Mona Shield Payne/Special to the Sun
After sharing “I love yous,” Jerry Lewis fondly touches Abbey Umali’s face Monday afternoon during the final hour of the 45th Annual Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon at the South Point. Umali is the 2010 MDA youth ambassador.
Published Monday, Sept. 6, 2010 | 2:53 p.m.
Updated Monday, Sept. 6, 2010 | 5:37 p.m.
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Despite the struggling economy, the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon raised $58,919,838 from this year's Labor Day event.
The 45th annual event brought in about $1.5 million less than last year. Hit by the recession, it's the sixth time in the telethon's history, which officially dates to 1959, that the MDA effort fell short of the previous year's total.
Lewis, the Muscular Dystrophy Association national chairman, said he's heartened by Americans' ability to help others in need even when they're struggling financially.
"I'm heartened by the unique ability of Americans to help others in need, when they themselves are likely struggling financially," Lewis said. "People see the progress MDA is making for children and adults living with muscle diseases. I'm truly grateful for their caring enough to brighten the future for 'my kids'."
Dozens of performers joined the 21½-hour event, including Barry Manilow, Michael Feinstein, Carrot Top and Norm Crosby. The event reaches about 40 million viewers on about 170 TV stations (broadcast locally on KTNV Channel 13).
This was the fifth consecutive year the show has originated from the South Point Hotel and Casino.
The money raised will allow the MDA to keep funding worldwide research to find treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy and related diseases. Contributions also provide assistance with the purchase of equipment such as wheelchairs, send thousands of children to MDA summer camp and support about 200 MDA clinics across the country.
The Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon, held annually over Labor Day weekend, has seen an increase in donations in every year but a few, including 2009, when the $60.5 million raised was almost $5 million less than 2008’s total.
In Nevada, the MDA has contributed $900,000 over five years to services for people suffering from the diseases, and the state has two MDA clinics that provide diagnostics and long-term clinical care.
The event was moved back to Las Vegas from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in 2006.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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