View hundreds of photos from Crusade weekend on our Facebook page, just CLICK HERE.

Thanks for being a part of this annual miracle to make life better for children with special needs.

To honor a pledge
Tax-deductible contributions can be sent anytime:
WHAS Crusade for Children
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202

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Watch highlights from WHAS11 News

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Top Kentucky Fire Departments

Fern Creek Fire Department $194,176.54
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District $194,154.54
Jeffersontown Fire Protection District $115,278.12
Highview Fire Protection District $90,273.76
St. Matthews Fire Protection District/Lyndon Fire Protection District $80,066.00
Zoneton Fire Protection District $76,159.48
Shelby County Fire & Rescue $75,044.68
South Oldham Fire & Rescue $52,822.20
Camp Taylor Fire Protection District $47,354.85
Columbia – Adair County Fire Department $36,644.02

Top Indiana Fire Departments

Lafayette Township Fire Department $118,161.00
Charlestown Fire Department $62,320.22
Monroe Township Fire Department $51,500.00
New Albany Fire Department & Harvest Homecoming $46,183.31
Clarksville Fire Department $34,693.00
Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department $31,200.46
Georgetown Township Fire District $30,138.39
Sellersburg Volunteer Fire Department $28,056.86
Jeffersonville Fire Department $26,826.88
Harrison Township Volunteer Fire Department $25,417.12

Top Organizations and Companies

Archdiocese of Louisville $273,613.00
LG&E KU PPL Companies $232,290.00
McAlister’s Deli $138,332.52
Norton Healthcare $128,538.40
Jefferson County Public Schools $115,620.67
Kosair Charities $60,000
Cross Country Distributing $58,275.00
Louisville Triple Crown of Running $38,270.00
Sam Swope Family Foundation $36,285.48
Ted Throckmorton Memorial Golf Tournament $27,466.00

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Press coverage

Click to read coverage from Palmer Trucks

Click to read coverage in The Grayson County News-Gazette

Click to read coverage in The News-Enterprise

Click to read coverage in The Oldham Era

Click to read coverage in The Record

Click to read coverage in The Courier-Journal

Kentuckiana = Communities with big hearts!

Communities in Kentucky and southern Indiana came together once again for the 66th Annual WHAS Crusade for Children to make life better for children with special needs. The final tote board tallied $5,690,000 as America’s most successful local telethon came to a close. That tops the 2018 total by $15,000.

The 30-hour Internet/radio/telethon was highlighted by a variety show hosted by WHAS11’s Lisa Hutson and 840 WHAS Radio’s Terry Meiners on Saturday, June 1. It concluded with a surprise donation from the Sam Swope Family Foundation to round the total up and Crusade volunteers crowding into WHAS-TV’s historic studio H singing the traditional “God Bless America” just before 7:00pm (EDT) Sunday, June 2, 2019.

“Every year I continue to be amazed at the way this community comes together to help children with special needs. The WHAS Crusade for Children continues to be a great demonstration of caring and coming together for the greater purpose of helping children with special needs. A huge thank you to all who gave, the firefighters who worked tirelessly to collect, and the dedicated volunteers that help every year. Every penny really makes a difference, and we are so grateful for the continued generosity of this community,” said WHAS Crusade for Children President & CEO Dawn Lee.

More than $185 million for the kids
In its first 66 years, the Crusade has raised more than $185 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 in Kentucky and southern Indiana.

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.

More for the Kids Matching Hours
In honor of the 66th WHAS Crusade for Children, several sponsors matched the first $6,600 worth of donations that were called in or made online during their sponsored hours. They were Clark Memorial Health, Joe Huber’s Family Farm & Restaurant, LG&E KU Foundation, Republic Bank Foundation, Superior Van & Mobility, and University of Louisville. In addition, First Harrison Bank and an anonymous donor matched the first $1,500 worth of donations called in or made online during their sponsored hours.

The Leaders
Nearly 60 percent of donations are collected by about 200 fire departments in Kentucky and southern Indiana. Fern Creek Fire Department led the way with $194,176.54 as their Chief Mike Schmidt retires this year.

Fire departments got involved with the Crusade in 1956 when Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Chief Ernie Bohler brought $400 on the Memorial Auditorium stage in Louisville and challenged all fire departments to get involved.

Like last year, the top Indiana fire department was Lafayette Township Fire Department with their highest total yet of $118,161.

Also repeating from last year, the Archdiocese of Louisville led the community organizations with $273,613 in contributions.

So many to thank
The annual Crusade Internet/radio/telethon kicked off at 1:00pm (EDT) on Saturday, June 1 and aired in its entirety on 840 WHAS Radio, WHAS11 and worldwide on WHAS11.com. WHAS11.com provided LIVE video streaming of the entire broadcast visible anywhere in the world. WHAS11 also simulcast the entire Crusade weekend program on YouTube and Facebook Live. Updates were posted all weekend long on WHASCrusade.org, and donors across the country made secure online donations.

In addition, WBNA-TV 21.1 in Louisville aired live broadcasts 12:30pm to 6:30pm Sunday, June 2, from the Kentucky cities of Elizabethtown, Shelbyville and Bardstown. WBKO-TV in Bowling Green aired remote telecasts from Campbellsville on Saturday and Leitchfield on Sunday.

Television Network
WHAS-TV, Louisville (flagship station)
WBNA-TV, Louisville
WBKO-TV, Bowling Green

Radio Network
WHAS, Louisville (flagship station)

Internet Network
WHAS11.com
WHASCrusade.org

To honor a pledge
Tax-deductible contributions can be sent anytime:
WHAS Crusade for Children
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202

Donations can also be made securely online on www.WHASCrusade.org.

To view a complete list of all groups that made donations to the 66th annual Crusade, go to www.WHASCrusade.org.

About the WHAS Crusade for Children
The WHAS Crusade for Children, established by WHAS-TV in 1954, raises money for schools, agencies and hospitals that make life better for children with special needs. In its first 66 years, the Crusade has raised more than $185 million. Thanks to generous contributions of goods and services, the Crusade returns 100 percent of all donations to organizations in all 120 Kentucky counties and more than 50 southern Indiana counties. Fire departments raise nearly 60 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.

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Alphabetized list of donors

Here’s the list of fire departments, organizations, companies and individuals in alphabetized order that appeared on the 66th annual WHAS Crusade for Children.

Addyson Clarkson – Lemonade Stand $435.00
Anchorage Middletown Fire & EMS, The Forum, Worthington FD & Eastwood Fire Protection Dist. $71,118.74
Anchorage Schools – Car Pool Line collection $1,105.38
Anneta Volunteer Fire Department $2,619.93
Arami Acres Spring Fundraiser $1,601.00
Archdiocese of Louisville $273,613.00

Bagdad Fire Department $17,052.64
Ballardsville Fire & Rescue $13,627.74
Baptist Health Employee Caring Campaign $15,828.00
Bardstown City Schools $9,600.00
Bardstown Fire Department $16,679.58
Bedford Vol. Fire & Rescue $9,699.01
bench raffle winner: Debbie Aberlento
Bill Newkirk $1,634.83
Bonnieville Fire Department $10,345.66
Boone Township Volunteer Fire Department $5,464.56
Boston Vol. Fire & Rescue $8,513.05
Bradfordsville Volunteer Fire Department $2,283.81
Breeding Fire Department $2,150.00
Buechel Fire Protection District $29,051.39

Camp Taylor Fire Protection District $47,354.85
Campbellsburg Fire & Rescue $12,193.53
Campbellsville/Taylor County Fire Department $33,545.22
Central Hardin Fire Department $7,464.85
Charlestown Fire Department $62,322.22
Chillers Microcreamery $2,500.00
Clarkson Fire Department $8,303.57
Clarksville Fire Department $34,693.00
coin rack raffle winner: Brad W
Columbia – Adair County Fire Department $36,444.02
Cross Country Distributing $58,275.00

Diane Moore Dance Academy $8,200.00

East 60 Volunteer Fire Department $13,082.63
East Grayson Fire Department $7,665.95
Ekron Volunteer Fire Dept. $8,774.56
Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department $31,200.46
Elizabethtown Fire Department $30,271.68
Eminence Fire & Rescue $13,913.89
Essay contest winner: Ian Baerly

Fern Creek Fire Proteciton District $194,176.54
Flaherty Volunteer Fire Department $17,776.38

Georgetown Township Fire District $30,138.39
Girl Scout Troop 1601 & 928 $173.00
Glendale Volunteer Fire Department $2,812.08
Gravel Switch Volunteer Fire Department $1,762.98
Greater Clark County Schools $23,386.02
Greensburng-Green County Fire & Rescue $15,410.00
Greenway Shredding & Recycling $16,423.50

Hardinsburg City Volunteer Fire Department $27,133.00
Harned Fire & Rescue $30,013.13
Harrison Township Volunteer Fire Department $25,567.12
Harrods Creek Fire Department $9,440.95
Heth Township Volunteer Fire Department $7,405.00
Highview Fire Protection District $90,273.76

Irvington Volunteer Fire Department $4,577.77

Jefferson County Public Schools $115,620.67
Jeffersontown Fire Protection District (Includes former McMahan FD) $115,278.12
Jeffersonville Fire Department $26,826.88
Jennings Township Volunteer Fire Department $13,776.61
Jewish Federation of Louisville Lemonade Stand $251.26
Joe Huber’s Family Farm & Restaurant $16,833.00

Kaylin Sawyer $654.50
Kelly Knoop $6,325.00
Kentuckiana Corvette Club & Moose Lodge 5 15,126.20
Kentucky 86 Fire & Rescue $14,472.00
Kentucky Amvets $2,901.48
Knifley Area Volunteer Fire Department $1,119.96
Kosair Charities $60,000.00
Kyana Car Club $12,500.00

Lafayette Township Fire Department $118,161.00
LaGrange Fire & Rescue $33,018.64
Lake Dreamland Fire Dept. $37,408.68
Lake Jericho Fire and Rescue $5,583.02
Lanesville Volunteer Fire Department $14,720.90
Larue/Hodgenville Fire Department $2,129.55
Leavenworth Crusaders $5,554.00
Lebanon Fire District $36,515.00
Lebanon Junction Fire Department $8,217.02
Leitchfield Fire Department $15,983.19
Lemonade – Lily’s Lemonade Stand $219.45
Lemonade – Nia Jackson $753.29
Lemonade Stand – Adam Harris $245.00
Lemonade Stand – Christopher & Angela Early $1,011.05
Lemonade Stand – Luke Watts $821.71
Lemonade Stand – Thomas $120.00
LG&E KU PPL Companies $232,290.00
Loretto Volunteer Fire Department $3,787.36
Lorne Ballard $20,516.11
Louisville Fire & Rescue $11,494.64
Louisville Low Riders $870.00
Louisville Metro Youth Detetion Services $301.00
Louisville Rowing Club – Adaptive Rowing $1,000.00
Louisville Street Rods $3,151.16
Louisville Triple Crown of Running $38,270.00

Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department $2,045.50
Max’s Facebook Fundraiser $335.00
McAlister’s Deli $138,322.52
McDaniels Fire and Rescue $4,576.78
Meade County Fire & Rescue $4,290.07
Metz Family in Memory of Milton $5,000.00
Micha Chandler $25.00
Milltown Volunteer Fire Dept. $20,183.00
Monroe Township Volunteer Fire District $51,500.00
Mt. Eden Volunteer Fire Department $12,765.88
Mt. Washington Fire Department $35,727.07
Muldraugh Volunteer Fire Department $2,009.57

Nelson County Fire & Rescue $14,202.23
New Albany Fire Department & Harvest Homecoming $46,183.81
New Castle Vol. Fire & Rescue $13,234.43
New Chapel Fire Company $9,399.47
New Haven/Rolling Fork Fire Department $8,916.83
New Hope Volunteer Fire Department $2,345.60
New Middletown Volunteer Fire Department $9,274.30
New Washington Volunteer Fire Dept. $24,000.87
Nichols Volunteer Fire Department $8,358.75
Northeast Nelson Fire Department $16,557.65
Norton Healthcare $128,538.40
Nuss Family $1,350.00

Okolona Fire Protection District $31,766.80

Pacers & Racers Barnyard Dash $4,500.00
Palmer Truck (Kenworth of Louisville) $13,520.00
Palmyra Volunteer Fire Department $9,739.69
Payneville Fire Department $11,118.03
PeWee Valley Fire Protection District $27,010.00
Pierce Polk Fire Department $7,105.27
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District $194,154.54
Pleasureville Volunteer Fire Department $10,270.90
Posey Township Volunteer Fire Dept. $2,683.90

Radcliff Fire Department $11,540.20
Radial $4,310.25
raffle winner: Trig
Ramsey Volunteer Fire Department $11,867.24
Rauch, Inc. $1,315.00
Raywick Volunteer Fire Department $5,130.45
Republic Bank $10,000
Rineyville Fire Department $14,766.98

Sam Swope Family Foundation $36,285.48
School Lemonade Stand $90.34
Sellersburg Volunteer Fire Department $28,056.86
Shelby County Fire and Rescue $75,044.68
Shelbyville Fire Department $20,780.96
Shepherdsville Fire Department $25,801.46
Shively Fire & Rescue $12,175.52
Simpsonville Volunteer Fire Deparment $12,883.61
Sonora Fire and Rescue $14,627.25
South Oldham Fire & Rescue $52,822.20
Southeast Bullitt Fire Dept. $16,112.23
Sparkles & Spurs $1,245.06
Springfield-Washington County Fire Department $6,260.05
St. Athanasius Beta Club $1,433.23
St. Mark’s United Church of Christ $664.63
St. Matthews Fire Protection District / Lyndon Fire Protection District $80,066.00
Stephensburg Volunteer Fire Department $5,176.17
Summersville Fire Department $6,348.25
Superior Van & Mobility $6,600.00

Taylorsville-Spencer Co. Volunteer Fire Department $32,050.00
Ted Throckmorton Memorial Golf Tournament $27,466.00
That Cute Little Shop $1,000
The Temple $5,000.00

Union Year of Giving $3,000.00
Upton Volunteer Fire & Rescue $2,670.33
Utica Township Fire Department $4,712.70

Valley Creek Volunteer Fire Department $9,311.08
Vine Grove Fire Department $16,560.93

Waddy Volunteer Fire Department $10,000.07
Wax Fire & Rescue $4,001.21
Webster Area Volunteer Fire Department $4,000.00
West 84 Volunteer Fire Department $3,887.14
West Point Fire Department & Ambulance $2,665.00
Westport Volunteer Fire Department $4,622.99
WHAS Crusade for Children Community Engagement Council $7,900.00
WHAS Crusade for Children Endowment $300,000.00
White Mills Volunteer Fire Department $2,380.50
Willisburg Fire Department $3,267.55
winner of $100 – XLG Corp
winner of $300 – Cody Wickerham
Winner of Premium Basket and Basketball: SS Shrader
Winner of Quilt: Ann Barry
winner of tool box – Jim Vockle
Woodford County Fire Department $7,003.33

Zoneton Fire Protection District $76,159.48

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Running tally of donors

Here’s the list of fire departments, organizations, companies and individuals in the order that they appeared on the 66th annual WHAS Crusade for Children.

LG&E KU PPL Companies $232,290.00
Norton Healthcare $128,538.40
Louisville Triple Crown of Running $38,270.00
Jefferson County Public Schools $115,620.67
Okolona Fire Department Milwaukee Tool Shop Raffle – Winner Carolyn Spencer
WHAS Crusade for Children Endowment $300,000.00
Max’s Facebook Fundraiser $335.00
Anchorage Schools – Car Pool Line collection $1,105.38
Louisville Rowing Club – Adaptive Rowing $1,000.00
Radial $4,310.25
Sparkles & Spurs $1,245.06
Lemonade Stand – Thomas $120.00
Greenway Shredding & Recycling $16,423.50
That Cute Little Shop $1,000
Republic Bank $10,000
Lemonade Stand – Christopher & Angela Early $1,011.05
Kaylin Sawyer $654.50
Lemonade Stand – Luke Watts $821.71
Palmer Truck (Kenworth of Louisville) $13,520.00
winner of tool box – Jim Vockle
winner of $300 – Cody Wickerham
winner of $100 – XLG Corp
Arami Acres Spring Fundraiser $1,601.00
Baptist Health Employee Caring Campaign $15,828.00
Louisville Metro Youth Detetion Services $301.00
Chillers Microcreamery $2,500.00
WHAS Crusade for Children Community Engagement Council $7,900.00
Lemonade Stand – Adam Harris $245.00
Lemonade – Lily’s Lemonade Stand $219.45
Lemonade – Nia Jackson $753.29
Rauch, Inc. $1,315.00
Addyson Clarkson – Lemonade Stand $435.00
Kelly Knoop $6,325.00
Diane Moore Dance Academy $8,200.00
Milltown Volunteer Fire Dept. $20,183.00
McAlister’s Deli $138,322.52
Kosair Charities $60,000.00
Metz Family in Memory of Milton $5,000.00
Joe Huber’s Family Farm & Restaurant $16,833.00
Ted Throckmorton Memorial Golf Tournament $27,466.00
Kentucky Amvets $2,901.48
St. Mark’s United Church of Christ $664.63
Bill Newkirk $1,634.83
St. Matthews Fire Protection District / Lyndon Fire Protection District $80,066.00
Union Year of Giving $3,000.00
Nuss Family $1,350.00
Jewish Federation of Louisville Lemonade Stand $251.26
South Oldham Fire & Rescue $52,822.20
St. Athanasius Beta Club $1,433.23
Pacers & Racers Barnyard Dash $4,500.00
Girl Scout Troop 1601 & 928 $173.00
Clarksville Fire Department $34,693.00
Kentuckiana Corvette Club & Moose Lodge 5 15,126.20
Anchorage Middletown Fire & EMS, The Forum, Worthington FD & Eastwood Fire Protection Dist. $71,118.74
Kyana Car Club $12,500.00
Louisville Fire & Rescue $11,494.64
New Washington Volunteer Fire Dept. $24,000.87
Louisville Street Rods $3,151.16
Superior Van & Mobility $6,600.00
Lake Dreamland Fire Dept. $37,408.68
raffle winner: Trig
Louisville Low Riders $870.00
PeWee Valley Fire Protection District $27,010.00
Micha Chandler $25.00
Ekron Volunteer Fire Dept. $8,774.56
Shively Fire & Rescue $12,175.52
Meade County Fire & Rescue $4,290.07
Posey Township Volunteer Fire Dept. $2,683.90
Campbellsburg Fire & Rescue $12,193.53
Lorne Ballard $20,516.11
Jeffersonville Fire Department $26,826.88
Ballardsville Fire & Rescue $13,627.74
Highview Fire Protection District $90,273.76
bench raffle winner: Debbie Aberlento
coin rack raffle winner: Brad W
Jeffersontown Fire Protection District (Includes former McMahan FD) $115,278.12
Essay contest winner: Ian Baerly
Monroe Township Volunteer Fire District $51,500.00
The Temple $5,000.00
Palmyra Volunteer Fire Department $9,739.69
Okolona Fire Protection District $31,766.80
Harrods Creek Fire Department $9,440.95
Ramsey Volunteer Fire Department $11,867.24
Utica Township Fire Department $4,712.70
New Chapel Fire Company $9,399.47
Leavenworth Crusaders $5,554.00
Nichols Volunteer Fire Department $8,358.75
Southeast Bullitt Fire Dept. $16,112.23
Pierce Polk Fire Department $7,105.27
Heth Township Volunteer Fire Department $7,405.00
New Albany Fire Department & Harvest Homecoming $46,183.81
Winner of Premium Basket and Basketball: SS Shrader
Winner of Quilt: Ann Barry
Buechel Fire Protection District $29,051.39
School Lemonade Stand $90.34
Cross Country Distributing $58,275.00
LaGrange Fire & Rescue $33,018.64
Bonnieville Fire Department $10,345.66
Sellersburg Volunteer Fire Department $28,056.86
West Point Fire Department & Ambulance $2,665.00
Flaherty Volunteer Fire Department $17,776.38
Georgetown Township Fire District $30,138.39
Boone Township Volunteer Fire Department $5,464.56
Zoneton Fire Protection District $76,159.48
Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department $31,200.46
Camp Taylor Fire Protection District $47,354.85
Payneville Fire Department $11,118.03
Shepherdsville Fire Department $25,801.46
New Middletown Volunteer Fire Department $9,274.30
Harrison Township Volunteer Fire Department $25,567.12
Charlestown Fire Department $62,322.22
Mt. Washington Fire Department $35,727.07
Westport Volunteer Fire Department $4,622.99
Lafayette Township Fire Department $118,161.00
Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District $194,154.54
Lanesville Volunteer Fire Department $14,720.90
Jennings Township Volunteer Fire Department $13,776.61
Archdiocese of Louisville $273,613.00
Greater Clark County Schools $23,386.02
Radcliff Fire Department $11,540.20
Elizabethtown Fire Department $30,271.68
Central Hardin Fire Department $7,464.85
West 84 Volunteer Fire Department $3,887.14
Glendale Volunteer Fire Department $2,812.08
White Mills Volunteer Fire Department $2,380.50
Stephensburg Volunteer Fire Department $5,176.17
Rineyville Fire Department $14,766.98
Sonora Fire and Rescue $14,627.25
Upton Volunteer Fire & Rescue $2,670.33
Kentucky 86 Fire & Rescue $14,472.00
Vine Grove Fire Department $16,560.93
Lebanon Junction Fire Department $8,217.02
Valley Creek Volunteer Fire Department $9,311.08
Irvington Volunteer Fire Department $4,577.77
Anneta Volunteer Fire Department $2,619.93
Muldraugh Volunteer Fire Department $2,009.57
Clarkson Fire Department $8,303.57
McDaniels Fire and Rescue $4,576.78
East Grayson Fire Department $7,665.95
Harned Fire & Rescue $30,013.13
Hardinsburg City Volunteer Fire Department $27,133.00
Wax Fire & Rescue $4,001.21
Webster Area Volunteer Fire Department $4,000.00
Leitchfield Fire Department $15,983.19
Woodford County Fire Department $7,003.33
Taylorsville-Spencer Co. Volunteer Fire Department $32,050.00
Lake Jericho Fire and Rescue $5,583.02
Pleasureville Volunteer Fire Department $10,270.90
New Castle Vol. Fire & Rescue $13,234.43
Eminence Fire & Rescue $13,913.89
Bedford Vol. Fire & Rescue $9,699.01
Waddy Volunteer Fire Department $10,000.07
Bagdad Fire Department $17,052.64
East 60 Volunteer Fire Department $13,082.63
Shelbyville Fire Department $20,780.96
Simpsonville Volunteer Fire Deparment $12,883.61
Mt. Eden Volunteer Fire Department $12,765.88
Shelby County Fire and Rescue $75,044.68
Bardstown Fire Department $16,679.58
Bardstown City Schools $9,600.00
Raywick Volunteer Fire Department $5,130.45
Loretto Volunteer Fire Department $3,787.36
Gravel Switch Volunteer Fire Department $1,762.98
Bradfordsville Volunteer Fire Department $2,283.81
Lebanon Fire District $36,515.00
Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department $2,045.50
Campbellsville/Taylor County Fire Department $33,545.22
Springfield-Washington County Fire Department $6,260.05
Willisburg Fire Department $3,267.55
Larue/Hodgenville Fire Department $2,129.55
Northeast Nelson Fire Department $16,557.65
New Hope Volunteer Fire Department $2,345.60
Boston Vol. Fire & Rescue $8,513.05
New Haven/Rolling Fork Fire Department $8,916.83
Nelson County Fire & Rescue $14,202.23
Summersville Fire Department $6,348.25
Knifley Area Volunteer Fire Department $1,119.96
Greensburng-Green County Fire & Rescue $15,410.00
Columbia – Adair County Fire Department $36,444.02
Breeding Fire Department $2,150.00
Fern Creek Fire Proteciton District $194,176.54
Sam Swope Family Foundation $36,285.48

Step back in time to the days of beehive hairdos were standard and color television was new. Watch this “big time” opening of the 1968 WHAS Crusade for Children telethon.

The 66th annual WHAS Crusade for Children is set for June 1st & 2nd! The #WHASCrusade kicked things off by debuting this year’s pin and product design. This new design was inspired by the Route 66 TV series and highway sign.

Graphic designer, Lonnie Walker says “We thought what better way to illustrate that the Crusade is always on the road and going down the path to helping children in both Kentucky and Indiana communities.”

Stay tuned! WHAS Crusade for Children merchandise featuring the new design will be available for the public to purchase.

(From WHAS11.com)

A former WHAS-TV General manager has died after a battle with cancer.

Robert “Bob” Klingle, who served as general manager from 2000 to 2007, died Monday, January 14 in Scottsdale, Arizona where he was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.

During his time in Louisville, he led the station with special coverage of the September 11, 2001 tragedy and signed a new deal with the University of Louisville to make WHAS11 the home of the Cardinals for several years.

Klingle also expanded the WHAS Crusade for Children by creating the first-ever Crusade Endowment to help ensure the Crusade’s future.

His wife Jean told WHAS11 News, “Bob felt very fortunate to have lived and worked in Louisville and was glad to have been part of the Crusade.”

Klingle would say right up until his final moments, “I am the luckiest man in the world”.

The family will hold a celebration of life in Louisville this spring.

He was 62-years-old.

Expectant parents hope and pray that their child will be born perfectly healthy. And that was the case for the Eckstein family. However, when their son, Leo was born with hearing loss they say the initial diagnosis took them completely by surprise.

Thanks to funding from the WHAS Crusade for Children, Heuser Hearing Institute has been able to provide equipment and therapies to give youngsters like Leo every chance to fulfill their potential. Since 1979, Heuser has received Crusade grants totaling more than $1 million, which have helped thousands of children with hearing issues.

Sign up for the Louisville Triple Crown of Running and receive $15 off your entry fee now until January 14, 2019.

The runners of Kentuckiana make magic happen each Spring supporting children with special needs in Kentucky and southern Indiana like Addy (see her video below).

Save the dates for the 2019 race series:
Saturday, February 23rd – Anthem 5K Fitness Classic
Saturday, March 9th – Rodes City Run 10K
Saturday, March 23rd – Papa Johns 10 Miler

All three races benefit the WHAS Crusade for Children.

Join Team Crusade
Call the Crusade office at 502-582-7706 for more information on how to join Team Crusade. Team Crusade is a running team that takes part in all three races. Your running skill level doesn’t matter. You’ll join a fun group that just wants to help children with special needs. 100% for the kids!