Local telethon raises money

More than $30,000 was raised Sunday afternoon for the Ave Maria Village capital improvement project through a telethon, said Bill Kennedy, the capital campaign coordinator.

The telethon was held from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Reiland Center on the Jamestown College campus. The line-up included local talent like the Jamestown High School Jazz Band, comedian Travis Voeltz and guitarist Steve Kuykendall. Merrill Piepkorn was the master of ceremonies and he joined Ave Maria CEO Tim Burchill between acts to interview people with ties to the improvement project.

Ave Marie held the telethon Sunday to raise funds for the $1.32 million project. The project includes a new all-faiths chapel, the McCoy Family Suite for patients in their last days, and a transportation center. Groundbreaking will take place in spring.

With the $30,000 from Sunday, the village’s capital campaign committee has raised $905,000 of its $1.32 million goal.

“The key for us is we put out so much PR (public relations) about this event that we anticipate receiving more donations every time it’s replayed,” Kennedy said.

Dakota Central Telecommunications channels 16 and 17 aired the broadcast and it will be repeated on those channels and Cable Services Inc., replay channel 10 in the near future.. The pledge hotline, 701-269-4415, will be open during each replay. The event was also broadcast live on radio stations KSJB 600 and Mix 93.3. Donations may also be made at www.avemariavillage.org.

Sun reporter Chris Olson can be reached at 701-952-8454

or by email at colson@jamestownsun.com

Tags: community, benefit