28th local telethon raises $2 million for Children’s

WHIO's Cheryl McHenry (right) interviews Mitchell Franzer of St. Henry during the 28th Children's Miracle Network telethon Saturday, June 5. Franzer is one of four of the Children's Medical Center of Dayton's

Lisa Powell/Staff photographer WHIO's Cheryl McHenry (right) interviews Mitchell Franzer of St. Henry during the 28th Children's Miracle Network telethon Saturday, June 5. Franzer is one of four of the Children's Medical Center of Dayton's "ambassadors," patients who represent the hospital. The telethon was held this weekend at the hospital. Staff photo by Lisa Powell

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By Ken McCall, Staff Writer 12:12 AM Monday, June 7, 2010

DAYTON — The crowd erupted into elated applause and hollering at the announcement Sunday afternoon, June 6, that the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon topped $2 million in donations for the first time.

The official total for the 28th annual fundraiser benefiting the Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, $2,000,263, was better than expected, organizers said. The telethon was broadcast on Channel 7 on Saturday, June 5, and Sunday, June 6.

“In this kind of economy, people have just been incredibly generous,” said Vicki Giambrone, vice president of marketing and external relations. “The community has just opened up their arms and their hearts to us.”

The telethon, a culmination of a year of fundraising, allows individuals and organizations to present their donation totals and gives the public an opportunity to phone in pledges.

Emily Hurlburt, 9, spent the day at, in, and around the hospital auditorium with her sister, Samantha, 11, and mother, Kristina, working as a volunteer.

Emily stopped for a minute as she was delivering a printout to talk. “At my mom’s work, they did a lecture and a walk,” she said.

Emily, who has cystic fibrosis, is a regular at the hospital, said her mom, who was helping tabulate the donations.

David Kinsaul, CEO of the hospital, said the fundraiser was Dayton Children’s “life blood.”

He said the donations not only allow the hospital to get more new technology, but also allows it to invest in the extras that make the hospital special.

“It’s an opportunity to have some special amenities for the kids and families, like the games, the books, the TVs, the fish tanks, the distraction things that make our hospital a little bit different,” Kinsaul said.

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