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2005 Coats For Children Campaign Comes To An End With Good Results
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The 2005 Coats for the Children ended on December 31st last year, and made great strides to keep needy children warm this winter. Through the program WRAL-TV collected over 6,000 coats and more than $85,000 in donations.
The campaign began on November 19th and included a “Coats for the Children Telethon” on Friday, December 9th. WRAL-TV viewers donated new and gently used coats at participating Jiffy Lube and Capital Bank locations throughout the central part of the state. The money raised went to purchase coats and winter clothing. All of these winter items went to the Salvation Army for distribution.
The amount raised by the telethon exceeded last year’s pledge amount by close to $12,000.
“Each year, our viewers continue to be strong supporters of WRAL’s Coats for the Children campaign with their coat donations and monetary contributions and 2005 was no different,” said WRAL-TV Senior Producer Phyllis Parish. She coordinates and produces the telethon each year. “All of us who work on Coats are so thankful for our generous viewers!”
Parish credits the rise in donations during the telethon to special incentives offered throughout the three 30-minute specials.
“Three of the incentives that generated lots of interest (and money for the Salvation Army!) were the Clay Aiken concert tickets, WRAL-TV Anchor Debra Morgan’s behind-the-scenes tour of WRAL and the autographed hockey sticks from Erick Staal, Erik Cole and Rod Brind’Amour!” explained Parish.
Local celebrities were manning some of the phones as an incentive as well. “When our viewers called in with their donations, they had the chance to talk with Clay’s mom, Faye Parker, or our own Jeff Gravley, Ken Smith, Kelcey Carlson, Gloria Lopez and our Smart Start Kids’ host, Will Brigham, who all volunteered on the Telethon phone bank,” said Parish.
“Coats for the Children is such a ‘feel good’ project for the entire station,” concluded Parish. “It’s simple…every child needs a warm, winter coat and with that in mind, we work hard to make a warm difference for the children!”
More than 60 volunteers gathered to sort the coats on Saturday, January 7, 2006. So, a combination of the generosity of WRAL-TV viewers and great volunteer support for the campaign and telethon added up to make this winter warmer for many area children in need.
