SOUTHFIELD, MICH.: WXYZ-TV Channel 7, in partnership with The American Red Cross, raised more than $178,000 to support the relief efforts in Haiti, the station announced today. The money was donated during a live telethon Tuesday evening, Jan. 19.
WXYZ personnel manned a bank of 30 phones, taking pledges from viewers during the three-hour telethon, which pre-empted the station’s newscast and other regular programming. President and General Manager Bob Sliva described the response as “overwhelming.” Donations to the Red Cross in the days following the earthquake in Haiti have topped $137 million.
“The phones were still ringing and our staffers were still taking pledges hours after we actually concluded our telethon broadcast,” he said.
The funds raised during the telethon will be used to support the work of The American Red Cross in Haiti. WXYZ is the E.W. Scripps-owned ABC affiliate serving Detroit. The National Association of Broadcasters last week put together a voluntary initiative to help raise funds for the Red Cross. The lobby declared Feb. 1 as “Broadcasters for Haiti Day,” urging radio and TV stations to block out time for fundraising. (See “Broadcasters Organize Haitian Relief Effort.”)
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