\nWHAS Crusade for Children
\n520 West Chestnut St.
\nLouisville, KY 40202
\n
![\"close1\"](\"https:\/\/www.whascrusade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/close1.jpg\" "\\"close1\\"")
<\/a>\nWhen it was all said and sung, the people of Kentuckiana donated $5,289,841 to the 56th annual WHAS Crusade for Children to help children with special needs – topping 2008 by more than $40,000! <\/p>\n
The 31-hour Internet\/radio\/telethon kicked off with firefighters reporting donations, a touching evening led by The Miracle Dancers, Confederate Railroad and a cast of thousands on Saturday and ended with Crusade volunteers crowding into WHAS-TV studio H singing the traditonal “God Bless America” after 10:00pm Sunday. In its 56 years, the Crusade has raised more than $133 million for children with special needs. 100 percent of all donations raised Crusade weekend are returned to the communities where children’s needs are met.<\/p>\n More than 50 percent of donations are collected by about 200 fire departments in Kentucky and Indiana. Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Department led the charge with $269,462. PRP was the fire department that started it all in1956 when Chief Ernie Bohler clenched $400 in his fist in a crowded Memorial Auditorium and challenged all fire departments to get involved.<\/p>\n The Archdiocese of Louisville led all non-fire department donors with $215,500.<\/p>\n Pleasure Ridge Park $269,462 Archdiocese of Louisville $215,500<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n100% of $133 million<\/h2>\n
PRP and Archdiocese lead the way<\/h2>\n
Top 5 fire departments<\/h2>\n
\nFern Creek $231,580
\nMcMahan $154,755
\nHighview $140,178
\nZoneton $101,252<\/p>\nTop 5 civic donors<\/h2>\n
\nJefferson County Public School $174,036
\nEON-US\/LG&E $167,501
\nKroger $153,249
\nNorton Healthcare $139,167<\/p>\nSee who gave what!<\/h2>\n