Meeting Street – Schwartz Center Telethon

They've never raised more money in their telethon history. WPRI 12 and FOX Providence joined with sponsors Cardi's Furniture & Mattresses and others to host the 42nd annual Meeting Street - Schwartz Center Telethon, Jan. 27. Michael Rock, of the Michael Rock Show on FUN107 and I were honored to help this great cause. The day before, FUN107 joined with Sunrise Bakery and Coffee Shops hosting a live "Radiothon" and raising over $10,300.

This year's telethon raised $1,233,541, the most ever in the telethon's over 40-year long-running history. There was something magic about how so many people gathered together to make this happen. Second-grader Bryce Clancey, son of Cheri Moorehouse, was amazing in helping raise more than $10,000. Bryce and other young co-hosts carried the night as WPRI's Steve Nielsen and Caroline Goggin broadcast from the Dartmouth campus.

Again this year, the event took place in two locations - the Meeting Street School on Eddy Street in Providence and the Schwartz Center's Dartmouth location. The families who attended got to see how a telethon works and got to see local television and radio celebrities, politicians and business owners who joined together to achieve the mission of "getting the best out of every child."

WBSM and FUN107 know first hand the 'miracles' that are part of the over 70-year history of the Schwartz Center/Meeting House School where infants, preschoolers, and children of all ages receive individual attention from highly trained educators. Its mission is to "compassionately and innovatively empower children and their families to thrive by fostering the development of the whole child." Our mission here at Townsquare Media is to make sure their mission is accomplished.

(Editor's Note: Phil Paleologos is the morning host on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6-10 a.m. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.)