For the first time, the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s nationally broadcast telethon the MDA Show of Strength Telethon, one of America’s longest-standing and beloved fundraising and entertainment events, will invite America to help shape the content of the show to air this Labor Day weekend.
“For decades, countless memorable moments and awe-inspiring performances have taken place on the MDA telethon stage,” said MDA President and CEO Steven M. Derks. “And thanks to robust support from some of the biggest stars in show business, many of these moments have continued to stay in the hearts of viewers and have helped make MDA a mainstay among America’s top nonprofit organizations.”
To celebrate some of these memories, MDA is opening the vault to their video archives and inviting visitors tohttp://mda.org/showofstrength/vote, where they can view a variety of clips of some of the best moments in MDA telethon history and cast their vote for their favorite one. Among the videos to vote from are performances and appearances by Aretha Franklin, The Jackson 5, Celine Dion, Will.i.am, Tim McGraw, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ed McMahon and of course the legendary Jerry Lewis.
Site visitors also will be automatically encouraged to share their favorite video on Facebook and Twitter and tell their friends about the video that got their vote. Users can return to the site each day to vote again and see how their video ranks among the rest. The top four moments to earn the most votes by 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 3, 2014, will air during the telethon broadcast.
ABC has renewed its commitment to air the two-hour MDA Show of Strength Telethon on their stations across the country. As in the past, the entertainment event will raise funds and awareness and acknowledge partners who support MDA’s mission to save and improve the lives of children and adults affected by progressive and often fatal muscle diseases. The 2014 MDA Show of Strength Telethon will air SUNDAY, AUGUST 31 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on The ABC Television Network.
“Our primetime spectacular on ABC will offer up great entertainment and inspire millions of viewers with dramatic stories of children and adults waging battles against life-threatening muscle diseases,” Derks said. “Our telethon provides an incredible opportunity to celebrate everyone who’s helping to drive MDA’s breathtaking progress in the search for treatments and cures … including our sponsor partners, members of the entertainment industry, the doctors and scientists, and of course the American public who so generously donate every year. Together, we are making progress in our mission to save and prolong the lives of everyone fighting muscle disease.”
Musical performers and celebrity presenters for this year’s telethon will be announced in early August. Artists generously donate their time and talent to help make the event a success. The MDA telethon also will feature compelling stories of strength and hope profiling children and adults living with these diseases.