Alex's Lemonade Stand Phone Bank Sets $1 Million Plus Record For Cancer Research
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – CBS 3 and The CW Philly's Sixth Annual Alex Scott Phone Bank, a 14-hour on-air benefit for the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, raised $1,130,946 for pediatric cancer research Thursday night, a record for the fundraiser which began in 2007. Over its six years on-air, the event has raised more than $5.2 million for the cause.
Photos: Sixth Annual Alex Scott Phone Bank
A Stand for Hope, the Alex Scott Phone Bank, aired in special segments and "Alex hours" from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. throughout the broadcast day. Segments were also streamed live on CBSPhilly.Com. CBS 3's Chris May, Susan Barnett, and Pat Ciarrocchi spearheaded the effort joined by CBS 3/CW Philly staffers Erika von Tiehl, Kathy Orr, Kate Bilo, Katie Fehlinger, Stephanie Stahl and Jim Donovan.
Videos: A Stand For Hope Highlights
Ross Brittain, Valerie Knight and Frank Lewis of the Breakfast Club at 98.1 WOGL also joined in the fundraising efforts along with Alex's parents, Liz and Jay Scott and Alex's brothers, Patrick, Eddie and Joey. All five of the CBS RADIO stations locally – 98.1 WOGL, Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, SportsRadio 94 WIP and 610 WIP and KYW Newsradio – also supported the fundraiser on-air.
The Phone Bank helps kick off Lemonade Days 2012 (June 8-10) when thousands of volunteers from coast to coast will take a stand against pediatric cancer by hosting lemonade stands of their own.
"It's really satisfying for the CBS Philly family to see such an amazing response from our viewers and business leaders," says President and General Manager Jon Hitchcock. "To know that we are $5 million plus closer to eliminating childhood cancer puts real meaning behind our pledge to be 'on your side,' not just in informing viewers but in helping to change things for the better."
"Over the course of the past six years we have been continually amazed by the generosity and support of CBS 3 and The CW Philly viewers, Philadelphia area residents and our sponsors and supporters everywhere," says Liz Scott, Alex's Mom. "The 2012 Phone Bank continued this trend, amazing us by propelling us past the $5 million mark in just six years."
In addition to contributions from viewers, area businesses that contributed to the fundraiser included Applebee's/Corner Bakery, Volvo, Just Born Candies, Power Home Remodeling Group, the Philadelphia Eagles, The Malvern School, Five Below, TD Bank, IBEW Local 98, Cigna and Ronald McDonald House Charities.
The Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of 4-year-old cancer patient Alexandra "Alex" Scott whose lemonade stands for cancer research launched a national fundraising movement that has only grown since her death in 2004.
Alex Scott: A Stand for Hope, a completely re-mastered and updated moving half hour special that tells Alex's story, will air Saturday, June 9th at 7:00 p.m. on CBS 3 and 10:30 p.m. on the CW Philly. The show will be rebroadcast at other times throughout the summer in available weekend time periods on both stations. The documentary will also be distributed throughout the country by CBS Affiliate Relations.
CBS 3 acknowledges the support of Local Tri-State Toyota Dealers, Ashley Furniture Home Store, The Malvern School and CBS RADIO in making this special fundraising effort possible. CBS 3 (KYW-TV) and The CW Philly 57 (WPSG-TV) are part of CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corporation.
