MDA Labor Day Telethon highlights
Millions to fight muscular dystrophy

NALC President Fred Rolando appears on the MDA Telethon with host Jerry Lewis September 7.

NALC branches from across the country presented pledges and donations totaling $2.1 million to the 44th Annual Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day Telethon this year and helping the telethon achieve nearly $60.5 million in donations.

NALC President Fredric V. Rolando and MDA Coordinator Jim Williams represented NALC at the nationally televised event from Las Vegas, along with representatives of the top MDA branches in 2008. Rolando and Williams presented a series of checks to Lewis during the telethon.

As he presented the final check to Lewis, Rolando pledged NALC’s continuing support of MDA and the telethon, noting that the NALC had been there since the beginning and would do better next year.

The telethon’s total of $60.5 million was about $5 million less than last year’s record but was an
amazing accomplishment nevertheless, considering the recession.

Here are the designated representatives to the 44th annual telethon in Las Vegas from the top fund-raising branches and branch totals:

• Bill Trudell, New Jersey Merged Branch 38, the top fund-raising branch, $131,511
• Darrell Berube, Brooklyn, New York Branch 41, Category I, 2,000-plus members, $60,260
• Ron Blazell, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Branch 2, Category II, 1,500 to 1,999 members, $22,415
• Bob Bracy, Louisville, Kentucky Branch 14, Category III, 1,000 to 1,499 members, $18,634
• Ed Walsh, Northeastern New York Branch 358, Category IV, 700 to 999 members, $26,274
• Larry Ames, Grand Rapids, Michigan Branch 56, Category V, 500 to 699 members, $26,083
• Dennis Spoto, Bergen County Merged, New Jersey Branch 425, Category VI, 350 to 499 members, $10,100
• Thomas Scott, Green Bay, Wisconsin Branch 619, Category VII, 200 to 349 members, $18,770
• Randy Sorby, Fargo-West Fargo, North Dakota Branch 205, Category VIII, 100 to 199 members, $14,677
• Jeffrey Harness, Freehold, New Jersey Branch 924, Category IX, 50 to 99 members, $7,202
• Michael Beggaries, New City, New York Branch 5229, Category X, 10 to 49 members, $10,899
• Fran Mangano, Brooklyn, New York Auxiliary Branch 2003, $2,828

Behind the scenes at the MDA Telethon were (from l) MDA Coordinator Jim Williams; Michael Bagarozzi of New City, New York Branch 5229; Tom Scott of Green Bay, Wisconsin Branch 619; Jackie Caffrey of Freehold, New Jersey Branch 924; President Rolando; Fran Mangano of Brooklyn, New York Auxiliary 2003; Randy Sorbo of Fargo-West Fargo, North Dakota Branch 205; and Bill Trudell of New Jersey Merged Branch 38.