Telethon boosts Wood County Society
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VIENNA -- The Wood County Society raised over $166,000 on Sunday to help people in the community with disabilities.
The Society held its 51st annual telethon Sunday at the Parkersburg Country Club. The television event is one of the Society's biggest fundraisers of the year.
"We have had wonderful support from the community throughout the day," said Justin Raber, President of the Board of Directors for the Wood County Society.
The organization, based in Vienna, provides free programming for youths and adults with disabilities in Wood, Jackson, Roane, Calhoun, Wirt, Ritchie, Tyler and Pleasants counties in West Virginia and Washington and Athens counties in Ohio. The society has services for people with physical disabilities, autism and other disabilities.
Raber said they do not set a fundraising goal, letting the community decide how it wants to support the work of the Society.
"Every dollar for all of our programs counts," he said. "Whatever our generous community wants to donate is what we would love to accept.
"We want the complete support of our community and that is what we are receiving."
The Society has a variety of programs from Camp ECHO to the Art Beats Studio as well as Adapted Aquatics, American Sign Language Classes, the Mid-Ohio Valley Autism Network, Summer Speech programs and more.
It is through the telethon the Society can continue to grow its initiatives, grow its programs and grow its resources, said Brandon Gress, the executive director of the Wood County Society.
"It is through the investment of our community that keeps Wood County Society growing," he said. "We are very honored to have the outpouring of support from our community."
Because of the support, the Society is able to offer new initiatives every year.
"The telethon serves as a vital resource for the Wood County Society," Gress said. "It is through the investment of the community that we can provide many of the programs we do."
In 2019, the Wood County Society was able to offer resources and programming to 1,680 people throughout 11 counties in the region.
"Last year was the highest number of clients we have served in our history and it keeps growing every year," Raber said.
Every year, the telethon reaches "the maximum potential," Gress said.
"Through this campaign we continue to raise awareness, raise education and activating organization throughout the community," he said, adding there are a number of programs Wood County Society is looking to do in the future to build its advocacy and awareness initiatives.
"We want to add depth and breadth to each one of our programs through therapy, education or respite care," Gress said. "The Wood County Society is deeply humbled by the outpouring of support we do receive from the community.
"It is through that investment that we can be a catalyst for change to provide an inclusive and integrated community for all individuals to be recognized for their abilities."
Raber said the money remains in the community to help people in this area.
"Every penny that is raised stays here," Raber said. "It is for our local community.
"What everyone gives stays here locally. It is all community support. This is our largest capital campaign of the year."
There were a number of donations made by individuals and local businesses. They have children who will donate $5 to businesses and others who donate thousands. Many businesses made donations, from a number of small businesses, a number of banks, foundations and some of the large industrial businesses in the area.
"It is everyone who believes in our mission to serve children and adults with disabilities," Raber said. "Anyone and everyone donates."
Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com