Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

The Archdiocese of Louisville contributed to the 71st annual WHAS Crusade for Children, raising $5,700,525.71 to support children with special needs across Kentucky and southern Indiana. The telethon aired on June 1-2.

Parishes within the archdiocese held a second collection specifically for the Crusade, collectively contributing $286,674. This made the archdiocese the second-highest contributor among organizations this year.

During the telethon, officials from the archdiocese announced top parish contributions. In Jefferson County, Holy Spirit Church led with $90,760, followed by St. Margaret Mary Church with $9,609 and St. Albert the Great Church with $8,066. Holy Spirit’s total was significantly boosted by a $90,000 donation from parishioner Terry Hickey.

Outside Jefferson County, Immaculate Conception Church in La Grange contributed $7,486; St. Augustine Church in Lebanon donated $4,004; and St. James Church in Elizabethtown provided $4,000.

These figures are expected to increase as additional donations arrive post-telethon.

According to a press release from the Crusade: "The donations help provide direct services for children with special needs in all 120 Kentucky counties and more than 50 counties in southern Indiana." The release also noted that since its inception in 1954, the WHAS Crusade for Children has raised over $216 million. The Archdiocese of Louisville has contributed more than $9 million since it began participating in 1955.