Annual Easterseals Telethon Launches New Format Friday, April 8th

Since its inception nearly 45 years ago, the annual Easterseals Telethon has been broadcast on channel 25 (WEHT) on a Sunday in April. While the COVID pandemic forced both parties to tweak the format a bit over the last two years, the 2022 edition will see a nearly complete overhaul of the event, including moving it to an entirely different day.

History of the Easterseals Telethon

The first telethon was broadcast live on WEHT in 1978 from Washington Square Mall. Over time the location shifted to the therapy gym inside the Rehab Center facility on Bellemeade Avenue where it has remained ever since. Regardless of the location, the format has remained the same, six continuous, commercial-free hours featuring the WEHT personalities sharing the Center's success stories and speaking with patients who rely on the services of the Center all while encouraging you the viewer to call the phone number listed on your screen and pledge a monetary donation to help the Center continue their mission.

When is the 2022 Easterseals Telethon?

While the goal of raising as much money as possible to help the Easterseals Rehab Center continue providing physical therapy and other services to children and adults with disabilities in the Tri-State will remain the same, the method by which it will be conducted this year will be different. For the first time in its history, the event won't take place on a Sunday. Instead, it will happen this Friday, April 8th. Other changes include a longer window of time to share the mission of the Rehab Center and take donations. Instead of Noon until 6:00 PM, the event will begin at 5:00 AM at the start of Eyewitness News Daybreak and will continue throughout the day until 7:00 PM that evening. During that time, WEHT will periodically interrupt regular programming to provide updates on the donation total and speak with Rehab Center representatives including employees as well as this year's child and adult ambassadors. Ange Humphrey will also broadcast ABC Lifestyles from the Center from 11:00 AM until Noon.

How to Donate to Easterseals

In addition to the telephone number that will be present on the screen throughout the duration of the day, you'll be able to donate through a text-to-give option, as well as a QR Code that will be displayed on TV that will allow you to make a donation online through your phone.

Outdoor Activities

As has been the case during the past two telethons, there will be no audience seating inside the Rehab Center due to COVID. Most, if not all, the clients Easterseals works with are considered "high-risk" for contracting the virus, and Easterseals doesn't want to risk anyone getting infected. However, they will have activities outside including, the E'ville Iron Street Rod Club annual Telethon Cruise-In from 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM in the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center's parking lot, along with Kona Ice serving up delicious shaved ice treats.

We will also be on-site throughout the day broadcasting live along with our Townsquare Media Evansville/Owensboro sister stations. We hope you'll join us in supporting the great work the Rehab Center continues to do each and every day.

What Does the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center Do?

Per the Easterseals website:

Services include physical and speech therapies, psychological and mental health services, along with workforce training and placement services.

[Source: Easterseals Rehabilitation Center]