Alabama's 13 and United Way to host Tornado relief telethon

By: Alabama's 13 Staff | News Channel 7
Published: May 03, 2011 | 0 Comments | Post a Comment

BIRMINGHAM — WVTM Alabama’s 13 is spear-heading a region-wide, if not nation-wide effort to raise funds for the “Tornado Relief” effort from 4:00 a.m. (Central) Wednesday, May 4^th until 2:00 a.m. (Central) Thursday morning, May 5^th.

It will be a Virtual Telethon to collect donations for the United Way of Central Alabama’s “Tornado Relief” fund. The telethon will take place at the Corporate Headquarters of Blue Cross & Blue Shield in Birmingham, Alabama and will be staffed by the United Way Hands On Birmingham volunteers.

The “Tornado Relief” Telethon will be streamed live at www.alabamas13.com with live cut-ins in all Alabama’s 13 Newscasts throughout the day and it will include a three-hour prime-time special airing on WVTM, Alabama’s 13 from 6:30 to 10:000 p.m., Wednesday.

With the help and assistance of all the Media General television, newspaper, and on-line properties and social media, WVTM-TV, Birmingham, Alabama organizes this telethon in association with the United Way of Central Alabama. We ask that all media outlets across the US (television stations, radio stations, websites, social media, and newspapers) participate.

All donations will be handled and distributed by the UWCA Tornado Relief Fund. Donations will go toward the immediate needs of those most affected and to the long-term recovery and rebuilding effort. Callers may designate donations go to the United Way in any state affected by the deadly April 27, 2011 tornadoes. They simply make their request known when they call in to the donation center.

1) The United Way of Central Alabama has established several ways to donate:

a) The Text-to-donate number is: Text TORNADO to 50555 to donate $10.

b) Visit the United Way's website donate here

c) The mailing address to donate is: UNITED WAY TORNADO RELIEF FUND, P.O. Box 320189, Birmingham, AL 35232.

d) The toll-free call-in number is 1-855-205HELP. That number will only be active from 5am EDT Wednesday 4 May through 3am EDT Thursday 5 May. Participants promoting the telethon and participating in it should make sure to let viewers/listeners know that the telethon call-in center will only be active during those hours.