The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
St. Jude Telethon going strong
40th annual event scheduled for March 3
“The people of Litchfield County have never disappointed us, and we’ve never doubted them. It’s always been a great success.”
Kristin Raymond
TORRINGTON — Forty years ago, resident Tim Driscoll probably never thought his idea for a fundraising telethon for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital would become his legacy.
But it has. Last year’s Tim Driscoll St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Telethon raised $67,000 for the hospital. Since its beginning, it has donated more than $1.5 million. This year, the 40th annual 13-hour benefit, held at Torrington High School, returns March 3, offering residents the same day of live entertainment, food and chances to win donated prizes. Driscoll’s daughter, Kristin Raymond, remains deeply involved in the planning and execution of the telethon, and says this year’s event won’t disappoint anyone.
“It’s always an amazing experience,” Raymond said. “We look for support in the community. The people of Litchfield County have never disappointed us, and we’ve never doubted them. It’s always been a great success.”
The telethon is broadcast on the local cable station, Channel 5, and this year it may stream live on YouTube. “I’m working on that,” Raymond said. “And once we’re on the air, it’s not our telethon anymore. It’s the people’s telethon. This year, if we are able to stream it, people will be able to watch it on their devices, so we’ll be able to reach more people.”
Gaining a bigger audience is key to the fundraising for St. Jude, but Raymond said her father never set a financial goal.
“My father used to say, ‘We don’t set a goal. We just do the best we can.’ Whatever we raise, it’s more money than St. Jude had the day before,” Raymond said. “Last year we raised $67,560.49. If we exceed that, great, but if we don’t, it’s still money for St. Jude.”
Getting people to make a donation hasn’t been difficult either.
“What we’ve found is that people who struggle themselves still give what they can,” Raymond said. “Money’s tight these days, but we still get donations from people. It’s not money that’s easily given up, but they do it anyway. For such a small area up here, with so many small towns, it’s amazing to raise $67,000 in one day. It’s just incredible.”
More than anything, Raymond said, the telethon is a lot of fun. The food sale is hugely popular, offering visitors a wide variety of food and desserts of every description for very affordable prices. The gift table, loaded with donated prizes from area businesses, groups and individuals, always impresses Raymond and her family.
“We have an outstanding door prize area, with so many things donated from people, businesses, students, it’s outstanding,” she said. “It’s the best table I’ve ever seen.”
The live entertainment is key to the telethon’s success, because it includes dance teams, performers and singers from Torrington and surrounding towns. This year’s lineup includes the Center for Dance Arts, Dana LaPorta’s piano students, Thomaston Center School student chorus, Torringford School dance team, the Forbes Flyers, Dream Believe Achieve Dance of New Hartford, Deborah’s Dance Workshop, Reach for the Stars dance studio, the Southwest School chorus, Sparkle and Shine Dance Studio, St. Peter St. Francis School chorus, Torrington High School’s cheer and dance teams, Torrington High School jazz band, and the Thomaston High School drama club.
For every child who performs at the telethon, there are one or two proud parents and siblings there to watch them, and they often bring their friends and make a day of it.
“It’s a big attraction for people,” Raymond said. “The ongoing shows make it so busy. Everyone has a good time ... parents come to see their kids, and there are people who just come and hang around. The dancers from the schools do crafts and face painting for the kids. People come in and buy their raffle tickets and they’ll wait until we do the drawings.”
Having the event streamed on YouTube will be “amazing” if it happens, Raymond said. “The tech department at Torrington High School is helping us with that ... that’s my goal this year, to reach more people.”
For Raymond and her family, the telethon is also a way to spend time together, keeping their father’s dream going. Driscoll died in 2016, making this year the third telethon without him. Raymond recalled his last one in 2015.
“I was pregnant with twins and had appendicitis,” she said. “When I got out of the hospital on Sunday, my husband brought me straight to the telethon, It was my dad’s last telethon.”
Forty years from now, Raymond hopes the telethon will still be going strong and that her family will keep it that way.
“My niece, Kolbe Driscoll, is my dad’s reincarnation,” she said. “Last year, she took on a full day as emcee. The future is in her hands, and I foresee it going on and on. But I’m not anywhere near letting it go yet.”
Along with her niece, Raymond’s siblings are part of the team. Also along with Kolbe, Raymond’s older sister Kyla Driscoll, works behind the scenes with their mother, Cathy. Her brother Tim always helps out. Her brother Kevin serves as an emcee. Uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews and cousins are also volunteers for the telethon. This year, Raymond’s twins, 3-year-old Jillian and Cecilia, are performing, and her husband Paul and their 2-year-old daughter Madilyn will be there too.
“I couldn’t do this without them,” Raymond said. “This has really become a community, family effort. Without people volunteering and calling and supporting it, it wouldn’t happen. It’s the people’s telethon.”
The Tim Driscoll St. Jude Children’s Hospital Telethon runs from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. March 3 at Torrington High School, 50 Major Besse Drive. There is no charge to attend; bring money for door prize tickets and food.