by contributing so generously to the 63rd annual WHAS Crusade for Children,” said WHAS Crusade for Children President & CEO Dawn Lee.
100 percent of $170 million for the kids
In its first 63 years, the Crusade has raised over $170 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.
It takes a cast of thousands to stage the annual miracle. From individual donors dropping pocket change into boots at firefighter road blocks to children with lemonade stands to corporations offering payroll deduction, it all comes together each year on the first weekend in June.
Honor your pledge
Mail your donation to:
WHAS Crusade for Children
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202
Top 5 Kentucky Fire Departments
New Castle Volunteer Fire & Rescue $311,787.63
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District $297,555.93
Fern Creek Fire Department $136,144.05
McMahan Fire Protection District $132,055.00
Highview Fire Protection District $105,491.28
Top 5 Indiana Fire Departments
Lafayette Township Fire Department $108,750
Charlestown Volunteer Fire Department $46,600
Monroe Township Fire Department $35,977.89
New Washington Fire Department $27,509
Clarksville Fire Department $26,351.17
Top Organizations
Archdiocese of Louisville $301,581
LG&E KU PPL Companies $217,641
Kosair Charities $150,000
Louisville Triple Crown of Running $142,146
Norton Healthcare $125,135
Press coverage
WHAS11 News: Full coverage of Crusade 63
See more, click here.
Courier-Journal: Crusade 63 is the Courier-Journal’s lead story
Read more click here.
News Enterprise: “Area fire depts. raise over $160k for Crusade”
Read more, click here.
WHAS11.com: “WHAS Crusade for Children raises more than $5.4M”
Read more, click here.
Courier-Journal: “WHAS Crusade for Children kicks off Saturday”
Read more, click here.
WBKO-TV: “Renshaw Early Childhood Development Center”
Read more, click here.
840 WHAS Radio: “WHAS Crusade Tops 5-Million”
Read more, click here.
Kentucky.com: “WHAS Crusade telethon raises nearly $5.5M for children”
Read more, click here.
Insider Louisville: “Pass the boot: A brief history of the Crusade for Children”
Read more, click here.
Kentucky Standard: “Crusade gearing up for weekend”
Read more, click here.
The Record: “A record-setting Crusade for Children”
Read more, click here.
Who gave how much?
Here’s an alphabetized list of donations during the 63rd Annual WHAS Crusade for Children.
American Legion Shawnee Post 193 $2,366.22
AMVETS Post 61 $4,400.00
Anchorage Fire & EMS $4,457.09
Anchorage Schools $931.00
Anderson County $7,142.00
Anneta Fire Dept. $4,268.31
Archdiocese of Louisville $301,581.00
Bagdad Fire Dept. $17,119.85
Ballard, Lorne $14,761.50
Ballardsville Fire & Rescue $19,417.00
Baptist Health Unified Campaign $31,205.34
Barr, Dawson $100.00
Bedford VFD $6,958.92
Blim, Clare & Kathleen $435.21
Bonnieville Fire Dept. $11,727.98
Boone Township Volunteer Fire Dept. $4,986.45
Bradsforville Fire Dept. $4,705.97
Breeding Fire Dept. $1,432.49
Buechel Fire Protection District $29,882.12
Camp Taylor Fire Dept. $55,456.58
Campbellsburg Fire & Rescue $8,385.34
Campbellsville / Taylor County Fire Dept. $28,262.42
Carrollton Fire Dept. $12,200.00
Census Bureau $7,827
Central Hardin FD $9,547.48
Charlestown FD $46,600.00
Children’s Calendar Cover Child winner – Sophia Evans
Chiller’s/Zesto’s Ice Cream $2,000.00
Clark, Evelyn $622.05
Clarkson Fire Dept. $5,211.36
Clarksville Fire Dept. $26,351.17
Columbia-Adair County Fire Dept. $26,961.50
Cross Country Distributing $50,052.00
Crusade Ambassadors $2,585.00
Dancensation Spring Fling $1,000.00
Diane Moore Dance Academy and Miracle Dancers $9,400.00
East 60 Volunteer Fire Dept. $12,970.15
East Grayson Fire Dept. $5,491.66
Eastwood Fire Protection District $12,118.20
Ekron Volunteer Fire Dept. $12,650.04
Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Dept. $23,205.48
Elizabethtown Fire Dept. $27,605.96
Eminence Fire Dept. $33,756.34
Fern Creek Fire Dept. $136,144.05
Flaherty Volunteer Fire Dept. $19,664.59
Georgetown Township Fire Protection District $23,777.76
Glendale Fire Dept. $5,202.48
Greater Clark County Schools $28,595.80
Greensburg/Green County Volunteer Fire Dept. $13,417.88
Greenville Township Fire Protection Dept. $23,599.46
Hardinsburg VFD $15,000.00
Harned Fire and Rescue $24,013.13
Harrison Township / Corydon Volunteer Fire Department $24,200
Harrods Creek Fire Dept. $12,072.22
Harvest Homecoming & New Albany Fire Dept. $20,668.65
Hazelwood Center $1,897.67
Heth Township VFD $5,342.41
Highview Fire Dept. $105,491.28
Irvington VFD $8,926.12
Jefferson County Public Schools $118,027.97
Jeffersontown Fire Protection District $34,000.00
Jeffersonville Fire Dept. $24,371.49
Jennings Township VFD $11,518.05
Kaelin Sisters $102.76
Kelly Knoop – Donation and Receipt of Buddy Award $4,650.00
Kentuckiana Corvette Club & Moose Lodge 5 $10,867.00
Knifley Area Volunteer Fire Dept. $311.70
Kosair Charities $150,000.00
Kentucky 86 Fire & Rescue $15,376.00
Lafayette Township Fire Protection District $107,070.44
LaGrange Fire and Rescue $35,294.51
Lake Dreamland Fire Dept. $47,397.20
Lake Jericho Fire & Rescue $3,641.85
Lanesville Fire Dept. $18,514.45
Larue / Hodgenville Fire Dept. $3,073.30
Leavenworth Crusaders $3,601.93
Lebanon Fire District $37,055.00
Lebanon Junction Fire Dept. $5,007.40
Leitchfield Fire Dept. $12,513.28
LG&E KU PPL Companies $217,641.00
Loretto VFD $4,001.17
Louisville Fire and Rescue $33,812.00
Louisville Football Youth $500.00
Louisville Low Rider $1,410.00
Louisville Street Rods $2,400.00
Louisville Triple Crown of Running $142,146.00
Lyndon Fire Protection District $19,885.06
Marion County Grand Total $50,343.02
McAlister’s Deli $77,145.70
McDaniels Fire Dept. $6,549.42
McMahan Fire Protection District $132,000.00
Meade County Fire and Rescue $15,874.31
Middletown Fire District $58,000.00
Milltown Volunteer Fire Dept. $16,199.51
Mitchell Johnson $100.00
Monroe Twp VFD $35,977.89
Mortenson Family Dental $10,000.00
Mount Eden VFD $12,401.69
Mt. Washington Fire Dept. $23,525.00
Muldraugh Fire Dept. $2,125.13
New Castle Vol. Fire & Rescue $311,787.63
New Chapel Fire Company $6,892.69
New Middletown Fire Dept. $10,092.00
New Washington VFD $27,509.00
Newkirk, Bill $1,610.09
Nichols VFD $14,564.62
Norton Healthcare $125,134.89
Nuss, Rosie $1,000.00
Okolona Fire Department – Milwaukee Tool Raffle Winner – Doc Gahafer
Okolona Fire Protection District $60,748.62
Palmyra Fire Dept. $10,640.06
Parkway Rehab & Nursing Center $1,215.00
Payneville Fire Dept. $23,298.32
Pewee Valley Fire Protection District $26,380.00
Pierce Polk Volunteer Fire Department $5,255.96
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District Total $297,555.93
Pleasureville VFD $12,192.46
Probilt Automotive, Keith Tennill $375.00
Radcliff Fire Dept. $16,000.00
Radial, Geo $10,000.00
Ramsey VFD $15,176.64
Raywick VFD $3,580.88
Republic Bank – Steve Trager $7,500.00
Rineyville Fire Dept. $8,628.13
Salem Fire Dept. $14,639.61
Sellersburg VFD $10,000.00
Shelby County Fire Dept. $77,746.02
Shelbyville Fire & Rescue $17,595.34
Shepherdsville Fire Dept. $27,270.99
Shively Fire Dept. $16,326.38
Simpsonville VFD $18,151.00
Sonora Fire & Rescue $8,650.51
South Oldham Fire & Rescue $49,470.22
Southeast Bullitt Fire Dept. $20,059.90
Southern Indiana Rehab $4,066.75
Sparkles & Spurs $1,889.08
Spencer County / Taylorsville Fire Dept. $21,000.00
Springfield / Washington County Fire Dept. $6,203.93
St. James Church $907.35
St. Marks United Church of Christ $2,000.28
St. Matthews Fire Protection District $58,213.00
St. Athanasius School Beta Club $1,219.87
Stephensburg VFD $6,249.00
Summersville Fire Department $4,431.17
Sunnyside Square Dancers $281.02
Superior Van & Mobility $6,300.00
Ted Throckmorton Memorial Golf Tournament $19,463.00
Texas Roadhouse $2,500.00
The Temple $4,000
University of Louisville – UofL Cares Campaign $15,185.90
Upton Volunteer Fire & Rescue $1,977.61
Utica Township Fire Dept. $8,191.15
Valley Creek Fire Dept. $36,030.00
Vine Grove Fire Dept. $9,987.54
Waddy Volunteer Fire Dept. $13,949.70
Wax Fire & Rescue $2,422.00
West 84 Volunteer Fire Dept. $3,884.21
Westpoint Volunteer Fire Dept. $5,639.34
WHAS11 Tour Kentuckiana Golf Card $2,500.00
White Mills Volunteer Fire Dept. $5,318.75
Willisburg Fire Dept. $2,781.75
Woodford County Fire Department $6,964.00
Zoneton Fire Protection District $94,369.19
It’s that time of year!
The Louisville Triple Crown of RunningSM presented by Novo Nordisk is a series of well-established road races of varying distances. In an effort to help more runners and walkers in the Kentuckiana area embrace a healthy lifestyle and achieve the goal of completing the three-race series, there are two more runs in the Louisville Triple Crown of Running series:
Rodes City Run 10K on Saturday, March 12th
Papa John’s 10 Miler on Saturday, March 26th
Go to the Louisville Triple Crown of RunningSM Web site by clicking here and register TODAY!
All three races benefit the WHAS Crusade for Children!
9th Annual Zoneton Fire Crusade Bass Fishing Tournament September 12
Click here to download an application for the Bass Tournament.
Lincoln Hills Caring Hands Loving Hearts fundraiser September 12
Zoneton Fire 5K for the Crusade September 20th
Click HERE to register for the Zoneton 5K today!
Kate’s Frogtown Hop September 26th
Click HERE for online registration.
Give Local Louisville October 1st – Donate to the Crusade!
CLICK HERE to donate to the WHAS Crusade for Children!
St. Matthews FD Rib Cook Off October 3rd
ALL RIBS will be PROVIDED for FREE for the cook off teams.
Click here for more details
South Oldham FD Fire Fest October 3rd
Highview Community Festival Antique & Custom Auto Show October 10th
Census Bureau’s Crusade Auction November 19th
Re-enroll & swipe your Kroger Plus Card for the Crusade
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP NOW! REMEMBER TO RE-ENROLL EVERY AUGUST!
Shred for the Crusade
Your old paper could mean new money for the WHAS Crusade for Children. The owners of Greenway Shredding and Recycling have come up with a unique way to raise money for the Crusade. Drop your documents by the company’s Watterson Trail location and get them shredded for a donation to help children with special needs.
Greenway Shredding & Recycling
2318 Watterson Trail
Louisville, KY 40299
Phone: (502) 749-0390
Email: info@greenwayshreddingky.com
20th Craig Drury Memorial Golf Scramble September 14
Click here to download an entry form.
Metro Arson reopening cold case involving firefighter death
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Glendale firefighter Jonathan French who was killed early on the morning of August 6, 2014.
Police said the Glendale Volunteer Fire Department was working a van fire at mile marker 87 on Interstate 65 in Hardin County when 25-year-old Jonathan French and his mother, 43-year-old Lisa French, were hit by a semi-truck.