• Brands
  • About
  • Life at CBC
  • Careers
  • News
  • Contact
Menu
  • Brands
  • About
  • Life at CBC
  • Careers
  • News
  • Contact
Search
Close

WRAL’s Coats for the Children Telethon Reshuffles to Help Area Kids in Need

  • Andrea Osborne
  • December 20, 2012
  • News
See All News
WRAL-TV logo

“We can overcome evil with good.”
– Santa Claus

Coats for the Children Telethon
WRAL once again holds the station’s annual Coats for the Chidlren Telethon on Friday, December 14, 2012.
slidesView Slideshow

WRAL-TV never imagined that a telethon to help Triangle area children would be interrupted by a CBS News report about a horrific shooting at an elementary school in Newton, CT, in which 20 children were killed.   The 1pm telethon special ended up being pre-empted by news coverage, but WRAL staffers shuffled to create a new special after the late newscast, employees volunteered to stay until midnight to work phones, and viewers generously contributed.

“Our viewers, and our Coats Telethon team, were all so stunned and saddened by the horrific tragedy in Connecticut,” said Phyllis Parish, the producer of the telethon.  “We felt helpless seeing the scene at Sandy Hook, but we realized that there was something we could do.  Those of us at WRAL and our viewers knew we could at least help a child in our community.  The phones started ringing and did not let up until midnight when we wrapped up our Telethon.”

The 1pm special moved to 11:30pm and the 7pm half-hour special went on as regularly scheduled.  WRAL Anchors filled in for each other, volunteers on the phone bank stayed beyond their schedules, employees came back after their evening at home to help with the late shift.

“It was a real team effort,” said Parish. 

David Crabtree & Santa
WRAL-TV’s David Crabtree shares his wishes with Santa.

Santa Claus and Wool E. Bull both came by to help with the midday special. They ended up watching news coverage with the rest of the stunned volunteers.

Santa had some sage words to share with WRAL-TV Anchor David Crabtree, “We can overcome evil with good.”

And the rest of the day was spent doing as much good as possible to help needy children in the Triangle.

WRAL-TV Vice President & General Manager Steve Hammel sent out a plea to employees Friday afternoon and was overwhelmed by the response.
“A BIG thank you to everyone involved with Coats for the Children,” Hammel said.  “Many of our employees were here from before the sun came up (6:00AM) through after midnight.  From the outstanding looking set to the effort of the late night phone volunteers and everything in between, this was a huge Team effort.”

The effort paid off.  Currently WRAL has raised $72,000, and donations are still coming in through texts and WRAL. com.

Thanks to all the WRAL viewers who so generously contributed, and are still contributing, to help the children in our community. 

It’s not too late to donate. Find a list of drop-off locations or donate funds online:

  • Visit the Coats for the Children section of WRAL.com

Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Phyllis Parish for the capcom photo of Debra Morgan & Anita Normanly.

WRAL-TV’s Coats for the Children Telethon

Volunteers and WRAL-TV staffers help keep Triangle children warm by arriving to answer phones for the 2012 Coats for the Children Telethon.
Volunteers and WRAL-TV staffers help keep Triangle children warm by arriving to answer phones for the 2012 Coats for the Children Telethon.
WRAL-TV personalities & crew have a schedule of the news break-ins and half-hour specials.
WRAL-TV holds the annual Coats for the Children Telethon on Friday, December 14, 2012.
A WRAL viewer from Pittsboro dropped off 100 handmade hats for the Salvation Army kids.
Cameras show the numbers to call, so anchors can repeat them on-air for viewers.
WRAL-TV’s Phyllis Parish, the Coats Telethon Producer, goes over notes with WRAL-TV Anchor Renee Chou, who is ready to step in if needed.
WRAL-TV’s Anita Normanly works capturing images from the studio.
WRAL-TV’s Raymond Farrar studies his notes so he’s ready to run a camera for the telethon.
Rogue cameraman in the house!
Wool E. Santa and the real deal Santa Claus offer support in the studio.
WRAL-TV’s Jodella Lifsey works hard behind the scenes on the accounting portion of the telethon.
Wool E. is dangerous with his mistletoe fishing rod.
Phone bank volunteers pull out their phones to capture pictures of Santa & Wool E. during a break.
WRAL-TV’s David Crabtree asks Santa to make sure all the Coats for the Children volunteers are on the Nice list.
WRAL-TV’s Brandon Joyner is ready for action.
WRAL-TV’s Patrick Marrow works behind the camera.
WRAL-TV’s Patrick Marrow focuses his camera on WRAL-TV’s Michelle Marsh as she rehearses her part in the the telethon.
The women behind the telethon: WRAL-TV’s Phyllis Parish (left) & WRAL-Tv’s Loretta Harper-Arnold work hard to bring the telethon to viewers each year.
WRAL-TV’s Debra Morgan (center) works the late night telethon special while WRAL staffers like Anita Normanly (right) volunteer to stay late & work the phone bank.
PrevPreviousNew WRAL Documentary Examines Anti-Islamic Prejudice in N.C.
NextRadio Ink Names 99.9 The Fan’s Adam & Joe to Top 30 List of Local TalkersNext
See All News

Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company working for and serving the community.

Follow us online:

Twitter Linkedin
Search

Explore

  • Brands
  • About
  • Life at CBC
  • Careers
  • News
  • Contact
  • Brands
  • About
  • Life at CBC
  • Careers
  • News
  • Contact

Get in Touch

We’d love to hear from you. Send us a message.

2619 Western Blvd.
Raleigh, NC 27606

P: (919) 890-6000
F: (919) 890-6095

© Copyright 2023 Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Terms & Conditions  |  Privacy Policy