MDA telethon brings in record $65 million

Steve Marcus

Entertainer Jerry Lewis reacts to the final tally of donations during the 43rd annual MDA Labor Day telethon at the South Point in September 2008.

By Ashley Livingston (contact)

Published Monday, Sept. 1, 2008 | 4:40 p.m.

Updated Monday, Sept. 1, 2008 | 5:12 p.m.

43rd annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon

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From the archives

Aug. 28 -- Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon begins at South Point
Aug. 26 -- Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon gets wired

Beyond the Sun

By the numbers

Total raised: $65,031,393
Telethon viewers: 40 million
TV stations: 180
Length of the broadcast: 21 1/2 hours
Volunteers this year: 250,000
First Labor Day MDA telethon: 1966
Source: MDA

With increasing home foreclosures, a hurricane making landfall in the Gulf and the weak economy, Jerry Lewis knew there was a chance he might come up short this year.

"I felt in my bones today that because of what's happening in the country today I had to prepare myself for striking out," he said from the stage Monday at the South Point hotel-casino.

But as the numbers were revealed to a standing ovation and flying confetti, the 43rd annual Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon once again broke a record, bringing in more than $65 million -- $1.2 million more than last year.

"I was really excited to see that we got 'one dollar more,'" said the MDA's 2008 national goodwill ambassador, 9-year-old Abbey Umali, who suffers from a form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Sixteen-year MDA volunteer Alan Potok said the fundraising total shows how much the American people care.

"They came through," he said.

Each year, the telethon raises money to help defeat muscular dystrophy and related diseases through research, services and education. The association is funded almost entirely by individual private contributions.

Las Vegas resident Nick Martone came out with his wife, Mara, to catch Lewis sing "You'll Never Walk Alone" at the end of the telethon. He said he's been donating to the MDA since he was a teen in the 1970s.

"It's unbelievable to think I remember watching this for the first time when I was 8," the New Jersey native said.

Mara Martone said she found the live experience to be more emotional than watching it on television.

"To see Lewis with the little girl Abbey … it just kind of hits you harder," she said.

As the telethon came to a close, Abbey said to the crowd and viewers at home: "Thank you guys so much for donating to the MDA. I love you guys."

This year the MDA debuted its first national online auction in conjunction with the telethon. The auction, which runs through Thursday, features items donated by celebrities and sports figures.

For more information or to participate, visit www.mda.org/auctions.

Ashley Livingston is a reporter for the Home News. She can be reached at 990-8925 or ashley.livingston@hbcpub.com.