A record breaking event for Rainbow Connection

During the telethon celebrating 75 years as Tuscarawas County’s local health charity, the Tuscarawas Society for Children & Adults, better known as Rainbow Connection, broke its fundraising record, raising more than $352,000 to help the area’s disabled and disadvantaged individuals and the schools and organizations that serve them.

“Last year we broke our record, not only of fundraising, but also of assistance,” Rainbow Connection Executive Director Perci Garner said. “Because of this and also because we are celebrating 75 years, we asked more of our community, and they delivered in a big way. In the five years since I’ve been with Rainbow Connection, our telethon has continued to evolve. But one thing always remains the same: Every dollar raised through our telethon and auction exclusively supports those requesting assistance from our organization.”

The five-hour fundraiser hosted Sunday, March 9 at Tuscarawas Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School featured many community guests and organizations including the following:

—Allison Hoffman and Julie Adelman from ECOESC, discussing the Tuscarawas County Lending Library for Related Service Providers. Rainbow Connection assisted in the creation of this library of medical equipment and assistive and sensory devices available to all Tuscarawas County schools.

—Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital Maternity Department manager and lactation consultant Lauren Smith, who discussed Rainbow Connection’s donation of rainbow swaddles for their Safe Sleep program.

—The winners of the organization’s Telethon Art Contest: grand prize winner Denisse Ajanel-Cox, a fifth-grader at Dover Avenue; Sophia Cronebaugh, ninth grade, Tuscarawas Central Catholic; Alonna Allan, 10th grade, Indian Valley; Olivia Coolman, ninth grade, Tuscarawas Central Catholic; Kenley Hayes, 11th grade, Newcomerstown; Adelin Mendoza, third grade, Dover; Jaxson McIlvaine, fourth grade, Dover; Kaiden Knopf, fourth grade, Dover; and Peyton Huff, fourth grade, Dover. Winner Araceli Herrera Garcia, fifth grade, Dover, was not able to attend.

—Kenley Hayes, who delivered the donation from Newcomerstown Schools.

—TuscBDD Executive Administrative Director Lisa Sidoti, who spoke about the Starlight School’s playground project that Rainbow Connection and other local agencies assisted with funding.

—Dover City School students Sophie Hammerstrom, Kaiya Mullet, Nina Spradling and Josephine Lutze, who made bracelets for guests and delivered the elementary school’s donation along with their friend Emmalynn Yates, who attends New Philadelphia City Schools.

—A video with Uhrichsville’s Ashtyn and Ann Walker detailing Rainbow Connection’s assistance with Ashtyn’s surgical bill to correct her idiopathic condylar resorption.

—Dover’s Scott Cecil, who is studying to become a mechanical engineer at Kent State Tuscarawas and spoke about the off-road wheelchair he received from Rainbow Connection thanks to a donation from Humble Vending.

—Thank-you messages from members of Rainbow Connection’s casework aired.

—An In Memorial video for individuals who request donations be made to Rainbow Connection in lieu of flowers in their obituaries, as well as special tributes to longtime Rainbow Connection supporters Pat Walkosak, Jack Fitzgerald and Bob Sensel.

—Rainbow Connection board member Chona Kinsey and Baker Florist’s Dalene Baker, who delivered more than $14,000 raised by area restaurants and bars through the sale of Rainbow cards.

—Students from New Philadelphia Central Elementary School’s fifth grade who compete each year to raise funds supporting Rainbow Connection.

—TCC Elementary School students and their teacher Jade Kilpatrick, who delivered their donation.

—A pie-in-the-face with New Philadelphia’s Rebekka Houze and Ricky Neff, Claymont’s Andrew Zimmerman, and TCC’s Jade Kilpatrick.

“Our schools continue to show up for us, and we cannot thank them enough for the support they show to our organization and to those we help,” Garner said.

Garner said they are continuing to receive donations raised by Tuscarawas County schools. Rainbow Connection holds an online auction each year in tandem with its telethon. In addition to featuring 80 items donated by local individuals and businesses, the auction also included seven Rainbow items.

“These items detail the work we do and let members of our community know the cost of health care expenses faced by their neighbors,” Garner said. “Most people don’t know that a hearing aid can cost $3,000 or that a communication device for a nonverbal student costs $4,000. Most of our donors and auction bidders are not able to make a contribution of that large amount, but we like to show them examples of how each dollar raised through the telethon and auction adds up for our casework.”

In addition to Garner, the event was hosted by WJER’s Michelle Spring and Amy Smith, Dover Exchange Club’s Shane Gunnoe, Tusco MFG’s Mike Lauber, Wendy’s Chris Lane, Tango & Gatti’s Aaron Tango, Simpson Salute’s Steve VanHorn, and McInturf Realty’s Jan McInturf. Former Executive Director Carmel Haueter closed out the show with Garner.

Visit www.tuscrainbow.org.