A telethon is a fundraising event broadcast on television that lasts many hours or even days, the purpose of which is to raise money for a charitable, political, or other allegedly worthy cause. Fundraising is the process of soliciting and gathering Money or other gifts in-kind by requesting donations from individuals businesses charitable foundations or governmental Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Money is anything that is generally accepted as Payment for Goods and services and repayment of Debts. Correspondingly, the term is a portmanteau of "television" and "marathon". The marathon is a long-distance foot race with an official distance of 42

Examples

United States

In the United States, telethons are held for various charities; best known among them is the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, staged each Labor Day to benefit Muscular Dystrophy Associations. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The definition of charitable organization, and of charity varies according to the country and in some instances the region of the country in which the charitable organization operates The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon is hosted by Jerry Lewis to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Labor Day is a United States Federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September Muscular dystrophy (MD refers to a group of genetic, Hereditary Muscle diseases that cause progressive muscle weakness In the past, other charities such as the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Children's Miracle Network produced telethons on a nationwide or regional basis. St Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded in 1962 is a leading pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children's catastrophic diseases The Children's Miracle Network (CMN is an international Non-profit organization that raises funds for Children's hospitals medical research and community awareness

Public radio and television stations, such as those affiliated with National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service, as well as unaffiliated non-commercial radio stations such as WFMU, produce annual pledge drives which are similar in format to telethons, but instead use brief breaks between regular programs to appeal for funds. The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the WFMU is a listener-supported non-commercial Radio station based in Jersey City New Jersey, broadcasting at 91 A pledge drive is an extended period of Fundraising activities generally used by Public broadcasting stations to increase contributions

Trinity Broadcasting Network, a religious television network, hosts non-stop, week-long, semi-annual telethons called "Praise-a-Thons". The Trinity Broadcasting Network ( TBN) is a Christian television network headquartered in Costa Mesa California with studios in Irving Texas A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos A television network is a distribution network for Television content whereby a central operation provides programming for many Television stations The Christian Broadcasting Network/The 700 Club stages a modified form of a telethon twice a year, which runs for approximately one week but is shown for only an hour or so each day. The Christian Broadcasting Network, or CBN, is a Christian Television broadcasting network in the United States. The 700 Club is the flagship news Talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing on cable's ABC Family and in syndication (In its early days, CBN's telethons were of the more traditional round-the-clock form. This format ended when the ministry sold its Family Channel, which no longer gave it access to a round-the-clock outlet for such telethons. ABC Family is an American Cable television network currently owned by Disney-ABC Television Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company However, on the Sunday before the Super Bowl, CBN does have a 12-hour telethon on the ABC Family Channel. professional American football, the Super Bowl is the Championship game of the National Football League (NFL ABC Family is an American Cable television network currently owned by Disney-ABC Television Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company ) Other religious stations and networks hold telethons as well.

In 1972, the Democratic Party even held a one-time telethon to help it erase a multi-million dollar debt (This may have provided the inspiration for the 1979 film comedy Americathon, where a telethon is held to prevent national bankruptcy). The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. The dollar (often represented by the Dollar sign: "$" is the name of the official Currency in several countries dependencies and other Debt is that which is owed usually referencing Assets owed but the term can cover other obligations Americathon (also known as Americathon 1998) is a 1979 comedy starring John Ritter, Fred Willard, Peter Riegert The telethon idea was created and promoted by John Y. Brown, Jr., the businessman who built Kentucky Fried Chicken into a worldwide chain and later became governor of Kentucky. John Young Brown Jr (born December 28, 1933) is a US Democratic Party Politician, entrepreneur and businessman Kentucky Fried Chicken, usually known as KFC, is a chain of Fast food restaurants based in Louisville Kentucky. The Governor of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of the U

Local telethons, once a common fixture in nearly every major city in the United States, are now rare but still found in a handful of cities, including Louisville, Kentucky, and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Green Bay is a city in and the County seat of Brown County in the U

Canada

There are no annual national telethons in Canada, although as in the U. S. , many local children's hospitals operate regional telethons in collaboration with Children's Miracle Network in early June. The Children's Miracle Network (CMN is an international Non-profit organization that raises funds for Children's hospitals medical research and community awareness

Notable regional telethons (outside of CMN) include:

• Telemiracle (March) in Saskatchewan benefitting the Kinsmen Foundation. Telemiracle is a Telethon organized by the Kinsmen and Kinettes in Saskatchewan, Canada for the benefit of the Kinsmen Foundation. Saskatchewan (səˈskætʃəwən) is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of 588276 Since its inception in 1977, Telemiracle has raised over $73 million, including $5. 6 million in the 2007 edition, held in Saskatoon. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Saskatoon is a city located in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River, with a
• Christmas Daddies (December), benefitting underprivileged children in Atlantic Canada
• Show of Hearts (February) in British Columbia, supporting Variety, the Children's Charity

Europe

In the United Kingdom, regular telethons are held for charitable groups such as Comic Relief's Red Nose Day and Sport Relief, and the BBC's Children in Need. Atlantic Canada, also known as the Atlantic provinces, is the region of Canada comprising four provinces located on the Atlantic coast: British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C Variety the Children's Charity was founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 10, 1927 when a group of eleven men involved in Show The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character or scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work often to relieve tension Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character or scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work often to relieve tension Sport Relief is a biennial charity event from Comic Relief, in association with BBC Sport, which brings together the worlds of sport and entertainment to raise money BBC Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. These are highlights every year, with millions of pounds sterling raised to support various charities. The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency They usually include music artists, sketches, and other various sections, usually with quite a few videos in between each section or song to promote the charity that money is being raised for - usually children in either Africa or the United Kingdom.

In Ireland the RTÉ People in Need Telethon has been held roughly every 2 years in May, since 1988, although there was no Telethon in 2003 due to Special Olympics and the sponsorship/volunteering needed, and it has been moved to October 26 in 2007. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world People in Need is a charity in the Republic of Ireland which has as its main fundraiser a Telethon, known as the RTÉ People in Need Telethon The RTÉ People in Need Telethon is a Telethon in Ireland which is broadcast by RTÉ, and supported by Eircom. The 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games were hosted in Ireland, with participants staying in various host towns around the island in the lead up to the games before moving Events 740 - An Earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. During the last Telethon in 2004, over 4,000 fundraising events were organised by people nationwide, and proceeds were subsequently distributed to almost 760 projects in the 26 counties. Since its inception in 1988, over €35 million has been raised by the People in Need through the RTÉ People in Need Telethon, supporting a wide variety of charitable organisations nationwide. People in Need is a charity in the Republic of Ireland which has as its main fundraiser a Telethon, known as the RTÉ People in Need Telethon The RTÉ People in Need Telethon is a Telethon in Ireland which is broadcast by RTÉ, and supported by Eircom. Eight Telethons have been held to date and over €35 million has been distributed in grants, ranging from €150 to €50,000, to thousands of organisations throughout Ireland. Grant applications are assessed by advisory committees in each region before final approval by the Board of Directors of the Trust. Money raised in each county, stays in each county.

In France, since 1987, an annual Téléthon, for the muscular dystrophy charity in France, L'Association française contre les myopathies, is held by France 2 on the first or second weekend in December, with the support of France 3 and France 5, and the public radio networks (France Inter, France Info, France Bleu). This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. France 2 is the largest French public Television network It is part of the France Télévisions group along with France 3, France 5 France 3 is the second largest French public Television channel and part of the France Télévisions group which also includes France 2 France 5 is a public television network in France, part of the France Télévisions group France Inter is a major French public radio network and part of Radio France. France Info ( Info being an abbreviation for the French Informations, or News is a French public news Radio station part of the Radio France Bleu is the regional radio network of Radio France. It is analogous to BBC Local Radio in the United Kingdom. Several events are organized all around France. Donations are made by telephone, Minitel or at the Téléthon's website (http://www.telethon.fr/). The Minitel is a Videotex Online service accessible through the Telephone lines and is considered one of the world's most successful pre- World The 2006 edition has earned €101,472,581 (US$136,389,286) in pledges.

In Italy, Telethon is also held in December, and in 2006 was on the 15/16/17. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest By the 18/12/06, donors had raised €30,740,000 for research into cures for genetic diseases. [1]

In Israel, for many years an annual telethon is held for those serving in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. The Israel Defense Forces ( IDF) (צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, lit A telethon is called teletrom in Hebrew (Hebrew טלתרום), "trom" meaning donate. Telethons have also been held for endangered children on Israeli channel 2, the broadcast is called "Yom Tov" (Hebrew "יום טוב"), meaning "Good Day" in English. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Telethons in Israel usually earn high ratings but have come under criticism for over commercialism.

In Catalonia, public television broadcaster Televisió de Catalunya broadcasts an annual telethon for several diseases. Catalonia (Cataluña Catalunya Aranese: Catalonha) is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain. Televisió de Catalunya (or TVC for short is Catalonia 's Public broadcasting network officially composed of six channels: TV3 In 2004, it raised 8,712,000 euros for cancer research. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Please update other articles as well to avoid contradiction within Wikipedia e Cancer (medical term Malignant Neoplasm) is a class of Diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled

Chile

Chilean Telethon's logo

In December of most years since 1978, the major Chilean television networks hold a 27-hour telethon (known locally as "Teletón") to raise funds to help children with developmental disabilities (most commonly cerebral palsy) in Instituto de Rehabilitación Infantil ("Infant Rehabilitation Institute") centers. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Cerebral palsy ( CP) is an Umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non- contagious conditions that cause Physical disability The Chilean Telethon is transmitted by all channels of Chilean television & many radios. Since the telethon started, more than USD 286 million has been raised (including a record of more than US$26 million in the 2007 event on November 30 - December 1, 2007) and 10 rehabilitation centers have been constructed in the cities of: Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta, Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Santiago, Talca, Concepción, Temuco & Port Montt. In proyect there are 4 new centers in the cities of: Calama, Coihaique, Copiapó & Valdivia. During the annual event, local and worldwide stars participate in live events around the country. The Chilean telethon host has always been Mario Kreutzberger, also known as Don Francisco, who is the symbol of "La Teletón" in Chile. Biography Don Francisco was born nto a Chilean - Jewish German family his parents had fled to Chile escaping from Nazi persecution In Chile, the telethon is an event of national unity and is proportionally, the most widely watched telethon in the world. '

There is also a local telethon running, the Days for the Disabled Magellanic Children (Jornadas por el Niño Impedido Magallánico), to raise funds to help disabled children of the Magallanes and Última Esperanza provinces, in an effort led by the local Lions Club. Magallanes Province is part of the Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, located on the Northern coast of the Strait of Magellan, its capital city is Punta The Última Esperanza Province of Chile (in Spanish Provincia Última Esperanza, "Last Hope Province" is located on the Chilean continental Lions Clubs International (LCI is the world's largest Secular service organization with over 44500 clubs and more than 1 The 2006 Days raised US$ 515. 000. [2] [3]

Honduras

In December of every year since 1987 all television networks hold a 27-hour telethon to raise funds to help children with disabilities in the called "Fundación Teleton" (Telethon Foundation) under the leadership of Mr. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Rafael Ferrari (a successful businessman and sportsman). Many international artists, TV Presenters and Journalists are invited. Grupo Taca provides free transportation for these international invitees. TACA is the flag carrier of Central America, headquartered in San Salvador El Salvador Local banks provide free-service 24-hour open office during the Telethon. A banker or bank is a Financial institution whose primary activity is to act as a payment agent for customers and to borrow and lend money Most of the important business corporations, many government institutions and people donate money. Some institutions provide donations of their employees through payroll deductions. Thanks to these yearly telethons, many special care centers have been built in different locations of Honduras. Honduras in Spanish, República de Honduras) is a democratic republic in Central America.

Mexico

Main article: Teletón (Mexico)

Like Chile and Honduras in December of every year since 1997 the Mexican Television network Televisa with all the media networks except TV Azteca hold a 24-hour telethon with the purpose to raise funds to help children with disabilities. The Teletón in Mexico is a yearly event started in 1997 in which though a TV and radio broadcast of more that 24 hours it is intended to collect money to help in the creation Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Televisa is a Mexican multimedia company and is the largest media company in the Spanish -speaking world and a major player in the international entertainment TV Azteca is the second largest Mexican Television network. It was established in 1983 as the state-owned Instituto Mexicano de la Televisión The event is organized by the "Fundación Teletón". During the transmission of the event especially in the television broadcasting many Mexican media personalities shows testimonies of children and their families who overcame their disabilities. The final act with the Telethon closes likely in Chile is a concert in the Estadio Azteca with the performance of many national and international artists and singers. Estadio Azteca is a Stadium in Mexico City Mexico. It is the official home stadium of the Mexico national football team and the Mexican team [[4]]

Asia

In Japan, Nippon Television hosts its annual telethon titled 24 Hour Television, Love Saves the Earth (24時間テレビ　愛は地球を救う, Niju-yojikan Terebi Ai wa Chikyuu wo Sukuu) in August. ( is a Television network in Shiodome area of Minato Tokyo, Japan owned by the Yomiuri Shimbun. Started in 1979, its objective is to raise funds for various charities that aid the sick, the handicapped, victims of war and natural disasters around the world and environmental programmes. Every year, during the live broadcast, a popular television personality attempts to run a 100 km marathon for this worthy cause. Despite its title, the telethon runs for approximately 27 hours.

Australia

Victoria

The Good Friday Appeal telethon is run for the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne on Good Friday every year. The Good Friday Appeal is a fundraising activity that brings together people from all parts of the community in a very special way The Royal Children's Hospital is a Children's hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 Good Friday, also called Holy Friday or Great Friday, is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday ("Pascha" It is the largest telethon in Australia and airs across Victoria all day on HSV-7 and Prime Television. HSV is a television station in Melbourne. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia. Prime Television is an Australian television network owned by Prime Television Limited. It also has a print and radio component via Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper as well as radio station Mix 101.1 (formally 3DB and TTFM). The Herald Sun is a morning Tabloid Newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia Mix 1011 (call sign 3TTT) is a commercial radio station in Melbourne, Australia and is owned by the Australian Radio Network (ARN Mix 1011 (call sign 3TTT) is a commercial radio station in Melbourne, Australia and is owned by the Australian Radio Network (ARN In 2007 the radio partner was Southern Cross Broadcasting. Southern Cross Broadcasting (Australia Limited ( was a diversified Australian media company, that owned and operated a variety of media businesses The event has become a part of Melbourne culture every year, and continues to bring in record fund raising efforts across the entire state.

Western Australia

Main article: Channel Seven Perth Telethon

In Western Australia, an annual telethon is run by TVW, a Seven Network affiliate in Perth, Western Australia for the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and the Telethon Speech and Hearing Centre. The Channel Seven Perth Telethon, also known simply as Telethon, is an annual Telethon produced by TVW, a Seven Network owned Television Western Australia is a state occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. This article is about the television station in Perth Western Australia The Seven Network is an Australian television network, owned by the Seven Media Group. Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. Princess Margaret Hospital for Children ( PMH) is a centre for paediatric research and care Established in 1990 by former Australian of the Year Professor Fiona Stanley, the Telethon Institute of Child Health Research (ICHR or TICHR in Western Australia In 2007, the event raiseded more than $6. 5 million (AUD), double the previously record amount of $3 million. The Australian dollar ( sign: $; code: AUD) is the Currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas The Perth telethon is regarded as the world's most successful telethon per capita anywhere in the world. [5]

New Zealand

Telethon was run in New Zealand during the 1970's and 1980's up to 1990 by TVNZ. Television New Zealand (TVNZ is a state-owned television broadcasting corporation in New Zealand. The fundraiser would take place in regions around New Zealand with coverage being shown on TV1, viewers would be shown coverage of the Telethon nearest their location, however smaller regions would typically see coverage of the Telethon in one of the main centres (Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin). Since Telethon ceased on New Zealand Television some regional stations have operated their own local Telethon.

Worldwide

For 9 years, Armenia Fund held an annual international Telethon that was broadcast to all major U. Armenia Fund Established in 1994 in Los Angeles, California Armenia Fund Inc S. cities and across the globe. The 12 hour live program is able to raise millions for humanitarian and infrastructure development programs in Armenia and Karabakh. Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani Karabakh (Qarabağ Ղարաբաղ is a geographic and historic region in western Azerbaijan and southern Armenia, extending from the highlands of the Lesser The annual telethon is held on Thanksgiving every year. Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American Holiday, which is a form of harvest festival. During Armenia Fund's 10th International Telethon, held on November 22, 2007, a record breaking $15. 3 million was raised. The program aired from KCET Hollywood Studio and was broadcasted in the United States, as well as internationally.

The 2004 Asian tsunami also led to telethons being held in countries such as Canada (CTV and OmniTV), United States (NBC) and Australia (a joint telecast between the Seven Network, Nine Network and Network Ten). The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea Earthquake that occurred at 005853 UTC on December 26 2004 with an Epicentre off the west coast of Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page CTV is a Canadian English language Television network. It is Canada's largest privately owned network the main television asset of CTVglobemedia The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Seven Network is an Australian television network, owned by the Seven Media Group. The Nine Network, or Channel Nine, is an Australian television network based in Willoughby, a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney Network Ten, or Channel Ten, is one of Australia 's three major commercial television networks.

Other types

Similar to telethons, but considerably shorter, are nationally televised benefit concerts following major disasters such as the 9/11 attacks, the Indian Ocean tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina. A benefit concert is a Concert, show or gala featuring musicians comedians or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose often directed at a specific The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea Earthquake that occurred at 005853 UTC on December 26 2004 with an Epicentre off the west coast of Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the costliest hurricane, as well as one of the five deadliest in the history of the United States These are generally one-time broadcasts meant to spur immediate humanitarian contributions, not part of the annual donation drives of the charities involved. Typically a phone number or website will appear on screen during the entire concert for donors to make pledges, but there may not necessarily be a live host announcing from a TV studio.

History

United States

One of the first continuing annual telethons in the United States was the United Cerebral Palsy telethon. Cerebral palsy ( CP) is an Umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non- contagious conditions that cause Physical disability Television executive Leonard Goldenson and his wife had a daughter with CP, and with the help of other affected parents, launched the UCP Telethon in 1950, with early television personality Dennis James as host. Leonard H Goldenson ( December 7 1905 &ndash December 27 1999) was President of ABC. Dennis James ( August 24, 1917 - June 3, 1997) was an American pioneering television personality He continued to host New York-based segments on the telethon through the 1980's. The telethon is now defunct as UCP raises funds through other means, including its website.

The oldest continuing annual telethon in the United States on the same channel is Green Bay, Wisconsin WBAY-TV's local Cerebral Palsy telethon that began broadcasting 22 hours on the first weekend of March 1954. Green Bay is a city in and the County seat of Brown County in the U WBAY-TV, channel 2 is the ABC television affiliate in Green Bay Wisconsin. As of 2008, they have celebrated their 54th year of presenting the telethon, which helps provide financial support for equipment for Cerebral Palsy, Inc.

Close behind the Green Bay telethon in longevity is the WHAS Crusade for Children in Louisville, Kentucky, which broadcast its first telethon in October 1954 on WHAS-TV and WHAS Radio, six months after the first WBAY telethon. The WHAS Crusade for Children is an annual Telethon broadcast by WHAS-TV and WHAS (AM Radio in Louisville Kentucky. WHAS-TV, channel 11 is the ABC affiliated station in Louisville Kentucky. WHAS, known by the on air branding as "84 WHAS" is an AM radio station broadcasting in Louisville Kentucky. While the Crusade for Children is still broadcast on those same stations, it has expanded to radio and television stations in other parts of Kentucky and Indiana, as well as streaming video on the Internet. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. The State of Indiana ( was the 19th US state admitted into the union The Crusade is famous for the legions of firefighters who collect money at road blocks at intersections throughout the area each May and June. Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous Fires that threaten civilian populations and property to rescue people from car accidents collapsed The Crusade annually collects more than $5 million in donations for a variety of child-related charities and causes, and remains the most successful local telethon in the United States.