More than $3 million and counting

At approximately 6:50 p.m. Wednesday, Hillsboro Rotary Club President Dr. Phil Burwinkel brought the news to telethon co-hosts Ernie Blankenship and Rick Williams: The Highland County Society for Children and Adults' 41st annual telethon had just surpassed the $3 million mark in total contributions.

Unofficial totals Wednesday showed some $137,746.05 – including $14,600 from Greenfield – in donations and pledges.

The Hillsboro Rotary Club received pledges from 336 individuals and businesses compared to 282 in 2011 which is an increase of nearly 20%. The 2012 pledge amount of $142,100 included $17,200 in one time grants from the AEP community fund and Toyota's charitable fund. The amounts pledged at the radio-telethon in 2012 was $125,000, so this year's campaign represents an increase in donations from the people and businesses of the community.

"We did not get a chance last night to thank a number of other people that helped the Hillsboro Rotarians behind the scenes last night doing the processing of the pledges, taking money, posting the names on the board at Merchants National Bank and running pledge cards back and forth between the community room and the lobby. These include Sue Hunnicut, Donnie Barrera, Jacquie Barrera, Dan Croy, Beckie Basford and Katie Burwinkel who are all members of the Board of Trustees for the Society," Judge Coss said. "Richard Vanzant, a former Rotarian printed all names from the cards to be posted on the pledge board, and Charlie Guarino, also a former Rotarian entered all of the names of donors and the amounts of pledges into the computer data base."

Through its first 40 years, the telethon, sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Hillsboro and Greenfield, raised $2,972,581 for area families. Last year's telethon raised approximately $143,000.

Among the evening's more significant contributions was a $15,000 check presentation from the Cassner Foundation at 8:48 p.m. That donation brought the evening's total to the $100,000 plateau, and with it, a lively ring from Ernie Blankenship's now-famous telethon bell.

Through the years, the Cassner Foundation and Rotary Forms Press, Inc. have been a major contributor to the society's annual fundraiser.

"Two of the biggest contributors over the years have been the Cassner family and the Eagles," Hillsboro Rotarian and Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss said.

Judge Coss' wife, Gayle Coss, is the society director and a driving force behind the scenes for each fundraiser.

"It is such a worthy cause," Gayle Coss said before the telethon. "There are so many people in need of help in these economic times."

Later in the evening, the Hillsboro Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 1161 presented a check for $3,000 and an Easter basket for Hillsboro Middle School student Caiden Buchanan, who served as the Highland County Society for Children and Adults 2013 poster child.

Caiden, 13, is the son of Gary and Heather Buchanan and the grandson of Phil and Linda McCoppin of Hillsboro. He is a student in Pam Pinney's class at Hillsboro Middle School.

Caiden is blind and has cerebral palsy, a disorder that can involve brain and nervous system functions, such as movement, learning, hearing, seeing and thinking.

He was born three months premature and spent several of his early months in Children's Hospitals in Cincinnati and Dayton.

"We try to do a lot for the community, especially the telethon," Eagle Steve Edison said. "Ernie (Blankenship) and the Eagles, we go way back."

Edison was accompanied by several Eagles members. In addition to the Eagles' $3,000 donation, the Ladies Auxiliary also donated $700.

"Of the $3 million, hundreds of thousands of dollars have come from the Eagles," Coss said.

"We thank you for your support," Ernie Blankenship told the Eagles. "God bless all of you."

Merchants National Bank hosted the 2013 telethon and also was a major contributor. The bank purchased sports memorabilia that was auctioned throughout the night, with one autographed Cincinnati Reds photo selling for $2,000 to Chad Fairley.

MNB Chairman of the Board Don Fender and his wife, Ann, made a donation shortly before 8 p.m. to bring the total to the $53,000 mark.

Bank employees stayed throughout the evening, assisting Rotarians with the telephone call-ins and hosting the event, as school groups, FFA members, 4-H club members, civic organizations and business leaders made their way to emcee Rick Williams with their respective contributions.

"This is just such a wonderful thing you do for the community," Hillsboro Municipal Court Judge David McKenna told Rick Williams. "Other communities just don't understand."

At the close of the telethon, many Rotarians thanked Williams for taking over the role as master of ceremonies.

"It's not an easy thing to stand up here for three or four hours," Judge Kevin Greer told Williams. "You did a great job, and we appreciate it."

Williams concluded the live radio and cable television broadcast by thanking the community for supporting the Highland County Society for Children and Adults.

"Thank you very, very much," Williams said.