Easter Seals Joliet telethon tops $140,000 goal, raising $160,669 with major corporate and family gifts

Easter Seals Joliet Region said the organization raised $160,669 during its 2026 “Celebration of Giving” telethon, surpassing a $140,000 fundraising target. The six‑hour broadcast on channel and social feeds combined live interviews, recorded testimonials and on‑stage check presentations at Heroes West in Joliet.

The telethon’s hosts—Connie Russell and Jim Ralph—opened the event by asking viewers to call 815‑927‑5450 or scan the on‑screen QR code to donate. Organizers described the agency’s six‑county service area and emphasized that donations support outpatient therapy, early‑intervention screenings, day programs and other direct services in Will, Kane, Kendall, Grundy, Iroquois and Ford counties.

Family testimonials illustrated the programs the donations support. Heather Jacobson, the mother of 14‑year‑old Stevie Lynn, described long‑term therapy through Easter Seals and credited staff therapist Wendy with helping Stevie make mobility gains after surgery: “Easter Seals gave us something every parent hopes for — support, guidance, and hope,” Jacobson said in a taped interview.

An on‑stage interview with Ariana Samson highlighted a separate nonprofit technology initiative: Samson described the Our Circle app, a free platform intended to connect families raising children with support needs and said it had “almost 5,000 families across America” using the service.

Corporate and foundation donors accounted for several of the telethon’s largest on‑air gifts. Hollywood Casino presented a $12,472 donation and pledged continued local engagement. The Barnes Family Foundation announced a combined gift of $30,000, with family representatives saying the foundation is personally funding the donation to support local children and families served by Easter Seals.

Hospitals and businesses also appeared on the broadcast. Scott Paddock, senior vice president of external affairs at Silver Cross Hospital, described the hospital’s community benefit programs in a recorded message and presented a $2,000 check. Additional checks and pledges came from area sponsors and businesses that were named on air.

Throughout the telethon volunteers and community groups—including Rotary, the Kowanas club, the Joliet Junior Women’s Club, local unions and civic groups—staffed phone banks and solicited pledges. Organizers repeatedly emphasized that a substantial share of donations goes to direct services: telethon hosts and staff highlighted that about 92 cents of every dollar raised locally is applied to programs rather than overhead.

The broadcast also showcased service descriptions and program videos, including the Jumpstart home‑visiting program for families with children 0–3, adaptive seating and mobility clinics, summer programming and community day services for adults with disabilities. Interviewees described how therapy, seating equipment and coordinated services reduce caregiver stress and increase participant independence.

The telethon closed after volunteers and hosts announced the final tote‑board total of $160,669. Organizers thanked sponsors, donors, volunteer phone teams and the families who shared their stories; they said funds will be used to sustain and expand services across the agency’s regional footprint.

Easter Seals Joliet Region said it will continue to accept donations via the phone line and its website and encouraged viewers who missed the live broadcast to watch archived segments online and to support local programs year‑round.