/ 01.21.2010 12:00AM
ABC Affiliate Helps Red Cross Raise $178,000 for Haiti
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.”)