Ernie Blankenship Telethon raises $143,110 WATCH THE VIDEO

With ringing bells and a cheering crowd of Rotarians, the newly titled Ernie Blankenship Telethon to benefit the Highland County Society for Children and Adults raised $143,110 that will stay locally to benefit people in the Highland County community.

Sponsored by the Hillsboro and Greenfield Rotary Clubs, the 40th annual telethon is the major fundraiser of the year for the society, which helps provide services for families and individuals trying to pay for medical expenses. On Wednesday, the radio/telethon was held at NCB in Hillsboro, and McClain High School in Greenfield. 

Rotarian Rick Williams co-hosted the event, and said that he was honored to share the microphone with Blankenship.

"It was a lot of fun," Williams said. "When they asked me to do it, I had a little reservation at first, because Ernie's are some big shoes to fill. But it was a lot of fun. Right now, we've raised $143,110. If we would have raised $27,000 more we would have gotten to the $3 million mark (raised over the last 40 years). But we'll get it next year. It will definitely go to a good cause in Highland County, and now it's time to get ready for 2013."

Society director Gayle Coss said that more than $2.5 million has been raised for the society in the time Blankenship has been hosting, and it was only appropriate that the telethon should now bear his name.

"Ernie has given so much to this community," Coss said. "He has given of himself, and he does it without any thought of himself. It's all for the community. It's not just for the society, he has done a lot for high school sports. We thought it would be appropriate to name the telethon the Ernie Blankenship Telethon. I'm not sure if Ernie is going to want to do this again next year, so we wanted to make sure that he knows how much we appreciate him."

Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss, a Rotarian and board member of the Highland County Society for Children and Adults, presented Blankenship with a plaque to commemorate the 39 years he has supported the telethon.

Coss read that the society wanted to thank Blankenship for "his 39 years of support as emcee and a key fundraiser of the annual Rotary Club radio/telethon."

As he was presented with the plaque, Ernie's wife, Rita, was given the microphone. During the couple's recent 50th wedding anniversary celebration, people in attendance donated funds toward the society.

"Ernie and I are probably the two luckiest people in Hillsboro," Rita Blankenship said.

Highland County Common Pleas Court Juvenile and Probate Division Judge Kevin Greer said that during the years he and Blankenship traveled doing radio broadcasts for Highland County athletic events for Clear Channel Communications, Blankenship was always promoting the telethon and Highland County.

"I think it was a great idea to name the telethon after Ernie, after all he has done," Greer said. "He worked at it year-round. He truly is an ambassador for Highland County, and did and outstanding job."

The largest donation of the evening came from the Cassner Foundation, with a contribution of $15,000. Merchants Bank donated $10,000, and there was an anonymous donation of $10,000. Rotary donated $7,000, the Eagles donated $5,090, NCB donated $5,000, Fifth-Third Bank donated $2,700, and PAS Technologies donated $2,500.

The Greenfield Rotary Club raised $14,425 during their portion of the telethon, which was included in the $143,110 total.

The 39th Annual Telethon raised approximately $120,000. During the 2010 telethon, the society raised $148,300. The first telethon, held in 1973, raised $1,715. The 2007 event raised an all-time high of $217,043.

Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward said that he likes the society's tradition of having a poster child, so each year people who donate to the cause can see who is benefiting from their contributions.

"I think it's neat that they have the poster child each year," Ward said. "You can really see what the society does, and who the donations are helping. You can send a check to any organization - and there are a lot of great organizations out there - but you can't see the difference you make like you can with the telethon."

The 2012 poster child, Thomas Fraysier, a third-grader at Bright Local Elementary, had received an electronic walking aid through assistance from the society. Fraysier suffered a stroke in utero, and has difficulty using the right side of his body. The device gives him better use of his right leg.

Fraysier demonstrated the good use of his leg by jumping up and down when he was given a bicycle during the telethon, along with an oversized Easter Basket.

In addition to Rotarians from the local clubs, and area elected officials, individuals, organizations, and business owners each got their chance in front of the camera to talk about the society and the importance of supporting Highland County.

Former McClain High School standout Dante Jackson made an appearance during the telethon, and talked about this past basketball season, and his team's tournament run. Jackson, a former player at Xavier University, is graduate assistant coach of Ohio University basketball team, which made the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament.

Gayle Coss said each year, having so many people show their support and love through their contributions can be overwhelming.

"It's very gratifying, and it's hard to explain," Coss said. "The first year I was involved, I actually cried after the telethon. I think we'd only raised $87,000, but I thought, 'Oh my gosh, this little community ...' People reach way down in their pockets, and I'm glad I live here. I'm proud I live here. And I think everybody else in Highland County should be too."