2020 telethon finds success with virtual format, online silent auction and pledges of $93,000+
The Hillsboro and Greenfield Rotary Clubs joined forces for the 48th Annual Ernie Blankenship Memorial Radio Telethon as a combined virtual event only, and Highland Countians generously pledged more than $93,000 for the Highland County Society for Children and Adults.
The event took place on June 24 from 7-9 p.m. and was broadcast live from the Hillsboro Orpheum on the Spectrum Community Access TV Channel, WSRW Radio 1590 AM and 101.5 FM and WVNU Radio 97.5FM. In addition, the event was broadcast on the Society’s Facebook page and its new website, hicoso.org.
Hosts for the evening were Rick Williams, Herb Day and Ron Coffey, and they took turns reading the names of donors, chatting with people who called in, and introducing videos made by businesses, organizations and individuals. One of the individuals who called in was 2020 Poster Child Elisha Duncan.
At the end of the evening, pledges totaled $80,720, but by the next morning the total had already surpassed $90,000. About one week later the total stood at $93,560.
Rotarian Rocky Coss, whose wife Gayle is executive director of the Highland County Society for Children and Adults, was active in organizing the virtual event known as the Ernie Blankenship Memorial Radio-Telethon, and he supplied the hosts with pledge cards throughout the evening.
In addition to pledges from many county businesses, organizations and individuals, there was also an online silent auction featuring a signed replica of one of Ohio State football legend Archie Griffin’s Heisman Trophies and a signed OSU football jersey from the two-time Heisman winner. The auction also generated numerous bids for 2021 concerts by Jimmy Buffett, the Barenaked Ladies, a getaway for two at French Lick, Indiana, and a membership in the local YMCA.
The 2020 event was hosted by First State Bank, and as the auction results were announced by First State CEO Mike Pell, he pointed out that the bank had won the bid on the Archie Griffin Heisman Trophy replica. Pell said Archie Griffin was the workhorse who made the Buckeyes successful during his years at Ohio State, and he compared Griffin’s contributions with those of Rocky Coss in organizing the successful radio-telethon. Calling Rocky up to the stage, Pell presented him with the Heisman Trophy replica in recognition of Coss’ contributions to the successful evening.
Coss was surprised but appreciative, and thanked Pell and First State Bank for hosting the radio-telethon, as well as Dale Martin, owner of the Hillsboro Orpheum, and many others who helped make the event possible.
Though the radio-telethon is over, contributions are welcome at any time. Donors should send their checks payable to: HCCSA, P.O. Box 258, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133.
The event took place on June 24 from 7-9 p.m. and was broadcast live from the Hillsboro Orpheum on the Spectrum Community Access TV Channel, WSRW Radio 1590 AM and 101.5 FM and WVNU Radio 97.5FM. In addition, the event was broadcast on the Society’s Facebook page and its new website, hicoso.org.
Hosts for the evening were Rick Williams, Herb Day and Ron Coffey, and they took turns reading the names of donors, chatting with people who called in, and introducing videos made by businesses, organizations and individuals. One of the individuals who called in was 2020 Poster Child Elisha Duncan.
At the end of the evening, pledges totaled $80,720, but by the next morning the total had already surpassed $90,000. About one week later the total stood at $93,560.
Rotarian Rocky Coss, whose wife Gayle is executive director of the Highland County Society for Children and Adults, was active in organizing the virtual event known as the Ernie Blankenship Memorial Radio-Telethon, and he supplied the hosts with pledge cards throughout the evening.
In addition to pledges from many county businesses, organizations and individuals, there was also an online silent auction featuring a signed replica of one of Ohio State football legend Archie Griffin’s Heisman Trophies and a signed OSU football jersey from the two-time Heisman winner. The auction also generated numerous bids for 2021 concerts by Jimmy Buffett, the Barenaked Ladies, a getaway for two at French Lick, Indiana, and a membership in the local YMCA.
The 2020 event was hosted by First State Bank, and as the auction results were announced by First State CEO Mike Pell, he pointed out that the bank had won the bid on the Archie Griffin Heisman Trophy replica. Pell said Archie Griffin was the workhorse who made the Buckeyes successful during his years at Ohio State, and he compared Griffin’s contributions with those of Rocky Coss in organizing the successful radio-telethon. Calling Rocky up to the stage, Pell presented him with the Heisman Trophy replica in recognition of Coss’ contributions to the successful evening.
Coss was surprised but appreciative, and thanked Pell and First State Bank for hosting the radio-telethon, as well as Dale Martin, owner of the Hillsboro Orpheum, and many others who helped make the event possible.
Though the radio-telethon is over, contributions are welcome at any time. Donors should send their checks payable to: HCCSA, P.O. Box 258, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133.
Beginnings of HCSCA date back to 1950
(The following information was submitted by Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss, who helps coordinate the annual radio-telethon in Hillsboro and Greenfield each March that raises funds for the county’s less fortunate.)
The Highland County Society for Children & Adults is one of the most unique local charitable organizations in the country. All funds donated or raised through fundraisers are used to pay medical, prescription drug, hospital, out of county transportation, devices and equipment for children and adults who are unable to pay for them. Any Highland County resident who meets the financial need criteria is eligible regardless of what disease, condition or injury is the reason for the expense.
Since the 47th annual Ernie Blankenship Memorial Radio-Telethon will be held Wednesday, March 27, it is worthwhile to review the history of this great organization and how it came into existence.
The society traces its history back to Nov. 13, 1950, when 51 residents of Highland County, representing various civic, health and church organizations, met at the Highland County Courthouse to discuss the organization of a local group to work in conjunction with the Ohio Easter Seal Society. Members of the Rotary Clubs were included in the group as the National Easter Seal Society had been founded by a member of the Lorain, Ohio Rotary Club.
Officers of the organization that was named The Highland County Society for Crippled Children were elected. W. D. Crosley was elected president; the Rev. Ed Bousman was elected vice president. Hillsboro Rotarian James Byrd was elected as treasurer.
The first fundraising activities conducted for the organization were sales of Lilly Parade flowers by the Boy Scouts, bake sales, a mail campaign, card parties and food sales. The Rotary clubs made contributions to assist in purchases of equipment for children with various disabilities. Prior to the establishment of the society, assistance to children with disabilities was one of the first community fundraising projects of the Hillsboro Rotary Club, which had been founded in 1936. In 1954, the name was changed at the suggestion of the Ohio Easter Seal Society to the Highland County Society for Children and Adults.
In January of 1959, the late Helen Lowell was hired by the society to work part-time as a file clerk to maintain records of persons being assisted at a salary of $5 per month. That title was changed in 1959 to executive secretary at a salary of $30 per month. She served in that capacity until 1979 when the late Betty Collins was hired (her son David still serves as the organization’s treasurer).
The first radio-telethon to raise funds was held by the Hillsboro Rotary Club in 1973 in conjunction with the National Easter Seal Society national telethon. That event, which was chaired by the late Judge Darrell Hottle and the late Judge Robert B. McMullen, raised $1,715.
Because of the affiliation with the Ohio and National Easter Seal Societies, the organization was required to pay a portion of the funds raised to those organizations to support their state and national activities. In 1981, that was approximately 38 percent of the funds raised. After discussions with several members of the Hillsboro and Greenfield Rotary clubs, the organization voted in 1982 to sever ties with the Easter Seal Society and become an independent county charitable organization. The named was changed at that time to The Highland County Society for Children and Adults in recognition of the fact that many county children and residents might not might meet the definition of “crippled,” which was a term of uncertainty. Further, there was a determination that many county residents with a wide variety of illnesses, diseases, conditions or injuries had the same need for financial support. The change of name and the Articles of Incorporation allowed the society to provide assistance to county residents regardless of the illness, disease, condition or injury that caused their need for assistance.
In 1988, Nina Wharton became the third executive secretary of the organization, serving until 2005, when Gayle Coss assumed the position which she still holds. Gayle Coss is assisted part-time by Carol Colville. The society does not maintain a physical office in order to minimize administrative expenses. Both Gayle Coss and Colville are paid a nominal salary to answer telephone calls from residents or referrals of clients from hospitals, nursing homes, school nurses, school counselors, pharmacists, physicians and others.
Over the past 45 years, Hillsboro Rotary Club members Bob Hodson and Rocky Coss have presented programs at the District Annual Meetings and other district events regarding the radio-telethon, as well as the activities of the society, in Highland County. It has also been recognized in the National Rotarian magazine. It has been hailed as a unique project for a unique organization which is dependent on the Hillsboro and Greenfield Rotary clubs for almost all of its fundraising.
Some examples of expenses that are paid for by the society include laptops and other electronic devices used by children with physical disabilities for communication or learning, payment of prescription drug expenses, payment of medically required dental extractions, gas vouchers for payment of gas for travel to out of county medical providers, payment of lodging expenses for families of children or adults who must stay overnight when family members are being treated at out of county or even out of state facilities, providing wheel chairs, hospital beds, lift chairs, ramps into homes, and many other types of expenses not paid for by insurance or other third party payers.
The society has approximately 21 board members, representing 14 of the townships in Highland County, who are elected at the annual meeting of the society in September of each year. Anyone who contributes to the society during the year is a member and is eligible to be elected as a board member. Currently, there are vacancies on the board for Paint, Union and Washington townships. Anyone interested in those positions should contact Gayle Coss at 937-393-2142.
The board meets approximately four to five times a year to set policy and program guidelines, to manage the budget, and other necessary business.
(The following information was submitted by Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss, who helps coordinate the annual radio-telethon in Hillsboro and Greenfield each March that raises funds for the county’s less fortunate.)
The Highland County Society for Children & Adults is one of the most unique local charitable organizations in the country. All funds donated or raised through fundraisers are used to pay medical, prescription drug, hospital, out of county transportation, devices and equipment for children and adults who are unable to pay for them. Any Highland County resident who meets the financial need criteria is eligible regardless of what disease, condition or injury is the reason for the expense.
Since the 47th annual Ernie Blankenship Memorial Radio-Telethon will be held Wednesday, March 27, it is worthwhile to review the history of this great organization and how it came into existence.
The society traces its history back to Nov. 13, 1950, when 51 residents of Highland County, representing various civic, health and church organizations, met at the Highland County Courthouse to discuss the organization of a local group to work in conjunction with the Ohio Easter Seal Society. Members of the Rotary Clubs were included in the group as the National Easter Seal Society had been founded by a member of the Lorain, Ohio Rotary Club.
Officers of the organization that was named The Highland County Society for Crippled Children were elected. W. D. Crosley was elected president; the Rev. Ed Bousman was elected vice president. Hillsboro Rotarian James Byrd was elected as treasurer.
The first fundraising activities conducted for the organization were sales of Lilly Parade flowers by the Boy Scouts, bake sales, a mail campaign, card parties and food sales. The Rotary clubs made contributions to assist in purchases of equipment for children with various disabilities. Prior to the establishment of the society, assistance to children with disabilities was one of the first community fundraising projects of the Hillsboro Rotary Club, which had been founded in 1936. In 1954, the name was changed at the suggestion of the Ohio Easter Seal Society to the Highland County Society for Children and Adults.
In January of 1959, the late Helen Lowell was hired by the society to work part-time as a file clerk to maintain records of persons being assisted at a salary of $5 per month. That title was changed in 1959 to executive secretary at a salary of $30 per month. She served in that capacity until 1979 when the late Betty Collins was hired (her son David still serves as the organization’s treasurer).
The first radio-telethon to raise funds was held by the Hillsboro Rotary Club in 1973 in conjunction with the National Easter Seal Society national telethon. That event, which was chaired by the late Judge Darrell Hottle and the late Judge Robert B. McMullen, raised $1,715.
Because of the affiliation with the Ohio and National Easter Seal Societies, the organization was required to pay a portion of the funds raised to those organizations to support their state and national activities. In 1981, that was approximately 38 percent of the funds raised. After discussions with several members of the Hillsboro and Greenfield Rotary clubs, the organization voted in 1982 to sever ties with the Easter Seal Society and become an independent county charitable organization. The named was changed at that time to The Highland County Society for Children and Adults in recognition of the fact that many county children and residents might not might meet the definition of “crippled,” which was a term of uncertainty. Further, there was a determination that many county residents with a wide variety of illnesses, diseases, conditions or injuries had the same need for financial support. The change of name and the Articles of Incorporation allowed the society to provide assistance to county residents regardless of the illness, disease, condition or injury that caused their need for assistance.
In 1988, Nina Wharton became the third executive secretary of the organization, serving until 2005, when Gayle Coss assumed the position which she still holds. Gayle Coss is assisted part-time by Carol Colville. The society does not maintain a physical office in order to minimize administrative expenses. Both Gayle Coss and Colville are paid a nominal salary to answer telephone calls from residents or referrals of clients from hospitals, nursing homes, school nurses, school counselors, pharmacists, physicians and others.
Over the past 45 years, Hillsboro Rotary Club members Bob Hodson and Rocky Coss have presented programs at the District Annual Meetings and other district events regarding the radio-telethon, as well as the activities of the society, in Highland County. It has also been recognized in the National Rotarian magazine. It has been hailed as a unique project for a unique organization which is dependent on the Hillsboro and Greenfield Rotary clubs for almost all of its fundraising.
Some examples of expenses that are paid for by the society include laptops and other electronic devices used by children with physical disabilities for communication or learning, payment of prescription drug expenses, payment of medically required dental extractions, gas vouchers for payment of gas for travel to out of county medical providers, payment of lodging expenses for families of children or adults who must stay overnight when family members are being treated at out of county or even out of state facilities, providing wheel chairs, hospital beds, lift chairs, ramps into homes, and many other types of expenses not paid for by insurance or other third party payers.
The society has approximately 21 board members, representing 14 of the townships in Highland County, who are elected at the annual meeting of the society in September of each year. Anyone who contributes to the society during the year is a member and is eligible to be elected as a board member. Currently, there are vacancies on the board for Paint, Union and Washington townships. Anyone interested in those positions should contact Gayle Coss at 937-393-2142.
The board meets approximately four to five times a year to set policy and program guidelines, to manage the budget, and other necessary business.