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Crusade For Children 2005

Fire departments in Hardin County support the Crusade For Children during the Crusade's annual fund-raising season.  Each year firefighters engage in creative endeavors that encourage donations - and laughter.

Valley Creek Fire Department firefighters Russell Griffin, Tommy Shannon, and Casey Nichols (now known as Raquel, Tammy, and Cassie) collected money for the Crusade For Children on Memorial Day at the Ring Road/North Mulberry intersection.  They were joined by other firefighters and friends of the department who spent the day collecting across the intersection - though none of the others exhibited the same flair for fashion.

Photos by Steven Townsend

WHAS-TV established the WHAS Crusade For Children, Inc., in 1954.  Through the 51 years since, the Crusade has raised more than $108 million, which has been used to benefit three million children.  The Crusade returns 100% of its donations to organizations that serve special needs children throughout Kentucky and southern Indiana.

The participation of fire departments in the Crusade’s fund-raising efforts began in 1956, when Pleasure Ridge Park Volunteer Fire Department became the first to make a donation.  Two years later Pleasure Ridge Park VFD challenged other fire departments to raise money for the Crusade.  The response to that challenge was overwhelming.  In 1966, fire departments collected 50% of the total amount raised.  By 1994, they were raising more than 60% of the total contributions.

Local departments collect at intersections throughout Hardin County during each annual Crusade and organize special fundraising events such as the annual Red / Blue Game, a football game pitting firefighters against law enforcement officers, which takes place each December.  Every other year, all proceeds from the game are donated to the Crusade For Children.  (Proceeds on alternate years benefit the Hardin County Special Olympics.)  Last year the fourteen fire departments in Hardin County raised a total of $170,155.23 for the Crusade.

 

 

 

 

Story and Photos by Angela Townsend

The 52nd annual WHAS Crusade For Children concluded Sunday evening, June 5, with a reported total of $5.3 million donated by individuals, businesses, and community groups throughout Kentucky and Indiana.

Hardin County firefighters, families, and friends gathered at the Bowen Training Center Sunday morning to submit their contributions. The fourteen fire departments – Central Hardin, Elizabethtown, Glendale, Kentucky 86, Radcliff, Rineyville, Sonora, Stephensburg, Upton, Valley Creek, Vine Grove, West 84, West Point, and White Mills – reported a collective total of $181,204.65. This amount exceeded the 2004 total by more than $10,000.

Firefighters from Green County departments of Exie, Grab, and Summersville were also present to submit an additional $19,629.39 in contributions.

Donations may be sent at any time to WHAS Crusade For Children, P.O. Box 1100, Louisville, KY 40201, or by visiting the Crusade online.
 

(Click photos to enlarge)

Copyright © 2002-2009 Code 3 Images
Updated 12 15 2009