Alex Scott Phone Bank Raises Nearly $3 Million For Pediatric Cancer Research

By Jessica Dean

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --  It was a day of big cheers, big names, and big checks behind the scenes of A Stand for Hope, the CBS 3 telethon to raise money for Alex's Lemonade Stand.

"It's an incredible day," said Liz Scott, Alex's mother. "It's a really happy day, and really inspiring."

This was our ninth phone bank for Alex's Lemonade Stand. Over the years, we've raised more than $12 million.

Today, founding sponsor Volvo donated $850,000.

"We man the phones here, and we just, it's part of our family now, it's part of our culture," said Dianne DiCola of Volvo.

Little donations add up, too, like the pennies and nickels dropped into the TD Bank coin collection.

The kids on the Ocean City boardwalk with meteorologist Kathy Orr raised $437.70.

We couldn't have done it without people donating their time to take phone calls. Kristen MacMillan was a volunteer. What would she say had been her favorite part?

"Answering the phones," Kristen said. "I got a $200 donation."

Eleven-year-old Tony Salerno came by. He's a cancer survivor himself and wanted to be here to spread the word about the cause.

"I bet some people called in because of you. I bet you convinced them," said CBS 3's Jessica Dean.

"A couple of people, but not all of them," Tony replied.

One person convinced was Agnes Halmon of West Philadelphia. Every year she watches Alex's story on CBS 3 and donates. She herself has cancer.

"It's going to help millions and millions of babies. Maybe some of them will live longer than little Alex," Halmon said.

Meteorologist Kate Bilo was in L.A., a guest co-host on the CBS show "The Talk." She gave Alex's cause a national shoutout: "It's Lemonade Days this weekend for Alex Scott and Alex's Lemonade Stand. They have a big fundraiser going on today, so go get some lemonade this weekend."

Alex's fundraising has paid for more than 500 research grants. Alex's mother Liz Scott hears from grateful parents all the time.

"The treatment that cured their child was because of Alex's Lemonade Stand," Liz said.

One of these parents was Pam Witt, whose son Zach has lymphoma.

"I think it's a very big help to kids that are dying in the hospital," Zach said.

"Zach would not be here today without that drug," his mother said, "so it's very special and dear to our hearts."

"That to me is the moment I wish everybody could share in, everybody who donates could share in, because it's incredible," Liz Scott said.

From the first glass of lemonade to now, Alex's Lemonade Stand has raised more than $100 million for childhood cancer.

"It's amazing, but we want to put ourselves out of business, and we're going to do that soon," said Jay Scott, Alex's father.

Today, we set a new record. Our grand total for the Alex Scott: A Stand For Hope telethon is $2,997,865.