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StumbleJerry Lewis MDA Telethon brings in $58.9 million
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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- At the MDA Telethon, one of the stars of the show is someone you never see (9-6-10)
- A little poignance, a lot of laughter as Jerry Lewis preps for MDA telethon (9-5-10)
- As MDA Telethon approaches, a shout-out from, and to, Jerry Lewis (9-2-10)
- Fighting muscular dystrophy more than labor of love for Jerry Lewis (8-29-10)
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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Thank you Jerry, you are a patriot.
Jerry Lewis helped put Las Vegas on the map!!
Thank you Jerry.
45th year, over God knows how many millions of $$, and STILL no cure?
Kinda makes you wonder if they're "truly" trying to find one, or are there those who are just getting "richer" from these telethons? We never hear about the progress their making towards finding a cure or anything. Sad.
I remember when Phil Donahue asked the question that people were saying, "Come on Jerry, don't you pocket just a "little" bit of the money"... and Lewis started swearing & shout - it was unbelievable.
Let's pray that that is not the case, as these kids deserve better than there're getting, as they are the ones who are "truly" suffering.
This has Nothing to do with "putting Las Vegas on the map"...it's "supposed" to be about "Finding a CURE!!"
Let's keep that perspective...
45 years ago the world was a wildly different place. and Jerry is still doing his telethon, amazing!
bjv666,
First off, legal records show that Mr. Lewis does not get a salary or anything other money at all for what he has done for 45 years.
Yes, these kids deserve better as any child that is ill does but think about how bad things would be for them if it had not been for the money Mr. Lewis has raised for them all these years.
Always seems someone wants to look for a dark side in the good that some due. Most of time those that are looking for the dark side are those that have not done nothing.
It's a national disgrace that MDA does not receive more federal support and public donations.
Americans give more each year to help other countries (Haiti, Pakistan, etc) with heart-felt donations that are misused overseas than to a well-deserved (and underfunded) charity organization here at home.
Jerry has devoted his life to giving. Anyone who criticizes him better first examine his own life.
God Bless you and what you do for others..
bjv666 - do we have cures for cancer? diabetes? Cycstic Fibrosis? Aids? The answer is no, there are a lot of diseases that don't have cures, and we've been looking and researching for decades. I believe the answers will come, but they come slowly. In the meantime, MDA helps make the lives of those easier. If you do any research (and you can, it is easy, but not as easy as put out false accusations) the administrative costs of MDA are small in comparison, and Jerry Lewis has put in probably several years of his life in this work with no pay, nothing more than trying to make things better for people in need. I am proud to call myself a supporter of the MDA.
Not trying to knock Mr.Lewis. for he has nothing to say where the funds go.. my uncle who has MD has been asking the foundation for help for many, many years. the response is that they can not help him. he is a well rounded man who is trying to make it on his own. he has been trying to do a good job. He would do a whole lot better if his chair wouldn't fall apart and if he could make it to his job on time (if the handicapped busses could get him there.) I live here in Nevada, he lives in Oregon. He has asked for assistance from the association multiple times. still thay have rejected him. If you could see him you would want to give the extra little bit. He is a wonderful man who just wants to be like everyone else. For the past 40+ years he has tried to get assistance. yet to no avail.. please let me know what you think.. He is not asking for the handout. I am just asking that the man get to breathe a lttle. he has worked harded than most. Half my family makes it there job not to work then there is my uncle. can't really work yet still is the one that tries the hardest. please help..
a thank you to the editors. sometimes we just have to have our stories told. good or bad. I wish that the foundation could/would help my uncle who has worked harder than alot of able bodied persons to make his way. The man has done everything to make the bills and while my other family members were capable of working they went to him for money to pay there bills while he was picking up cans for $ to make his own bills.. CRAZY
Jerry Lewis is a giant of a man. I have watched him with amazement every year on the telethon since I was a child in Maine in the 70's. Labor Day weekend has always meant to me that Jerry will be on TV all night again raising money for MDA. He mentioned yesterday on the show that people in their 50's - 60's come up to him and say "Jerry, I grew up with you!". He said inside that person and every adult is a 9 yo child. Including himself. Gotta love Jerry Lewis. You can see that he is in some pain with his back problems. That is too bad. I would like to see him one of these next years have to paint a number one on the total sign as it passes 100,000,000 dollars. Like he did at 1,000,000 and 10,000,000 with Ed McMahon. Hey, Jerry! You are the best!
I think it's great that Jerry Lewis continues to show the same passion for this cause year after year and I hope in his lifetime a cure is found.
Jerry Lewis is truly a Great American. I know that phrase may be over used by some, but in Jerry's case, he has given much of his time and likely plenty of money for a noble cause. A friend of mine who passed away a few years back was one of "Jerry's Kids", If being 40 something can still be called a "kid". Big John really enjoyed life and was always the life of the party, despite his being bound to his wheelchair. We had a lot of good times going to see Buck Owens every weekend. He also was one of the hardest working guys I knew, had an accounting job with a farming company. I'm sure my friend Big John would be proud to know that Jerry is still giving 100%.
You are a good man, Mr. Lewis!!
Great job Jerry! Hope you can do it next year.
Well done Jerry! Thank you!