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Crusade for Children Raises $5,289,841

The Crusade for Children raised $5,289,841.  That is the official tote board total.  The Clergy Advisory Board had only allocated $4.9 million, in order to be conservative.  We will meet in June to allocate more funds to help special needs children in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

What a wonderful expression of community this Crusade has been - especially this year.  Many thought giving would be down.  The generosity of the Kentucky and Southern Indiana folks has been wonderful throughout the years.  The Crusade in 56 years has provided over $134,000,000 for special needs children.

Crusade for Children

 

Don't forget the Crusade for Children on WHAS11 today - Saturday, June 6, 2009.  If you cannot make the live show at the Kentucky Center for the Arts, please watch and give generously.

Crusade for Children Grant Request Hearings Begin

  The 2009 WHAS-TV Crusade for Children grant request hearings begin this week.  Grants come from funds raised in the community and go to agencies serving special needs children.  This year there are almost 200 requests totaling more than $10,000,000.  We anticipate having over $5,000,000 available to grant.

Crusade for Children Gets New CEO

Dawn Dison Lee of Louisville, Kentucky has been selected as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Crusade for Children. Dawn Dison Lee was selected from a list of 26 candidates by a search committee made up of representatives of the Crusade Board, Crusade Endowment Board, Crusade Advisory Board, and Crusade Staff. Dawn Dison Lee formerly served as the Director of CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Jefferson County, another agency helping children. She has also worked with Dismas House, Jewish Hospital Foundation, University of Louisville Cardinal Athletic Fund, and has served as President of the Kentucky–Southeast Indiana Multiple Scierosis Society. She has a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Louisville, and has a daughter, Kelsey age 20, and a son Jake, age 13. According to Dawn Dison Lee, “this is a dream job with a long standing and very well respected charity in the Community, who has a prestigious history and legacy at serving children with special needs. I am very proud to follow in the footsteps of Rebecca Jackson, and the legacy of such past leaders as Phyllis Knight and Bud Harbsmeier.” According to Paul Barth, Chairman of the Board of the Crusade for Children, “Dawn Dison Lee has a passion for helping children, and this passion along with her strong business, leadership, and fund raising skills, will help to build upon all of the great accomplishments and goals established by former CEO Rebecca Jackson, to insure that the legacy of the Crusade for Children continues on into the future, and will continue to be a vital entity helping children with special needs for many years to come.” Rebecca Jackson, former Chief Executive Officer of the WHAS Crusade for Children, retired from the position at the end of 2008, but has been serving as interim CEO until her replacement was named. Rebecca Jackson has served as CEO since May 31, 2005.

WHAS Crusade for Children raises over $5 million

WHAS' 55th annual event raises more than $5 million

It was the crumpled dollar dropped into a restaurant pickle jar. The $5 crammed into a firefighter's boot at an intersection. The dime that was dropped into a cup at a child's lemonade stand. It was the small paycheck deduction, the donated waitress tip and the house-raffle proceeds. But when all of the money was counted at the 55th annual WHAS Crusade for Children telethon last night, more than $5.2 million had been raised -- even in a time of tightening family budgets. "That's the heart of this community … it seems like when the times are worst, they dig the deepest," said Rebecca Jackson, the Crusade's president and chief executive officer. Last night's tally topped last year's $5.1 million telethon-night tally, despite fears that high gas and food prices amid a struggling economy would significantly dampen donations.

Yesterday, firefighters, who raise about half of the Crusade's money, screamed into town with sirens blaring to drop off money and thank donors on the air at WHAS-TV studios, which were crammed with volunteers, cameras and families. "The firefighters took this under their wing years ago … these kids depend on us, and the firefighters know it," said Mike Schmidt, chief of the Fern Creek Fire Department, whose firefighters stood at intersections with buckets, sent mailers and were helped by Girl Scouts in knocking on doors.

Others helped, too, such as Kelly Knoop, a disabled woman who received help from the Crusade as a child, Jackson said. Knoop has raised tens of thousands of dollars as an adult. When word got out that some cans she distributed as collection jars were stolen, donations shot up and she brought in about $6,000 this year.

In Fern Creek, a rock band set up next to firefighters at an intersection, and played to boost donations. And the Okolona Fire Department gave all of its money to the Camp Taylor department to honor one of its firefighters, Cory Adkins, who died in a car crash after returning from serving as a Marine in Iraq.

This year, more funds came from donations given as funeral memorials. Also, a handful of companies, including LG&E, offered payroll deductions. "It's not just them, it's also the children with the lemonade stand who raise $3, and the $40,000 in pennies we got last year," said Paul Barth, chief of the McMahan suburban fire district and chairman of the Crusade board of directors. Jeffersonville, Ind., deputy chief Shawn Grant said donations totaled $28,000 this year, down by $8,000.

The Crusade was established by WHAS-TV in 1954, raising money for schools, agencies and hospitals that serve the special needs of children. Prior to this year, it had raised about $123 million and helped an estimated 3 million children.

Barth said it has never been more important, given that the Crusade received 202 requests for $15 million in funding from local agencies across 120 Kentucky and 50 Southern Indiana counties, up from $10 million last year. "There are budget cuts and the need is growing in areas such as autism," he said. Barth said people give partly because they know all of the money stays in the state in which it was raised. The money is doled out by a panel of ministers based on need to recipients such as Kosair Children's Hospital or the Home of the Innocents. "Everyone seems to know someone who has been touched by Crusade funds," said Barth, whose own department raised $153,889 this year.

WHAS TV Crusade for Children

The WHAS-TV Crusade for Children will culminate with the telethon on Saturday, June 7.

Good News - Market opening spurs return of prosperity in Basra

BASRA, Iraq (May 7, 2008) – Citizens of Basra, the third-largest city in Iraq, celebrated the opening yesterday of a central market that demonstrated a return of peace and prosperity to an area that until recently was a stronghold of Shia militias. Schools closed early as families from the Jameat district gathered with local dignitaries, investors and media to watch the ceremonial opening of the Jameat Market, Multinational Corps Iraq officials reported.  "I am pleased to open the Jameat Market, which is an excellent example of the many projects contributing to the rebuilding of Iraq," said Nigel Haywood, the British consular general in southern Iraq. "This project will help establish prosperity in Basra." 

The market was built on the site where the Jameat police station was destroyed Dec. 25, 2006. The construction of the market was paid for by coalition reconstruction funds, in conjunction with the provincial council. Local Iraqis built the market, which was completed on March 23 at a total cost of about $1 million, officials said. 

Operation Charge of the Knights, a citizens group that works to restore peace and security to Basra, was credited with opening the market.  The market is expected to open for business within 30 days, and vendors already have rented many stalls, officials said. Traditionally, markets are a community focal point in Iraqi culture, and officials are considering proposals for similar markets in other areas of Basra. 

In other signs of progress in the area, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tuesday completed renovations on a vocational technical center in the Zubair district of Basra province, coalition officials said. The $1.5 million project restored two facilities that included at least 24 workshops for vocational training.  “Providing better educational opportunities will lead to better job opportunities,” said Army Lt. Col. Maura Gillen, a Multi-National Force - Iraq spokeswoman. “Vocational training is an investment in the economy, an investment in the development of a secure and prosperous Iraq.”

Also Tuesday, economic progress was seen in Baghdad when coalition forces awarded a small-business grant to boost fish farms in the area. Sheikh Jaffar of Khidr accepted the grant on behalf of a local fish farm association to buy two aerators for facilities in the Iskandariyah area, about 30 miles south of Baghdad. The aerators will be used in a holding pond, where 3 million young fish, or fingerlings, are scheduled for delivery later this month, officials said. Aerators provide oxygen to the pond to increase the survivability rate of the fingerlings, they explained. 

Provincial reconstruction team representatives say it’s important for economic stimulus projects to be driven by Iraqis. "It's important to help the Iraqis stimulate their own economy so they can have financial resources available to develop their own ideas and what they view as their own economic needs in their region," said Army Maj. William Kerr of the 415th Civil Affairs unit attached to the 3rd Infantry Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team.

Crusade for Children Grant Hearings Begin This Week

The WHAS-TV Crusade for Children has received approximately 200 grant requests totalling more than $15 million.  During the month of March and April the Clergy Advisory Council of twelve local ministers reads and hears every request.  Panels of three to four clergy come to WHAS-TV to hear about fifteen requests in a day.  Each minister sits on a panel three or four days.

I have been assigned to four days during this process.  Two of these days are March 5th and 6th.  I ask for your prayers and patience during these days.

Yours in Christ, JOHN

"Moral Side of the News" on WHAS-TV

I have been asked several times recently about my declining participation on the "Moral Side of the News" that is viewed on WHAS-TV and heard on WHAS 840AM and other radio stations.

The panel of the "Moral Side" consists of local clergy many of whom are connected with the Crusade for Children.  For a long time the clergy of the "Moral Side" would advise the director of the Crusade for Children and hear grant requests.  The connection with "Moral Side" continued in order to provide credibility and exposure to the Crusade and the individual clergy who worked with the Crusade.

For a long time my father served the community as a panelist on the "Moral Side" and through the Crusade for Children.  I have been honored to continue our family connection with both entities.  I enjoy particpating in both and I have developed some good friendships.

Currently I serve the Crusade for Children as a member of the Clergy Advisory Council, the Clergy Advisory Council Executive Committee, the Endowement Board, the Endowement Board Finance Committee, and the Endowement Board Capital Campaign Committee.  I enjoy this opportunity to serve our community in this way.

The "Moral Side" panel in the meantime has gone through some changes.  Our moderator now is Mr. Lawrence Smith, a former newscaster and now on the staff at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Larry has been a great addition.  Though I know he has his opinions, I find him to be an excellent moderator.  The topics he selects are timely and interesting.

There are five "chairs" on the panel of the "Moral Side."  Several of these chairs are "dedicated" (my word).  There is a Roman Catholic chair and a Jewish chair.  A new development is the chair reserved for a member of the faculty of Southern Baptist Seminary (a Southern Baptist chair).  There is also a strong attempt to fill the remaining chairs with a woman and an African-American.  Of course, the Southern Baptist and Roman Catholic chairs cannot be female clergy.

As you can see, depending on the make up of the particular panel, these "dedicated" chairs add up to four or five.  That leaves little or no room for someone like me - a white male main-line Protestant.

Others - even some on the panel - have noticed the liberal tilt on the panel.  I can assure everyone that this is not by intent, but rather a result of the "dedicated" chairs, the personal views of panelists, and the issues being discussed.  The Roman Catholic priests are usually moderate to liberal.  The rabbis are liberal.  The female and African-American clergy are usually liberal.  The Southern Baptist representatives are moderate to conservative. 

The consistent conservative voices on the panel - Dr. Tom Mobley and I - are not receiving the number of panel assignments as we used to receive, so it does result in the conservative voice being diminished.

Another result of the "dedicated" chairs is that the presence of Crusade for Children clergy on the panel is diminished as well.

Let me assure everyone that all the clergy are still friends and everyone understands the dynamics of the panel assignments - though not all of us agree with it, we all accept it.  The bottom line for me is the opportunity to serve the community through the Crusade for Children.  Whatever I am asked to do for the "Moral Side" I shall do cheerfully.

Yours in Christ, JOHN

Important Dates for October

• Sunday, October 14 @ 5:00pm - Preston Highway Lead Team meeting
• Sunday, October 14 @ 8:00pm - West Side Strategy Team meeting
• Monday, October 15 @ 6:00pm - meeting with Mosaic, Genesis, and LDI leadership
• Tuesday, October 16 @ 7:00pm - PRP Lead Team meeting
• Thursday, October 18 @ 9:00am - Crusade for Children Endowment Campaign Steering Committee meeting
• Thursday, October 18 @ 7:00pm - District Leadership Team meeting
• Tuesday, October 23 @ 11:30am - St. Matthews Senior Choir worship, sings, and fellowships at Preston Highway
• Tuesday, October 23, @ 4:00pm - JCPS County Cross Country Championships
• Thursday, October 25 through Friday, October 26 - Church Development Training Seminar
• Saturday, October 27 - PRP Church Fall Festival

Crusade for Children Tops $5.1 Million

A huge success! Crusade tops more than $5.1 million!

When it was all said and sung, the people of Kentuckiana donated $5,169,387 to the 54th annual WHAS Crusade for Children to help children with special needs.

Internet/radio/telethon kicked off with a stirring concert from The Kentucky Headhunters 8:00pm Saturday June 2 and ended with Crusade volunteers crowding into WHAS-TV studio H singing the traditonal "God Bless America" at 8:20pm (EDT) Sunday June 3, 2007.

100 percent of $123 million = $123 million

In its 54 years, the Crusade has raised more than $123 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.

It takes a cast of thousands to stage this annual miracle. From individual donors to children selling lemonade to corporations offering payroll deduction, it all comes togther on the first weekend in June.

More than 50 percent of donations are collected by about 200 fire departments in Kentucky and Indiana.

Crusade for Children

I ran into a gentleman the other day at the bank.  He said I looked familiar and asked if I were on "The Moral Side of the News."  I said I was.  He knew the connection between that program and the Crusade for Children.

He said, "I'm a great supporter of the Crusade.  Our son when he was born needed some special attention at the hospital, and the Crusade had provided the equipment."  He continued, "Our son died in 1996 at the age of 41.  I don't think we would have had those years without the Crusade."

This weekend is the culmination of the Crusade for Children drive for this year.  Every  penny you donate is given out in grants to agencies that help special needs children - 100%.  I promise.

Support the Crusade as you are able!

Yours in Christ, JOHN

Crusade for Children

The WHAS-TV Crusade for Children raises money all year, but the big campaign featuring the volunteer fire fighters will start next week.  Watch out for these volunteers at intersections.  Donate what you can.

This year there were over $12 million in requests.  We always plan on $5 million to $6 million to spend.  Every penny you put in a fire fighter's boot goes to a child with special needs.  Your support is apprectiated and meaningful.

Find out more about the WHAS-TV Crusade for Children at this link:  Crusade

Yours in Christ, JOHN