I love my job. Make no mistake about it. In the past few weeks, I have been able to watch our local high school football teams compete for a conference championship, a District title, and make a run for a state championship.
In addition, I was able to broadcast the 148th edition of the Lafayette-Lehigh football game and begin the college basketball season with two upset victories by the Lafayette men’s team. Right around the corner is another season of high school and college basketball which will quickly take me through the winter and into March Madness. It’s the best.
There is one night a year, however, that is even better. It is the night that I co-host the Dream Come True Telethon. On Monday, December 10, we will do the Telethon for the 27th year. I have not hosted all of them, but in the early years, I made sure I was a guest on the show. The Dream Come True organization, in case you did not know, was founded in 1984 by Kostas Kalogeropoulous, a local businessman. The goal of the organization is simple – fulfill the dreams of children who are seriously, chronically, and terminally ill and reside in the greater Lehigh Valley area. Children are referred by family, friends, clergy, doctors, social workers, etc. and the dreams usually fall into three categories – trips, contact with celebrities, and special gifts (computers, shopping sprees, for example).
Scott Barr and I have been hosting together for many, many years. He handles the auction area and, boy, is he terrific! If you watch HSN or any of the other television all-day shopping channels, just watch Scott do his thing during the four-hour night. He is as good as, if not better, than the professionals.
There is always a variety of unique items donated by local businesses as well as our friends in the cable TV world like ESPN, WWE, Comcast SportsNet, NHL Network, and others. If you want something really unique and not found in any store, tune in and bid on the items. You’ll make Scott’s night.
Perla Lopez Baray of WFMZ brings some much-needed youth, beauty, and professionalism to the set doing many interviews with the children who have had their dreams fulfilled. She is a pleasure to have as part of the team.
We have moved the venue this year to the Outlets at Sands. It is an exciting location and we welcome the new “digs” after a great run at the Westgate Mall. We anticipate much more foot traffic which hopefully will mean much more direct giving from people doing some holiday shopping or stopping by to see us.
The important facts are:
The Date: Monday, December 10
The Time: 6:00 – 10:00 PM
The Location: The Outlets at Sands
On The Television: Channels 4 and 1004 in HD
The Purpose: To fulfill as many hopes, dreams and fantasies for seriously, chronically, and terminally ill children as possible
The Phone Number to Bid or Make a Donation: 1-800-749-8099
Phone line is only active during the live television program
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- Tiger Woods and Maria Sharapova were the two most searched athletes on Yahoo! in 2012. I am wondering if interest in either centered around golf or tennis!
- The Dallas Cowboys beat out the Yankees as the top searched Sports Teams. Maybe the Cowboys really are America’s team – they are not mine; and neither are the Yankees!! Does that make me anti-American?
- You are an NFL GM and could pick one player for your franchise QB from these two – Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III. Who would you pick?
- Doesn’t it seem like 50% of all major college football teams play a bowl game?
- Can you admit that you really love the song, Gangnam Style? Listen to it and try to stay still and not smile. Bet you can’t!!
NFL PICKS FOR THIS WEEK
(Last week – 11-5) (64-36 for the season – 64%)
- DENVER
- WASHINGTON
- CLEVELAND
- PITTSBURGH
- INDIANAPOLIS
- JACKSONVILLE
- CHICAGO
- ATLANTA
- TAMPA BAY
- BUFFALO
- CINCINNATI
- SAN FRANCISCO
- GIANTS
- SEATTLE
- GREEN BAY
- NEW ENGLAND
