Radio/telethon raises $131,000

The 32nd annual radio/telethon for the National Council of Voluntary Organisations did not reach its target of $145,000 on Saturday night, but it easily beat last year’s total pledged at the closing of the five-hour fundraiser. The final tally announced at midnight was $131,013. 

Janice Wilson, NCVO chief executive officer, thanked everyone who took part. All were volunteering their time and talent, from the pledge takers working shifts on the telephones to the entertainers and announcers to behind-the-scenes workers who kept the live broadcast going on Cayman 27 television and Radio Cayman. 

Some performers literally went the extra mile, with Grammy-award winning Jason Gilbert flying down from Florida to take part. The iZ did two numbers, even incorporating some original lyrics to encourage donations.  

Donna Bush presented a short history of the now annual event, which started in a single studio at Radio Cayman. Now, reflecting the technology of the day, TV cameras captured the action on stage at the Prospect Playhouse, then segued to a temporary studio upstairs for interviews, then coordinated with CITN headquarters for taped presentations. 

Some corporate donors chose to present over-size cheques on camera. Ken Krys, who participated in a Jungle Run in Brazil earlier in the month to raise funds for NCVO and Facing Africa, presented NCVO with his cheque for $5,020. Other donors had their names and contributions flashed across the bottom of an electronic screen that also showed the time and ever-increasing total raised. 

Some messages were personalised: a donation from the great grandson of Olive Miller to mark her upcoming 90th birthday; a $500 pledge to salute the McTaggart Trio consisting of cousins Dennis and Mike with Uncle Bill in the middle. 

The radio/telethon is NCVO’s major fundraiser. The organisation’s website describes it as “an independent, nonprofit, charitable organisation that focuses on helping children in our community and helps hundreds of families. The NCVO operates many programmes and receives some government funding but relies on support from corporate sponsors and members of the public.”