According to the American Stroke Association the risk of stroke for children is greatest in the first year of life and peaks during the weeks before birth. The Holland family knows all too well about those risks. Their son, Trenton showed early signs of stroke. But with continuing therapy and support from Visually-Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS) and WHAS Crusade for Children, Trenton is overcoming sight and mobility issues.
VIPS Executive Director, Diane Nelson says that Crusade funding becomes more important each year to be able to help youngsters like Trenton. VIPS started by serving 7 children in Jefferson County in 1985. Today that number has grown to 700 in Kentucky and Indiana. Since 1985, VIPS has received more than $1.5 million in WHAS Crusade grants.
When we hear of a child diagnosed on the autism spectrum most of the time we think in terms of the child having problems socially but an autism diagnosis can mean physical issues as well. Eight-year-old Henrik’s family was told because of his physical limitations due to autism, he’d never be able to hold a crayon much less learn to write. With help from the WHAS Crusade for Children and Green Hill Therapy, Henrik is proving many predictions wrong.
For his developing writing skills Henrik has a lofty goal. He wants to write movie scripts for Disney. Since 2002, Green Hill Therapy has received more than $250,000 in Crusade grants to help children like Henrik.
At the birth of their son, Christian, the Wilson family was told he wouldn’t live more than a few hours. The family refused to give up hope. With the help of the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System and the WHAS Crusade for Children, the Wilson’s faced what they call the longest night of their lives.
In his time with the therapists at the Appalachian Regional Hospital in Harlan and now at the Hyden location, Christian has worked consistently to overcome the effects of cerebral palsy. The family is truly grateful for Christian’s continuing progress.
Since 2014 the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System has received $56,000 in Crusade grants to help youngsters like Christian.
The WHAS Crusade for Children annual variety show originates LIVE from The Kentucky Center’s Bomhard Theater. Each year, different genres of music are presented as people come together to make life better for children with special needs.
Michelle Sydnor & Friends sang the roof off The Kentucky Center with their rendition of Total Praise at the 65th WHAS Crusade for Children Variety Show.
This Letter to the Editor was published in the July 20, 2018 edition of The Courier-Journal. It was written by Brennen Lawrence, chair of the WHAS Crusade for Children board and CEO of Cuddle Clones.
It is an honor and privilege to be a part of the WHAS Crusade for Children for over 30 years, initially getting involved through the fire service. For the past nine years, I have served on the board of directors, acting as the chair for the last three years. My appreciation for the generosity of the people in Kentuckiana has grown tremendously during this time.
For 65 years, the annual phenomenon known as the Crusade has been an important part of this community. Once again in June, we all came together for the kids, making it possible to award 229 grants this year, totaling $5,675,000. We are proud to continue the tradition of returning 100 percent of the contributions to hospitals, schools, and agencies throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
The Crusade Advisory Panel is a group of interdenominational ministers (rabbis, priests, pastors and reverends) who determine the grant allocations each year. This year was especially difficult, with $14.9 million in requests.
This year, charitable gifts from the people of Kentuckiana will be visible through many worthwhile projects and programs serving children with special needs. Your donations will be allocated to:
• 137 agencies and programs serving children with special needs
• 47 school districts throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana
• 14 individual schools that are not part of a district
• 16 hospitals throughout the region
• 9 capital projects
• 6 universities for scholarships designated for special education teachers
This would not be possible without the dedication and commitment of firefighters, who remain the heart of the Crusade. This effort also includes so many children, parents, churches, synagogues, businesses and schools who have personally collected. It is humbling to see the depth and breadth of the grants that are possible this year due to such great compassion. As a result, many children who have special needs will get the help they deserve.
Thank you.
Brennen Lawrence
Chair
Board of Directors
WHAS Crusade for Children
Learn more about the Crusade
The WHAS Crusade for Children funds more than 200 agencies, schools and hospitals each year. These funds help make life better for children with special needs.
Funding from the WHAS Crusade for Children is giving the Family Enrichment Center a boost in resources to serve children’s needs during difficult times through their Parents as Teachers program.
Since 2007 the Family Enrichment Center has received $117,000 in Crusade funding to help families.
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.
Seen annually on the WHAS Crusade for Children, George would join his daughter Kelly and other family members to announce their donations to the Crusade. Over the decades, they have raised more than $100,000. They went door-to-door as well as placing jars and collection cans in businesses across their Louisville Germantown neighborhood.
George, Kelly and family have been one of the highlights on the Crusade Variety Show each year on the first Saturday in June live from the Kentucky Center’s Bomhard Theater seen on WHAS11 and heard on 840WHAS. Often interviewed by the late Milton Metz and most recently by Renee Murphy of WHAS11 News.
Here is George’s obituary as it appeared in the Courier-Journal.
Knoop, George E., 84, passed away Tuesday, February 20, 2018.
He retired from Value City in 1998, was an Army veteran, and a member of Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Josephine “Joey” Knoop; a son-in-law, John Shircliff III; a brother-in-law, Harlan Altman; and an infant brother.
He is survived by his daughters, Karen Heil, Kathy Staples (Billy), Karlene Shircliff, Karyl Belza (Jim) and Kelly Knoop; 7 grandchildren, Scott Heil his companion, Benjamin Heil (Lisa), Amanda Burk (Chris), McKenzie and Olivia “Lake” Shircliff, and Sam and Ruthie Belza 5 great grandchildren; 4 sisters; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a. m. Saturday at Our Mother of Sorrows Church, 760 Eastern Parkway with burial in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 – 8 p. m. Friday at Embry-Bosse Funeral Home, 2723 Preston Highway.
Memorial gifts may be made to the WHAS Crusade for Children an organization that he worked for tirelessly.
Published in The Courier-Journal on Feb. 22, 2018