Lewis to appeal for hurricane relief on MDA telethon; pledges $1 million [View All]

[WI_DEM]

I'm a volunteer with the Muscular Dystrophy Association so I just got this e-mail from Bob Mackle, of the MDA which I think is a wonderful thing they are doing:

"Legendary comedian Jerry Lewis announced today that his annual Labor Day Telethon benefiting the Muscualar Dystrophy Association will also feature celebrity fund-raising appeals for the relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He also announced that the MDA will donate $1 million of its funds to help victims in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

Lewis said stars of music, movies and other fields would be recruited to make appeals for hurricane releif during the first four and last four hours of the 21.5 hour broadcast. The show begins at 9 p.m. EDT on Sunday and ends at 5:30 p.m. EDT on Monday. A special 800 number will be used for the hurricane donations...

"While the needs of 'my kids' are with us all year round, Hurricane Katrina is a national disaster on a scale that's difficult to comprehend," Lewis said. "We simply couldn't ignore the need to help. We already have the infrastructure in place. If I've learned anything in the more than 50 years that I've led MDA, it's that the generosity of the American people knows no bounds. I'm sure that with their fellow citizens in dire need, they'll dig deep and do everything they can to help. I'm hopeful that many people will be willing to make two calls and donate to both causes."