By Correne Martin
Prairie du Chien’s Eagles Heart and Cancer Telethon presented an alternate telethon virtually Saturday evening, as opposed to the typical televised broadcast that viewers have become accustomed to over the last four and a half decades.
Led by producer, host and coordinator Dan Moris, the once “called off” fundraiser for heart disease and cancer research still happened for 2021.
At the end of the night, in fact, just under $28,625 was raised in donations stemming from the four-hour livestreamed show, a virtual auction, and raffles and contributions fostered at the Eagles Club Prairie du Chien Aerie 1502 itself. In the coming weeks, after additionally anticipated donations filter in, organizers expect to pass $30,000 total. Organizers are thrilled with such a result from the alternate telethon, which was pulled together in the last two weeks prior to the event after the televised option was canceled.
According to staff recording the livestream statistics, Saturday night’s telethon had 1,524 views by 650 unique viewers. The peak number of viewers at any one time was 204.
In comparison, last year’s event, which aired on cable television via Mediacom, had 146 views online. The 2020 telethon ultimately raised over $47,000.
The virtual format featured a house band of sorts—Nice Guys & a Dirty Mind—performing live from Bluffstone Massage and the home of Brandon Standorf in Prairie du Chien. Standorf’s bandmates include Moris, Alex Stark, Eric Otteson and Leah Strong.
Moris was the sole host, though he showcased regular spots with famed longtime co-hosts Tom Nelson and Tom Stram. The telethon presented videos and patient stories from beneficiaries Gundersen Health, Mayo Clinic Health and UW Health, as well as local medical center Crossing Rivers Health. The hours were filled with musical performances as well from various local talent and montages of classic telethon moments.
In Nelson’s eyes, he’s thankful for Moris’ vision as well as all the work that continued behind the scenes, and on video, to make something happen and pay it forward.
“It’s because of our entire community that we saw this wonderful outcome,” he stated. “It’s like the wrestlers and their ‘Pushups for Pennies,’ so many people chipped in by stepping forward to make a difference.”
Moris was proud
“I’m hoping for a much more standard telethon next year,” Moris said, in the days after the telethon, which he labeled a day of “nonstop rush.”
“The event’s magic is in bringing the entire community—individuals, businesses, service organizations, school groups, city government, health care systems, and a professional video production crew—together for one night,” he added. “But, for this year, we were able to keep the telethon tradition alive.”
By Correne Martin
Prairie du Chien’s Eagles Heart and Cancer Telethon presented an alternate telethon virtually Saturday evening, as opposed to the typical televised broadcast that viewers have become accustomed to over the last four and a half decades.
Led by producer, host, and coordinator Dan Moris, the once “called off” fundraiser for heart disease and cancer research still happened for 2021.
At the end of the night, in fact, just under $28,625 was raised in donations stemming from the four-hour livestreamed show, a virtual auction, and raffles and contributions fostered at the Eagles Club Prairie du Chien Aerie 1502 itself. In the coming weeks, after additionally anticipated donations filter in, organizers expect to pass $30,000 total. Organizers are thrilled with such a result from the alternate telethon, which was pulled together in the last two weeks prior to the event after the televised option was canceled.
According to staff recording the live stream statistics, Saturday night’s telethon had 1,524 views by 650 unique viewers. The peak number of viewers at any one time was 204.
In comparison, last year’s event, which aired on cable television via Mediacom, had 146 views online. The 2020 telethon ultimately raised over $47,000.
The virtual format featured a house band of sorts—Nice Guys & a Dirty Mind—performing live from Bluffstone Massage and the home of Brandon Standorf in Prairie du Chien. Standorf’s bandmates include Moris, Alex Stark, Eric Otteson, and Leah Strong.
Moris was the sole host, though he showcased regular spots with famed longtime co-hosts Tom Nelson and Tom Stram. The telethon presented videos and patient stories from beneficiaries Gundersen Health, Mayo Clinic Health and UW Health, as well as local medical center Crossing Rivers Health. The hours were filled with musical performances as well from various local talent and montages of classic telethon moments.
In Nelson’s eyes, he’s thankful for Moris’ vision as well as all the work that continued behind the scenes, and on video, to make something happen and pay it forward.
“It’s because of the entire community that we saw this wonderful outcome,” he stated. “It’s like the wrestlers and their ‘Pushups for Pennies,’ so many people chipped in by stepping forward to make a difference.”
Moris was proud
“I’m hoping for a much more standard telethon next year,” Moris said, in the days after the telethon, which he labeled a day of “nonstop rush.”
“The event’s magic is in bringing the entire community—individuals, businesses, service organizations, school groups, city government, health care systems, and a professional video production crew—together for one night,” he added. “But, for this year, we were able to keep the telethon tradition alive.”
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*permission to reprint article by Coruier Press. Corene Martin
