71st WHAS Crusade for Children to Showcase Singing Sensations from American Idol and America’s Got Talent on June 1st
These renowned singers have been seen on national television, and now they will be performing live on the 71st WHAS Crusade for Children Variety Show, presented by Eclipse Bank. The stellar lineup includes D’Corey Johnson, Alex Miller, Layla Spring, and The Sheryl Rouse Band.
D’Corey Johnson of Louisville, Kentucky, recently captured the nation’s attention on Season 18 of America’s Got Talent where he finished in the Top 5 at just 11-years-old. Alex Miller, a gifted country singer/songwriter from Lancaster, Kentucky, made waves on American Idol in 2021, advancing to Hollywood week. Layla Spring, stole America’s heart on American Idol back in 2018 representing her roots as a small-town girl from Marion County, Kentucky. Lastly, Sheryl Rouse, the undefeated champion from the legendary Amateur Night on Showtime at the Apollo in New York City, will dazzle the audience with her high-energy performance. All will come together for one evening along with firefighters and supporters to help make life better for children with special needs in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
Show time is 7:00pm (EDT) on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the Old Forester’s Paristown Hall in Louisville. The show is open to the public, and admission is free. General seating will be available. It will be an unforgettable evening of entertainment filled with captivating performances and inspiration.
The family-friendly show will be emceed by WHAS11’s Shay McAlister and 840 WHAS Radio’s Terry Meiners, who is celebrating his 25th Crusade as host. The audience will also enjoy beloved performers such as Addy Clarkson, The Diane Moore Dancers, The Miracle Dancers, Melissa Combs, David Garrard, Patrick Henry Hughes with Kaitlyn Marie Singletary, and Michele Sydnor and Friends.
America’s Most Successful Local Telethon
The WHAS Crusade for Children telethon will start at 1:00pm (EDT) on Saturday, June 1 with fire departments, civic groups, organizations, and companies reporting donations. The telethon final total will be announced just before 7:00pm (EDT) on Sunday, June 2.
Community Celebration
The 71st WHAS Crusade for Children Variety Show is set to kick off with a fun pre-show Crusade Community Celebration, presented by Kroger, open to the entire community. Beginning at 3:30pm (EDT) on Saturday, June 1, guests are invited to gather in Christy’s Garden at Old Forester’s Paristown Hall for a fun-filled afternoon of entertainment and activities featuring music, magicians, mascots, face painting, and more. Both longtime donors and first-time attendees will find plenty to enjoy at this festive occasion.
Firefighters Continue to Lead the Way
Fire departments across Kentucky and southern Indiana raise nearly 60 percent of the Crusade donations each year by hosting official donation sites and other community events. Many of their fundraising events can be found on WHASCrusade.org or their individual Facebook pages.
To Make a Donation
Tax-deductible contributions can be made year-round securely online on WHASCrusade.org or by mail:
WHAS Crusade for Children
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202
Digital donations can also be made using Venmo, CashApp, and PayPal. Fire departments and other civic groups all across Kentucky and Southern Indiana will also be hosting their annual events and collections this year.
One Hundred Percent for the Kids
In its first 70 years, the Crusade has raised a cumulative total of more than $211 million for children with special needs. Thanks to generous contributions of goods and services, the Crusade is able to grant 100 percent of all donations to agencies, hospitals and schools that serve children with special needs in all 120 Kentucky counties and more than 50 Southern Indiana counties.
It takes a cast of thousands to stage the annual miracle. From individual donors dropping pocket change into boots at firefighter roadblocks to children with lemonade stands to corporations offering payroll deduction, it all comes together each year on the first weekend in June.
Crusade Network
The annual Crusade Internet/radio/telethon kicks off at 1:00pm (EDT) on Saturday, June 1 and airs in its entirety on WHAS Radio (AM 840), WHAS-TV (Channel 11.1) and on WHAS11.com.
In addition, WBNA-TV (Channel 21.1) in Louisville airs live broadcasts 1:30pm to 6:30pm Sunday, June 2 from the Kentucky cities of Elizabethtown, Shelbyville and Bardstown. WBKO-TV in Bowling Green airs remote telecasts from Campbellsville on Saturday and Leitchfield on Sunday.
Television Network
WHAS-TV, Louisville (flagship station)
WBNA-TV, Louisville
WBKO-TV, Bowling Green
Radio Network
WHAS, Louisville (flagship station)
Internet Network
WHAS11.com
WHASCrusade.org
WHAS11.com will provide live video streaming of the entire broadcast visible anywhere in the world and also simulcast on YouTube and Facebook Live. WHASCrusade.org will provide a complete list of all groups that make donations.
About the WHAS Crusade for Children
The WHAS Crusade for Children, established by WHAS-TV in 1954, raises money for agencies, hospitals and schools that make life better for children with special needs. In its first 70 years, the Crusade has raised more than $211 million. Thanks to generous contributions of goods and services, the Crusade grants 100 percent of all donations to organizations that provide direct services for children with special needs in all 120 Kentucky counties and more than 50 counties in southern Indiana. Fire departments raise nearly 60 percent of the donations each year by staging collections and hosting other events. Millions of children have been helped by the Crusade since 1954. The WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Gifts are tax-deductible as permitted by law.
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