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. Over the past 53 years, the Crusade has raised more than $118 million.

Thanks to generous contributions of goods and services, the Crusade 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 Crusade’s donations each year by staging road blocks and other events.

Approximately 3 million 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.

Money comes from a cross section of the community. Most of it comes in during Crusade Weekend which is the first full weekend in June. Firefighters across Kentucky and southern Indiana raise more than 50 percent of the funds each year by staging roadblocks and other events. In 2006, a total of $5,047,554 was raised by fire departments, individuals, community groups, churches and through payroll deduction.

·  Where does the money go that the Crusade for Children raises?

100% of each donation is returned to the community through grants to agencies, schools and hospitals that make lives better for special needs children in all 120 counties in Kentucky and more than 50 counties in Indiana. The Crusade only pays for direct services to special needs children. The largest recipients are hospitals and public school systems. Money raised in Kentucky stays in Kentucky and money raised in Indiana stays in Indiana. No money is sent to any national charity or organization. Approximately 3 million children have been helped by the Crusade since 1954.

·  Who decides where the money goes?

Each agency, school or hospital must make an annual grant application to the Crusade. The Crusade Advisory Panel of interdenominational ministers reviews all grant applications. Each agency then meets with the panel to discuss the grant request. The ministers then decide, based on how much money is raised each year, where the money is allocated. All grants are one-time grants and any agency requesting funds for an on-going program must request funding each year.

  How does the Crusade return 100% of each donation to the community?

Costs are kept very low because of donated services and goods from area business. WHAS-TV (Channel 11) provides office space and utilities. WHAS-TV, WHAS radio (AM 840) and WHAS11.com provide broadcast time and streaming free of charge. Printing, paper and envelopes are donated by Allegra Print and Imaging; signs and banners are all donated by Fast Signs; and wireless phone services are donated by Nextel. National City Bank provides financial services; Web hosting is donated by Iglou; web design and administration is provided by UCANweb.com. Many other companies provide vital services to the Crusade at no charge. 

·  Who oversees the WHAS Crusade for Children?

The board of directors is an unpaid panel. It includes representatives from WHAS-TV; WHAS radio; a fire department representative; a member of the Crusade Advisory Panel of ministers; several at-large positions from the community; and a person from Belo, the company that owns WHAS-TV. There is a salaried full-time chief executive officer, controller, accounting clerk, marketing director, program producer and administrative assistant. The WHAS Crusade for Children is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Gifts are tax deductible as permitted by law.

·  How long has the Crusade for Children been in existence?

The WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc. was established in 1954 by WHAS-TV. Over the past 53 years, the Crusade has raised more than $118 million for children with special needs. The Crusade is the most successful and oldest local radio/telethon in America.