Circles of Hope Telethon
JACKSON, Tenn. – It is not everyday a phone call could save a child’s life. “These are our future leaders of Madison County, so anything we can do to make it grow, I’m all for,” Scott Beard the telethon chairman said. For the past 30 years, thousands of volunteers have come together to donate time and money to the Circles of Hope Telethon, The proceeds from the annual event benefit the Exchange Club Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. Hundreds of workers were all brought together by the same goal: to make a difference for kids. Ginger French is one of those volunteers. For the past six months she has been working to put the telethon together. “People at the center run into adults all the time that say ‘I was actually a child the center helped. If you hadn’t stepped in and helped me I don’t know where I would be,” she said. Telethon volunteers came in many forms from answering phones and picking up food, to providing musical entertainment. Volunteers say no task is too little, and any effort could save a child in need. “The centers success rate, they have a history of making a difference and it’s easy for people to buy into because their making a difference in peoples lives,” French said. As the telethon rounds out it’s third decade of saving children, those behind the scenes say it’s a never ending process. “Basically raise money for the prevention of child abuse. Most child abuse is now sexual abuse instead of physical abuse.” said Beard. Last year, the telethon raised more than $1 million to prevent child abuse. This year they want to shatter that goal, not just monetarily, but by reaching every possible child in need. “Our goal is to everyday prevent child abuse and to help those children who have been abused.. whatever we can do to make their lives better,” said Kara Nicodemus.
