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
Alphabetized list of Donors
Here’s an alphabetized list of fire departments, groups, organizations and companies that contributed to the 67th annual WHAS Crusade for Children.
Anchorage Middletown Fire & EMS $24,513.10
Archdiocese of Louisville $214,856.00
Bagdad Fire Department $9,638.95
Ballardsville Fire & Rescue $3,295.78
Baptist Health Employee Caring Campaign $10,000.00
Bardstown Fire Department $10,466.00
Bedford Volunteer Fire & Rescue $7,547.72
Billy Newkirk Jr. $1,869.29
Boone Township Volunteer Fire Department $3,053.86
Breeding Fire Department $1,179.00
Buddy Award in honor of Former Crusade Executive Director Bud Harbsmeier – James “Hoppy” Rochner
Buechel Fire Protection District $12,301.00
Camp Taylor Fire Protection District $25,337.00
Campbellsville – Taylor County Fire Department $28,606.00
Central Hardin Fire & Rescue $4,480.00
Charlestown Fire Department $57,000.00
Clarkson Fire Department $8,604.00
Columbia – Adair Fire Department $36,846.51
Cross Country Distributing $28,000.00
East 60 Volunteer Fire Department $9,155.58
Ekron Volunteer Fire Dept. $63,238.30
Elizabethtown Fire Department $14,139.00
Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department $29,391.00
Eminence Fire & Rescue $10,347.88
Fairdale Fire Department $8,986.95
Fern Creek Fire Protection District $119,746.03
Flaherty Volunteer Fire Department $17,746.55
Gary Doyle in honor of Peter: Virginia & Homer Hauck, Mike & Cathy (Peter’s parents; $200) $300.00
Georgetown Township Fire District $9,309.28
Glendale Volunteer Fire Department $3,087.43
Gravel Switch Volunteer Fire Department $2,211.00
Greensburg – Green County Fire Department $16,039.95
Greenville Township Fire & Rescue $14,677.41
Hanover Township Volunteer Fire Dept. $736.88
Harned Fire & Rescue $22,013.13
Harrison Township Volunteer Fire Department $10,680.48
Heth Township Volunteer Fire Department $7,503.43
Highview Fire Protection District $95,867.65
In honor of Chris Landers $3,870.00
Jefferson County Public Schools $81,784.45
Jeffersontown Fire Protection District $82,359.60
Joe Federle $250.00
Joe Huber’s Family Farm & Restaurant $5,000.00
Kelly Knoop $8,270
Kentucky 86 Fire & Rescue $11,739.00
Kevin Adams $4,475.80
Kosair Charities $50,000
Lafayette Township Fire Department $48,322.00
LaGrange Fire and Rescue $14,607.11
Lanesville Volunteer Fire Department $13,215.13
Lebanon Fire District $39,115.00
Lebanon Junction Fire Department $5,552.04
LG&E & KU Foundation $241,621.00
Loretto Volunteer Fire Department $1,020.71
Louisville Fire & Rescue $13,000.00
Louisville Triple Crown of Running $9,054.25
McMahan Fire Protection District Retirees $12,500.00
Meade County Fire and Rescue $7,667.24
Meiman Family $977.77
Milltown Volunteer Fire Department $16,285
Miracle Dancers $5,047.26
Monroe Township Volunteer Fire District $45,064.71
Mt. Eden Volunteer Fire Department $8,000.00
Mt. Washington Fire Department $13,488.22
Nelson County Fire & Rescue $9,423.74
New Albany Fire Department $17,131.06
New Haven/Rolling Fork Fire Department $9,835.28
New Hope Volunteer Fire Department $1,559.01
New Middletown Volunteer Fire Department $6,632.33
Newcastle Fire & Rescue $3,530.85
Nia’s Virtual Lemonade Stand $1,500.00
Northeast Nelson Fire Department $5,981.58
Norton Healthcare $129,302.04
Okolona Fire Protection District Milwaukee Tool Shop Raffle winner – Pat Buss
Palmyra Volunteer Fire Department $7,547.00
Payneville Fire Department $11,461.29
Pewee Valley Fire Protection District $11,069.00
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District $65,536.28
Pleasureville Fire & Rescue $7,881.24
Posey Township Volunteer Fire Company $2,304.90
Radcliff Fire Department $7,250.00
Ramsey Volunteer Fire Department $18,680.38
Rauch Inc. $1,200.00
Raywick Volunteer Fire Department $2,227.10
Republic Bank $10,000.00
Republic Bank Power Hour $6,700.00
Rineyville Fire Department $12,580.00
Shelby County Fire & Rescue $75,360.47
Shepherdsville Fire Department $10,000.46
Simpsonville Volunteer Fire Department $10,239.65
Sonora Fire and Rescue $5,041.00
South Oldham Fire Department $50,865.89
Sparkles & Spurs $1,288.63
Split the Pot Winner – Penny Lyons
Springfield-Washington County Fire Department $7,882.38
St. Matthews Fire & Rescue $81,092.00
Stephensburg Volunteer Fire Department e $4,775.43
Summersville Fire Department $4,517.17
Superior Van and Mobility $6,700.00
Swope Family Foundation $36,479.00
TEGNA Foundation $10,000
The Temple $4,000.00
Tri City Van & Storage $4,000.00
Tri-Township Fire Protection District $6,195.20
Upton Volunteer Fire & Rescue $2,228.42
Valley Creek Volunteer Fire Department $12,930.00
Versailles Fire Department $1,254.28
Vine Grove Fire $9,701.00
Waddy Volunteer Fire Department $9,647.59
Webster Area Volunteer Fire Department $3,411.74
West 84 Volunteer Fire Department $2,487.02
Wilkins Family $5,723.00
Willisburg Fire Department $1,440.00
Woodford County Fire Department $1,212.61
Zoneton Fire Protection District $50,519.26
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.
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.
Ken Middleton, General Manager of WHAS11 from 1997 to 2000, passed away on April 21, 2020. As GM, he also served as Chair of the WHAS Crusade for Children Board of Directors. May he rest in peace.
More on his life and accomplishments are noted in his obituary as published in the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Kenneth Norwood Middleton
Louisville – On April 21, 2020, Kenneth Norwood Middleton suddenly died at his home in Louisville, Kentucky. Born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia, he was preceded in death by his parents, Norwood Cronk Middleton (2/1/2004) and Lucille Hood Middleton (9/11/2008). Ken is survived by his wife, Sarah Lewis Middleton, two stepchildren, Brian Wesley Lewis and Margaret Elizabeth Lewis, and his brother, David Lynn Middleton (Deborah Simmons Middleton).
In Ken’s youth, he was an Eagle Scout with two Palms and started a newspaper at his high school. He graduated with his B.A. from University of Virginia. He earned an M.A. in Communications from American University, where he was awarded a full fellowship. He was awarded Teacher of the Year at Andrew Lewis High School in Salem, VA. As part of the Rotary Club of Louisville, he was awarded Rotarian of the Year 2013-2014 and Service Above Self in 2013. Ken was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War.
Ken’s career was filled with meaningful and exciting work. He used his keen intellect, gracious people skills, and managerial excellence to help others succeed. He was a reporter in Virginia, an assistant news director in Charlotte, NC; Hartford, CT; Washington, DC. Then was a news director in Tampa, FL, and again in Charlotte, NC. He became the President and General Manager of WHAS-TV in Louisville from 1997-2000 after serving in the same role at KMSB-TV in Tucson, AZ, from 1993-1997. He also served as Vice President, Operations, and Support Services for the National Center for Family Literacy in Louisville from 2001-2006. Ken finished his career as President of Middleton Consulting, helping businesses and nonprofits tell their story to their customers and donors.
Ken loved community involvement and did so through serving as an elder and teacher at his church, Second Presbyterian Church, and through several significant roles for Rotary Club of Louisville, including the Board of Directors, 2013-2015. He served his community through several different organizations Encore Louisville, Volunteers of American Mid-States, Kentucky Derby Festival, and Metro United Way. Ken loved to travel and go on trips with his family. Some of his explorations included China, Kenya, the Caribbean, Thailand, Australia, Canada, and much of Europe and the United States. Ken cared deeply and genuinely about others and modeled thoughtful, gracious servanthood to his family, friends, those he worked with, and his community. He will be greatly missed.
Memorial and funeral services are pending and will be announced at a later date.
Published in The Courier-Journal from Apr. 24 to Apr. 26, 2020
Tom & Alice Mobley attended the 2018 WHAS Crusade for Children Holiday Luncheon honoring the clergy who are panelists on Moral Side of The News and determine Crusade funding.
Watch a tribute video on our Facebook page, just click here.
Dr. Tommy Wayne Mobley, 70, of Bardstown, died December 2, 2019, at Flaget Memorial Hospital. A native of Harrodsburg, he is survived by his wife of 46 years, Alice Faye Mobley (nee Gordon); his daughter, Rachael Nickoson (Matt) Avon, IN; his son, Marcus Mobley, Bardstown; five grandsons, Justin & James Mobley, and Mathias, Levi, & Nehemiah Nickoson, Avon; one brother, James Steven Mobley (Hazel), Mt. Washington, many nieces and nephews, including Joe & John Mobley, Mt. Washington. He was preceded in death by his parents, James I. & Anna Mae Mobley.
A graduate of Fern Creek High School, he received his baccalaureate at Cincinnati Christian University and his Master’s and Doctorate from Southern Theological Seminary. He also studied at Louisville Bible College and Kentucky Southern College (U of L).
A minister of the Gospel, he was currently serving his second term as President of LBC. He previously was Registrar and Professor of Christian Education at CCU and College of the Scriptures and a Garrett Fellow at SBTS. Church ministries in Kentucky include Shiloh Christian Church (Lawrenceburg), Fairdale Christian Church (Louisville), Elsmere Church of Christ (Erlanger), and Nelson Christian Church (Bardstown) as well as First Christian Church (Scottsburg, IN). Often holding dual ministries, he also held numerous interim ministries throughout Kentuckiana.
Chaplaincy was the third aspect of his ministry for 50 years. He became Chaplain of Fern Creek Fire Dept. after serving as a “School Boy Fireman.” He later served as a Chaplain with Jefferson Co. Police Dept., Covington Police Dept., Scottsburg Police Dept., Scott Co. Sheriff’s Office (Reserve Deputy Sheriff), Louisville Division of Police (Coordinator of Chaplains), and Bardstown Police Dept. Additionally, he was FBI Chaplain with the Louisville Division for over 25 years and a Chaplain with Flaget Memorial Hospital. A member of International Conference of Police Chaplains, he held their highest level of certification, was a Certified Instructor, and served on several committees. A co-author of the first textbook on Police Chaplaincy, he taught the first-ever college and seminary courses on Police Chaplaincy.
He was a panelist on “WHAS Moral Side of the News” TV and radio program over 30 years as well as on the “WHAS Crusade for Children” Ministerial Advisory Board. He was Prayer Chairman for both North American Christian Convention and the National Missionary Convention in 1986. He was recipient of the Louisville Mayor’s Outstanding Service Award and was named to FCHS Hall of Fame. He was involved in numerous other local and national organizations.
His funeral is 11am Friday at Fern Creek Funeral Home, 5406 Bardstown Road with burial in Resthaven Memorial Park. Visitation is 3-7pm Thursday and after 9am Friday until the time of the service.
Sometimes a child facing a diagnosis like cancer just needs a break from the fear and treatment. No one knows that better than 13-year-old Lana Dobson. Thanks to the WHAS Crusade for Children and the Kids Cancer Alliance, Lana and her friends are getting that break the Indian Summer Camp.
Lana says she will keep coming to Indian Summer Camp until she ages out at 18, and then she’ll come back as a counselor. This year the camp will host 200 children from Kentucky and southern Indiana. Since 2010 the Crusade has granted $120,000 to Indian Summer Camp. That funding has given hundreds of children like Lana the opportunity to be a kid and not a patient.
A first child brings lots of excitement but can also bring worry when young parents suddenly have to deal with the responsibility of being moms and dads. Matthew Ayala’s parents thought he was doing okay until he was diagnosed with autism. Once they got over the initial surprise they found help through the Adair County School system and the WHAS Crusade for Children.
Since 1995, Adair County Schools have received more than $1 million dollars in Crusade grants. Those funds have given students like Matthew a way to satisfy their curiosity and build their futures.
A series of unexpected diagnoses left the Newby family wondering where they could find help for their son, Branson, after it was determined that he has autism and epilepsy. They were persistent, and thanks to a team that includes therapists, Bardstown Elementary School and the WHAS Crusade for Children, Branson is getting the support he needs.
Since 1969, Bardstown Independent Schools have received almost a million dollars in Crusade funding. Those grants continue to guarantee that children like Branson get the help they need to fulfill their potential.
Gabriel Forrest was born with a rare genetic disorder that affects 1 in 20,000 babies. He has albinism. For Gabriel that means a lack of pigment in his skin and hair. It also affects his vision. Once the shock wore off, the family found help through agencies supported by the WHAS Crusade for Children, like Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS).
At VIPS, Gabriel gets special attention to properly prepare him for kindergarten with basic concepts of numbers, shapes and social interaction.
Since 1985, VIPS has received more than $2 million in Crusade funding. Those grants continue to guarantee that children like Gabriel have the resources they need to be successful.
It’s the biggest day of local giving! Give for Good Louisville is SEPTEMBER 12.
One donation to the WHAS Crusade for Children can impact more than 200 agencies, schools & hospitals that receive grants from the Crusade. Thank you for helping us make life better for thousands of children in Kentucky and Indiana. 100% for the kids!