I’M VICKI DORTCH. AND I’M JAY CARDOSI. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING US INTO YOUR HOME TONIGHT FOR OUR ANNUAL WEDNESDAY’S CHILD ADOPT A THON SPECIAL FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES. W-L-K-Y AND WEDNESDAY’S CHILD HAVE WORKED TO BRING FOSTER CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TOGETHER WHILE HELPING KIDS LIVE FULLER LIVES. WHILE IN FOSTER CARE. NOW, TONIGHT, W-L-K-Y HAS DONATED THIS COMMERCIAL FREE HOUR, AND WE ASK YOU TO JOIN US IN OUR MISSION TO FIND LOVING HOMES FOR THE KIDS IN KENTUCKY. THE PHONES HAVE BEEN PRETTY MUCH OPEN ALL DAY AND THE LINES WILL BE OPEN FOR THE NEXT HOUR UNTIL 8:00 TONIGHT. THE NUMBER TO CALL, 893 THREE 3232. I’M GOING TO SAY THAT A LOT. 893 3232 THERE ARE FOUR WAYS TO DONATE BY CREDIT CARD WHEN YOU CALL OUR PHONE BANK RIGHT NOW ONLINE AT WEDNESDAY’S CHILD.COM. YOU CAN ALSO TEXT ADOPT KY TO 44321 OR MAIL A CHECK TO WEDNESDAY’S CHILD INC PO BOX. 34428. LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY. 40232. NOW ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IS RUNNING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN AND WE ALSO HAVE A QR CODE UP THERE ON THE SCREEN ON THE LOWER RIGHT OF THE SCREEN. JUST GET OUT YOUR SMARTPHONE, OPEN THE CAMERA AND SCAN THAT CODE. IT’LL TAKE YOU RIGHT TO THE DONATION PAGE. OR AGAIN, YOU CAN JUST CALL IN RIGHT NOW. PLEASE CALL IN 30 TO 32. THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE BEHIND US, THEY’RE GOING TO BE TAKING YOUR PHONE CALLS. AND AGAIN, WE’RE GOING TO MAKE THIS A VERY SPECIAL EVENING FOR ALL THE CHILDREN HERE IN KENTUCKY. WE’RE GOING TO INTRODUCE THE PANEL TO YOU. I’M GOING TO START OFF WITH THE BOTTOM ROW HERE. THIS LADY, SHE NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION ACTION. LIZ EVERMAN, 43 YEARS. YEAH, IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME. IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE. IT REALLY IS. WE’LL BE TALKING THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE NEXT HOUR OR SO. THEN WE ALSO HAVE MISTER NICK MARSHALL, LONGTIME WEDNESDAY’S CHILD VOLUNTEER. YOU SHOULD SEE ALL I’VE GOT ON YOU. WE’RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THROUGHOUT THE COURSE. BUT ALSO AS WE MOVE TO MY RIGHT, WE THE FIRST LADY OF LOUISVILLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. FIRST TIME RIGHT OUT. EXCELLENT. WE HAVE WIFE OF MAYOR CRAIG GREENBERG, MISS RACHEL GREENBERG. SO THANK YOU. AND THIS GUY NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION. WE HAVE COUNTRY MUSIC STAR FROM TAYLORSVILLE. WE HAVE JD SHELBURNE AND JD IS GOING TO BE PERFORMING. I THINK SO MAYBE A COUPLE OF TUNES TWIST HIS ARM JUST A LITTLE BIT. DO YOU THINK HE’LL LET ME JOIN IN? NO. LET’S HOPE HE DOESN’T. PLEASE, JD SAY NO. ON THE BACK ROW WE HAVE DARREN WEBB CURRENTLY AT JEFFERSON COUNTY FAMILY COURT JUDGE, A FORMER U OF L BASKETBALL PLAYER. HE PLAYED FOR COACH CRUM, OF COURSE, IN THE 90S. THANKS, DARREN, FOR BEING WITH US. VALERIE COMBS PLAYED FOR U OF L WOMEN’S BASKETBALL FROM 1977 TO 81. VALERIE IS NOW THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR DIVERSITY AND ENGAGEMENT AT U OF L. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US. WE APPRECIATE IT. AND OF COURSE, THERE’S CHINA, CHINA LACY, HE’S A FOUNDING MEMBER OF LOUISVILLE’S OWN LINCOLN BRIDGE, A LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF WEDNESDAYS. CHILD, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US AGAIN. AND THE ONLY GUY ON THE PHONE RIGHT NOW IS SPORTS DIRECTOR FRED COWGILL. HE IS DOING AN IMPORTANT JOB TAKING A PLEDGE RIGHT NOW. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT. PLEASE GIVE US A CALL 893 3232. LET’S GET THESE PHONES RINGING. YEAH, LET’S GET THEM GOING. LET’S GET THEM GOING. YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT. HEY, CHRISTINA MORA IS THE SPOKESPERSON FOR WEDNESDAY’S CHILD. AND TONIGHT, SHE’S HERE TO SHARE THE STORIES OF KENTUCKY CHILDREN AND FOSTER CARE RIGHT NOW AND TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION TO FAMILIES THINKING ABOUT TAKING A FOSTER CHILD INTO THEIR HOMES. CHRISTINA YEAH. FRED WAS THE ONLY ONE ON THE PHONE. AND THEN I FINALLY HEARD ONE OTHER PHONE CALL. SO WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO CALL, MORE PEOPLE TO DONATE TONIGHT. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. AS ALWAYS, I AM HONORED TO BE HERE REPRESENTING WEDNESDAY’S CHILD AND HELPING TO GIVE A VOICE TO THE THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN IN KENTUCKY RIGHT NOW WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE. WE, OF COURSE, STRIVE TO CONNECT KIDS WITH QUALITY ADOPTIVE FAMILIES. WE’RE ALSO HIGHLIGHTING TONIGHT THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO STEP UP AND BECOME FOSTER PARENTS OR RESPITE CARE PROVIDERS. IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT FOSTER CARE, WE HAVE EXPERTS WITH THE STATE TAKING YOUR CALLS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THAT’S A DIFFERENT NUMBER FROM OUR DONATION LINE. IT’S. 502 8914877. AND THAT’S IF YOU WANT INFORMATION ABOUT BECOMING A FOSTER PARENT OR WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BECOME A RESPITE CARE PROVIDER, WHICH IS VERY HELPFUL FOR THE FOSTER CARE COMMUNITY. SPEAKING OF THAT DONATION LINE, I WANT TO HEAR MORE. OH, OKAY. I DO HEAR MORE PHONES RINGING. VICKI J. HOW’S IT GOING? THE PHONES ARE. YEAH, THEY’RE RINGING JUST A LITTLE BIT. WE HAVE SOME PLEDGES, SOME DONATIONS TO ALREADY TALK ABOUT. A $100 COMES IN FROM GEORGIA. HERBERT OF LOUISVILLE, GEORGIA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE MARVIN PAYNE. MARVIN PAYNE FROM LOUISVILLE, A $30 DONATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MARVIN. JEAN KING OF LOUISVILLE ALSO PLEDGES $100 FROM LOUISVILLE. DONNIE DEJESUS FROM LOUISVILLE PLEDGES $10. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND LOOK AT THIS, $500 PLEDGE FROM BONNIE TRUAX. BONNIE’S FROM LOUISVILLE. BONNIE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I HAVE RAMONT HALSELL FROM LOUISVILLE, A $15 PLEDGE. SO, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN’T MATTER IF IT’S $0.50, $500, ANY LITTLE. WE LIKE IT. DAVE CARROLL, $10 FROM LOUISVILLE. THANK YOU, DAVE. ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY IS CERTAINLY APPRECIATED. ABSOLUTELY. I DO WANT TO TALK TO THIS LOVELY LADY BEHIND ME. SHE’S ON THE PHONE RIGHT NOW. LIZ EVERMAN. SHE HAS BEEN WITH US 43 YEARS SINCE THE INCEPTION. REALLY, VICKI? AND NOW THE PHONES AGAIN, THE PHONE LINES ARE STARTING TO HEAT UP. LET’S TALK TO FRED. FRED WAS THE FIRST ONE ON THE PHONE. YOU BINGO. YOU WON. I YEAH, I MEAN, I’M NOT SURE WHY. I MEAN, NOT EIGHT. ONE OUT OF EIGHT GO TO THE RACETRACK RIGHT NOW. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US AT W-L-K-Y TO BE A PART OF WEDNESDAY’S CHILD. WHY ARE YOU ON THE PHONE BANK TONIGHT? WELL, I WAS INVITED, WHICH IS A REAL PRIVILEGE. I MEAN, THIS HAS BEEN 38 YEARS. YOU’RE RIGHT WITH ME. I KNOW. AND WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE COME AND GO ALONG THE WAY IN A POSITIVE WAY. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO’VE REALLY TRIED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND THAT’S REALLY WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT, ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR TO HEAR THERE ARE 8000 KIDS THAT NEED TO BE ADOPTED AND THAT START BREAKING UP. I MEAN, IT’S A TOUGH GIG AND WE’VE BEEN LUCKY, YOU AND I, ALONG THE WAY. SO YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN MAKE ANOTHER PERSON’S DAY BETTER, IF YOU CAN HELP A KID DO SOMETHING BETTER OR GET SOMETHING BETTER, ESPECIALLY AT CHRISTMAS, I MEAN, WHY NOT GIVE US A CALL? 893 3232 LET’S GO OVER TO CHRISTINA. ALL RIGHT, YOU GUYS, WHENEVER I MEET ANOTHER FOSTER OR ADOPTIVE MOM, I FEEL LIKE SOMEHOW WE’RE KINDRED SPIRITS BECAUSE WE’VE BEEN THROUGH IT AND OUR KIDS HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT. SO THIS IS AINSLEY JONES. SHE IS A FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE MAMA. OF SIX, FOUR, 4 OR 6. I MEAN, ONCE YOU REACH A CERTAIN POINT, TALK TO ME ABOUT YOUR FAMILY. WHAT? WHAT LED YOU TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT? I GET ASKED THIS A LOT AND I DON’T HAVE A SPECIFIC REASON. I BECAME A FOSTER PARENT. I’VE JUST ALWAYS HAD A CALLING. I LOVE KIDS. I’M A TEACHER AS WELL. AND SO IT’S JUST KIND OF ALWAYS BEEN ON MY HEART. AND WHEN I MET MY HUSBAND AND HE WAS LIKE, YEAH, I’M FOR IT, WE JUST KIND OF DECIDED TO DIVE IN LITERALLY THE MONTH AFTER WE GOT MARRIED AND SO WE’VE JUST BEEN KIND OF ALL IN FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. AND SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO REITERATE TO PEOPLE AT HOME. OH, I JUST SAW SOME CUTE PICTURES OF YOU GUYS. IT’S HARD AND YOU HAVE TO WORK THROUGH A LOT OF THINGS. IS THAT PERHAPS A BIOLOGICAL FAMILY MIGHT NOT HAVE TO WORK THROUGH WHAT IS THAT LIKE? AND IT’S DEFINITELY WORTH THE WORK, RIGHT? YES. SO SOMETHING WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IS TRYING TO JUST BE TRAUMA INFORMED AND UNDERSTANDING OUR KIDS. I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE IT’S SOME OF THE HARDEST THINGS I’VE DONE. IT’S TAKEN ME TO COURTROOMS AND CRYING MY EYES OUT TO HOSPITALS, TELLING ME MY KIDS WILL NEVER THRIVE. HOWEVER, IT’S ALSO SO BEAUTIFUL TO PROVE EVERYONE WRONG, WRONG AND BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE YOU WERE CRYING WITH IN THE COURTROOMS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF MY MY KIDS THAT ARE ADOPTED, WE WORK THROUGH THINGS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THE DAY YOU ADOPT THEM, THINGS DON’T JUST TURN OFF. YOU DON’T JUST BECOME JUST MAGICALLY BETTER. YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE THAT TRAUMA AND THOSE TRIGGERS THERE. BUT YOU ARE GIVING THAT CHILD A FOREVER AND BEING ABLE TO SAY, I’M HERE WITH YOU NO MATTER WHAT. YOU GO THROUGH. AND SO JUST LEARNING EVERY DAY, WHICH WE DO AND I’M NOT A PERFECT PARENT AND I DON’T THINK ANY ADOPTED PARENT IS AND WE JUST LEARN EVERY DAY TO KIND OF GROW WITH OUR CHILD AND HELP THEM BE WHATEVER THEY WANT TO BE. AND FOR PEOPLE AT HOME, TRAUMA INFORMED IS A IS HUGE FOR US. IF YOU DO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT OR GO THROUGH THE TRAINING OF OF ADOPTING TRAUMA INFORMED IS SOMETHING THAT THEY REALLY FOCUS ON. SO I’M REALLY GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. I KNOW YOU’VE GOT FOUR KIDDOS AT HOME TRYING TO GET TO BED, SO WE WANT TO THANK AINSLEY FOR COMING IN AND CHATTING WITH US TONIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, CHRISTINA. AND AS YOU KNOW, EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE LOST LEGENDARY U OF L MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH DENNY CRUM. COACH CRUM HAD BEEN SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF ADOPTED THON OVER THE YEARS. WE WANTED TO HONOR HIS CONTRIBUTION. YEAH, WE GATHERED SOME OF OUR FAVORITE MEMORIES. HIS OF DENNY CRUM AT THE ADOPT A THON OVER THE YEARS. RICK VAN HOOSE HAS A LOOK BACK DENNY CRUM WAS MORE THAN A HALL OF FAME COACH. HE WAS A HALL OF FAME HUMAN BEING WHO UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING BACK. WHETHER THROUGH WEDNESDAY’S CHILD OR ANY NUMBER OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS HE SUPPORTED THROUGH THE YEARS. IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE PASSED ALONG TO HIS PLAYERS BACK. ONE OF THE THINGS COACH CRUM TAUGHT ALL OF US PLAYERS, YOU GOT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. AND AND THIS IS ONE WAY WE CAN DO THAT. AND IT’S FOR SUCH A GREAT CAUSE. AND AND DENNY, ALWAYS BEING THE COMPETITOR, CHAMPIONED THE U OF L UK CHALLENGE DURING THE ADOPT A THON, ENCOURAGING CARDS FANS TO OUT PLEDGE CAT FANS AND SOMETIMES EVEN TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER TO MAKE SURE THE CARDS CAME OUT ON TOP. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ANSWERING THE U OF L CHALLENGE TONIGHT. WE’VE GOT A BUNCH OF $50 PLEDGES COMING IN HERE. GOOD. I’LL PLEDGE 505 FIVE. YOU HEARD IT THERE. THAT’S. THAT’S THE BACK PART OF THOSE $50 PLEDGES. WE’LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM. THAT IS AMAZING. THANK YOU, DENNY. BUT AS MUCH AS HE GAVE BACK, COACH CRUM WAS AS HUMBLE AS CAN BE WHEN HE WAS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS GENEROSITY AND COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. DENNY, YOU HAVE BEEN JUST A PILLAR IN THIS COMMUNITY. YOU WON A BELL AWARD OR EARNED A BELL AWARD THIS YEAR. HOW MUCH DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU? I WAS LOOKING AT THE PICTURES THEY SENT ME FROM HERE THIS MORNING AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT JUST IT’S. IT’S NOT SOMETHING YOU LOOK DOWN THE ROAD AT AND SAY, I WANT TO DO THIS. I WANT TO GET A BELL AWARD. I MEAN, IT JUST I WAS SHOCKED AND SURPRISED AND HAPPY. OF COURSE, WE LOVED HAVING DENNY HERE WITH US THROUGH THE YEARS. WE SHARE GOOD FELLOWSHIP AND A FEW GOOD LAUGHS. WE WILL NEVER FORGET THE TIME. COACH BECAME LINKED WITH LINCOLN BRIDGE. ME AND MY DRUM BUDDY. OH, BUM, BUM, BUM BUM BUM. YEAH. YOU OWN IT, RIGHT? WHAT’S YOUR NAME? YEAH, I SUPPORT IT. DIDN’T IT SOUNDED GREAT, GUYS, BECAUSE COACH CRUM WAS IN THE BACKGROUND WITH YOU. THAT’S RIGHT. HE WAS COACHING US. HE BROUGHT IT HOME AND HE BROUGHT IT HOME STRONG. BUT EVEN WHEN THE PANDEMIC KEPT THE CRUMBS AND ALL OF OUR OTHER GUESTS FROM APPEARING ON THE ADOPT A THON IN PERSON, DENNY STILL SHOWED HIS SUPPORT BY SENDING IN A VIDEO. YEAH, WE HAVE TO KEEP WEDNESDAY’S CHILD GOING. THERE ARE OVER 10,000 CHILDREN. THANK YOU, COACH CRUM, FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR WEDNESDAY’S CHILD. DO COME TO YOU SOMEDAY. I WISH UPON A STAR RIGHT? GREAT. YEAH. IT LOOKS LIKE I’M COACH CRUM. I’M VERY SPECIAL MAN TO THIS COMMUNITY, TO W-L-K-Y AND TO PARTICULARLY TO WEDNESDAY’S CHILD. HIS WIDOW. SUSAN’S HERE WITH US, HIS LONGTIME, UM, FRIEND AND PLAYER, ROGER BERKMAN WITH US. YOU GUYS SAID WHEN WE WERE WATCHING THAT THAT HE’S THE REASON THAT YOU’RE BOTH INVOLVED IN THE ADOPT A THON AS WELL. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. MICKEY WITHOUT COACH, I WOULDN’T BE HERE. BUT HE INTRODUCED ME AND A LOT OF FORMER PLAYERS TO WEDNESDAY’S CHILD, 30, 40 YEARS AGO. AND IT’S AN ORGANIZATION WHICH I’M NOW ON THE BOARD AND SERVE AND AND EXCITED TO BE ON THE BOARD ALONG WITH SUSAN OKAY. AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE’RE DOING THERE. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS, THAT ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WATCHING, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WE LOVE THE SUPPORT. PLEASE PICK UP THAT PHONE AND MAKE THAT CALL. YOU’RE THERE FOR A REASON AND WE NEED YOU. WE NEED YOUR HELP. SO CERTAINLY DO. WHAT HAPPENED HERE? OH, HAD A LITTLE ELBOW SURGERY ON FRIDAY, AS YOU WELL KNOW. I’M NORMALLY BACK HERE TAKING CALLS AND. AND IT’S KIND OF HARD TO WRITE RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW, MY SON, HE’S HE’S A STUDENT. WE’LL TALK. OKAY? WE’LL TALK. I NEED SOME TEA RIGHT NOW. HEY, SUSAN, I KNOW YOU’RE A LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER, SO WE’LL MAKE THIS SHORT AND SWEET, BUT AS VICKI ALLUDED TO, DENNY, HE WAS SO INVOLVED NOT ONLY AT U OF L, BUT THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY. HE ALWAYS HAD A SMILE ON HIS FACE. HE WENT TO ALL THESE EVENTS. IT SEEMED LIKE EACH AND EVERY DAY. HOW DID HE DO IT? YEAH, HE JUST WAS IMPORTANT TO HIM. HORSE ALLERGIES. OHIO VALLEY. BUT HE JUST LOVED THE COMMUNITY AND HE LOVED DOING WHATEVER HE COULD TO HELP TO BE JUST HOLDING YOUR FLOWERS I’M SUPPOSED TO GIVE YOU. BUT I THINK I WAS. I DON’T. THEY DIDN’T GIVE ME ANYTHING TO GIVE YOU. ROGER. SORRY. JUST GIVE YOU A HUG. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BOTH OF YOU, FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. WHY WAS THE ADOPT A THON IMPORTANT TO DENNY? WHY DID HE GET INVOLVED IN THIS? YOU KNOW, HE JUST BECAUSE HE LOVES KIDS AND HE WANTS TO SEE THESE CHILDREN HAVE A HOME. I MEAN, HE GREW UP WITH SIBLINGS. I HAD A BUNCH OF SIBLINGS, AND WE KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE. AND HE WANTS HE WANTED THESE KIDS TO HAVE THAT HOME ALSO. AND HE WANTED TO SING A LOT TO RIGHT. WITH. WELL, WE APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU STILL BEING INVOLVED WITH THE PROGRAM. REAL QUICK, I WANT YOU KNOW, AS YOU ALL KNOW, ANYBODY WHO KNOWS COACH, HE WAS A COMPETITOR. YEAH. I MEAN, NO MATTER WHAT, WE COULD BE PLAYING SHOOT AROUND OR PING PONG. SO I WANT TO THROW OUT A CHALLENGE TO ESPECIALLY ALL THE U OF L FANS THAT ARE OUT THERE. PICK UP THAT PHONE AND CALL IN HERE AND LET’S GET IT GOING. ALL UK FANS OUT THERE BRING IT ON. ALL RIGHT, U OF L FANS, LET’S SHOW THEM WHO’S THE BOSS. ALL RIGHT, LET’S MAKE SOME MONEY. LET’S MAKE SOME MONEY TONIGHT. THAT’S WHAT WE’RE ALL ABOUT. GETTING YOUR DONATIONS. THANK YOU, GUYS, FOR. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH. LET’S SEND IT BACK NOW TO CHRISTINA. YEAH, LOVE A GOOD RIVALRY. IT’S ACTUALLY GETTING LOUD IN HERE. I THINK THAT’S BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THE PHONE TAKING DONATIONS AND TODAY IS ALL ABOUT FUNDRAISING. AND SO WE HAVE AETNA HERE WITH US. KELLY POLAND AND AETNA IS A BIG PART OF FOSTER CARE, IN CASE YOU DON’T KNOW, AT HOME. AETNA, ABOUT WHAT, THREE YEARS AGO TOOK OVER ALL OF THE MEDICAL NEEDS FOR KIDDOS WHO ARE IN THE SYSTEM. AND WE’RE WRAPPING UP THE THIRD YEAR. SO HOW HOW IS IT GOING? IT’S AMAZING. WE ARE SO, SO GRATEFUL AND HONORED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS SUPPORT TO THE KIDS. WE’RE IN OUR THIRD YEAR AND WE ARE SO EXCITED TO CELEBRATE ALL OF THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES THAT WE HAVE. WE KNOW THERE’S ALWAYS WORK TO DO RIGHT WHEN KIDS ARE IN OUT OF HOME CARE, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY MILESTONES THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE WITH OUR KIDS AND JUST ENSURING THEY GET THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED AS WELL AS THEIR CAREGIVERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR SURE. AND TO CELEBRATE THOSE SMALL THINGS. BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE IN FOSTER CARE, IT’S NOT A GOOD SITUATION. SO WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE CARING ABOUT YOU, CHECKING IN ON YOU, CALLING YOU, MAKING SURE YOU’RE GETTING THOSE DENTIST APPOINTMENTS, AS YOU SAID, DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS, ALL OF THAT IS VERY POSITIVE. YOU I THINK I NOTICED YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR HAND. I DON’T KNOW IF I DON’T KNOW IF YOU ALL SAW AT HOME, SHOULD WE DO THE BIG REVEAL? WE SHOULD. I FEEL SO AWKWARD. THE CHECK IS ALMOST BIGGER THAN CHRISTINA AND I, BUT WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DONATE $15,000 TO WEDNESDAY’S CHILD. WE HAVE JUST BEEN SUCH PROUD SUPPORTERS OF THE WORK THAT WEDNESDAY’S CHILD DOES. IT IS SO CRITICAL ALL TO HELP THE KIDS IN CARE, HELP THEIR FAMILIES AND PROVIDE THINGS LIKE FIELD TRIPS, PRESS PRESENTS AT CHRISTMAS CAMP, SUPPORT DURING THE SUMMER. WE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU ALL, SO WE’RE SO GRATEFUL TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT’S BEING DONE HERE AND WE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU ALL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO GENEROUS, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE AETNA. AND I THINK WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS OVER HERE WITH VICKI AND JAY. ALL RIGHT, CHRISTINA, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. HEY, ANOTHER SPECIAL GUEST JOINING US RIGHT NOW. WE TORE HIM AWAY FROM THE PHONE BANK FOR JUST A SECOND. J.D. SHELBURNE IN THE STUDIO. YOU’RE USUALLY RECORDED WITH US. IT’S GREAT TO HAVE YOU IN THE STUDIO WITH US THIS YEAR. RICK VAN HOOSE GAVE ME THE NIGHT OFF, SO THANKS, RICK. IT’S GOOD TO BE HERE. I’VE BEEN A PART OF THIS EVERY YEAR, BUT ALWAYS LAUGH FROM MY HOME IN NASHVILLE. SO THIS YEAR I MADE THE DRIVE UP AND, YOU KNOW, EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS. WE’RE CERTAINLY THRILLED THAT YOU’RE HERE WITH US. THANK YOU. SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO HELP ALL THESE CHILDREN FIND THEIR FOREVER HOME? YOU KNOW, IT’S REALLY SPECIAL. I MEAN, TO BE ABLE TO USE A MUSIC PLATFORM TO REACH A LOT OF I HAVE A LOT OF FANS THAT FOLLOW US AROUND THIS AREA AND, YOU KNOW, ABLE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT I’M DOING THIS. I’M HOPING FANS WILL CALL IN AND DONATE. I HAVE A THREE YEAR OLD SON OF MY OWN NOW. SO. SO YOU’RE NOT BUSY, IS THAT RIGHT? VERY, VERY. YEAH. BUT JUST BEING A PART OF GIVING BACK, THAT’S HOW MY CAREER STARTED. I DISCOVERED GUITAR IN COLLEGE, STARTED PLAYING EVERY CHARITY EVENT I COULD THAT NEEDED HELP AND I STILL DO THAT, YOU KNOW, 20 YEARS LATER. AND JUST TO BE A PART OF THIS WITH KIDS, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, CHRISTMAS TIME, IT’S WHAT KIDS ALL ABOUT. YOU KNOW, KIDS. KIDS LOVE CHRISTMAS TIME. THAT’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT. SO, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO YOU KNOW, I HAD SOMEONE CALL ME EARLIER THAT DIDN’T WANT TO DONATE. I WANTED TO BE A PART OF THE RECIPIENT END. AND THAT KIND OF HIT ME KIND OF HARD. SO, YOU KNOW, HOLIDAY SEASONS GIVING IS ALL ABOUT SO HERE I AM. WELL, YOU’VE BEEN ON THE PHONE BANKS, YOU’VE BEEN TAKING CALLS. SO THAT’S A SPECIAL ONE. WHEN YOU GET ON THE PHONE. YEAH, I GUESS I’M HUMBLED BY THAT. I JUST TALK TO SOMEONE THAT SAW ME IN CONCERT RECENTLY, SO THAT WAS KIND OF COOL. SO I TOLD HIM TO KEEP ON, KEEP ON, KEEP ON SUPPORTING ME. WELL, WE’RE THRILLED YOU’RE HERE AND WE’LL HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN LATER IN THE SHOW, RIGHT? I THINK HE’S SINGING WITH ME. YOU KNOW, I. I DON’T WANT TO PLEDGE MONEY AWAY BY ANY MEANS. WE DO HAVE SOME DONATIONS TO TALK ABOUT. WE HAVE $500 HERE FROM COLETTE HÖFLICH. I DO BELIEVE THAT. COLETTE, I MAY HAVE MESSED UP YOUR LAST NAME FROM BROOKS, KENTUCKY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HEY, HERE’S A NICE ONE. WILLIAM ROBERTSON FROM, UM, CLARKSTON, KENTUCKY. $100. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND $100 FROM RILEY BOOTS. MOM OF TAYLORSVILLE, KENTUCKY. ALL RIGHT. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THE PHONES. WE NEED TO GET THEM GOING. ONCE AGAIN, THEY’RE RINGING A LITTLE BIT, BUT EIGHT, NINE, 330, 230 TO HELP US OUT, FOLKS, WE’RE HERE UNTIL 8:00 TONIGHT. LET’S SEND IT OVER TO CHRISTINA. YES. BRYANT WHEELER IS WITH US. AND HE WAS ACTUALLY HERE WITH US WHEN WE DID A INFORMATION ON PHONE BANK, PROBABLY LESS THAN A MONTH AGO, WHERE PEOPLE CALLED IN TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT BECOMING A FOSTER PARENT. AND ACTUALLY, SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS THE ADOPT A THON AND THEY WANTED TO DONATE. SO I’M SO GLAD THAT WE CAN HAVE THEM DONATE NOW. BUT LET’S TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF, YOU KNOW, THE STATE RIGHT NOW. WE REALLY JUST NEED QUALITY. FOSTER PARENTS. HOW ARE HOW ARE YOU RECRUITING? HOW ARE THE EFFORTS? ABSOLUTELY. WHAT WE FOUND OURSELVES DOING IS WE’RE DOING ALL THE EVENTS AROUND TOWN EVERY FESTIVAL THAT IS OUT THERE, WE ARE HITTING THOSE. WE’VE HIT SOME OF THE CATHOLIC PICNICS, GETTING A TEAM TOGETHER JUST TO GO OUT AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT THE NEED IS, LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY WANT TO BE FULL TIME FOSTER HOMES, WHETHER THEY JUST WANT TO BE A RESPITE HOME. BUT JUST LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPTIONS JUST BASED ON WHAT THEY HAVE TO GIVE AND JUST GETTING THE COMMUNITY MORE INVOLVED. WHEN WE WERE DOING THE INFORMATION PHONE BANK, A WOMAN CALLED AND SHE GOT A HUGE EXCITED ROAR FROM EVERYONE BECAUSE SHE WANTED SHE SAID, OH, I WANT I WANT TEENAGERS. AND WE WERE ALL LIKE, SHE WANTS TEENAGERS. WHY IS THAT SUCH A BIG DEAL? WELL, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE THINK OF FOSTER CARE, YOU KNOW, FOSTERING. THEY THINK OF THE LITTLE BABIES BECAUSE THEY’RE ALL CUTE. BUT REALISTICALLY, ONE OF THE BIGGEST NEEDS WE HAVE ARE WITH OUR OLDER KIDS. SO WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE HOMES THAT ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH THE OLDER KIDS TO JUST JUST TO MAKE THE SYSTEM BETTER. YES. AND AND THE OLDER KIDS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY MIGHT BE YOU WORK WITH THEM. I MEAN, WHAT ARE THEY LIKE? I SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH THE KIDS THAT WE’RE FOSTERING. AND WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND IS WHEN YOU WHEN YOU TREAT THESE KIDS WITH LOVE AND RESPECT, LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THEM. THEY TYPICALLY WILL RECIPROCATE THAT SAME THING BACK TO YOU. YEAH. SO AND GO AHEAD. I’M JUST SAYING. SO THERE’S A CERTAIN KID THAT WE SPEND TIME WITH ON A REGULAR BASIS EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS OR SO. WHEN WE CORRECT HIM ON SOMETHING, IT’S NEVER AN ISSUE BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS THAT CORRECTION. IT’S REALLY COMING FROM A GOOD PLACE, AND THAT’S MOST KIDS. NOW, THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE, WE YOU SAID, GOD, WE NEED FOSTER PARENTS SO BAD IF MORE PEOPLE CALL, I’M GOING TO I’M GOING TO DO THE WORM. SO BUT THEN HE SAID HE CAN’T DO IT IN THESE SLACKS. SO I GOT I GOT MY SLACKS ON TODAY. IF I WAS WEARING MY JEANS AND THOSE LINES LIT UP, I WAS READY TO GO. BUT I HAVE THE SLACKS ON. SO I’M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT TODAY. OKAY. ALWAYS AN EXCUSE. WELL, I THINK WE’RE GOING TO HAVE SOME MUSIC GOING, SO MAYBE, I DON’T KNOW, MAYBE IT’LL HAPPEN. ALL RIGHT. JADE IS IN PLACE NOW, READY TO PERFORM CHRISTMAS CLASSIC. TAKE IT AWAY. OH, THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL, BUT THE FIRE IS SO DELIGHTFUL. AND SINCE WE’VE NO PLACE TO GO, LET IT SNOW. AND IT DOESN’T SHOW SIGNS OF STOPPING. BUT I BROUGHT SOME CORN FOR POPPING THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED AWAY DOWN LOW. LET IT SNOW. WHEN WE FINALLY KISS GOODNIGHT. HOW I HATE GOING OUT IN A STORM. BUT IF YOU REALLY HOLD ME TIGHT ALL THE WAY HOME. I’LL BE WARM WHEN THE FIRE IS SLOWLY DYING. AND MY DEAR, WE’RE STILL GOODBYE. BYE. BUT AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME SO LET IT SNOW. OH. OH, WELL, THE FIRE IS SLOWLY DYING. AND MY DEAR, DEAR, WE’RE STILL. GOODBYE ING. BUT AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME SO LET IT SNOW. YEAH. VERY NICE. THANK YOU, SIR. YES, ABSOLUTELY. JAY AND I WERE OVER HERE DANCING AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS ANSWERING PHONES. LOOK. HEY, JAY, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I TRIED TO GET HER ON CAMERA DANCING AND I WAS STARTING, BUT SHE WOULDN’T FOLLOW. I DIDN’T KNOW THE STEPS. THERE. THE PHONES ARE RINGING THE PHONE. EIGHT, NINE, THREE 3232. WE’RE GOING TO INTERVIEW SOME PEOPLE ON THE PHONE BANK, BUT THEY’RE BUSY, SO LET’S DON’T INTERRUPT THEM. RIGHT. LUCY LIANG DONATES $25 TO US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LUCY. OKAY. GOT A CHALLENGE HERE. OKAY. THE NORTON EMPLOYEES ARE NOT SURE WHO CALLED HIM, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. $100 CHALLENGE. THAT’S ALL RIGHT, RON. AND WILMA. WILMA IS WATCHING RIGHT NOW. SHE PLEDGES $400. WILMA, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PLEDGE. JOE. JOSEPH EWING, $20 PLEDGE. JOSEPH, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. GUY HILL PLEDGES $50. WE HAVE HAVE LET’S SEE, ROSE DOUGLAS ROSE DOUGLAS FROM LOUISVILLE, A $50 PLEDGE AND $50 PLEDGE FROM STEVE AND ANGELA COOK. THE PHONES ARE RINGING. EVERYBODY’S BUSY. WE LIKE THAT. ALL RIGHT, CHRISTINA, WE’RE SENDING IT TO YOU. WE’RE BUSY OVER HERE. YEAH, GUYS, ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF MY JOB IS I GET TO INTERVIEW THESE KIDDOS WHO ARE IN NEED OF A FOREVER FAMILY. SEE, EVERY TIME I INTERVIEW ONE OF THEM, I GO HOME. I TELL MY FAMILY ALL ABOUT THEM. I’M LIKE, THIS INTERVIEW WAS SO GOOD. WELL, JOSE WAS ONE OF THOSE. HE WAS HONEST AND THAT’S WHAT I LIKED ABOUT HIM. HE WAS VERY HONEST ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE IN FOSTER CARE. HE ARTICULATED IT VERY WELL. HE HOPES AN ADOPTIVE FAMILY WILL PROVIDE HIM WITH GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT AT JOSE HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS, BUT THE HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE TRIES TO MAKE THE BEST OF BEING IN FOSTER CARE. YOU MEET NEW PEOPLE EVERY DAY AND LIKE YOU MEET FRIENDS, FAMILY, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU’RE GOING TO MEET AGAIN AND ALL THAT. THE 15 YEAR OLD LIKES OLD SCHOOL RAP. HE KNOWS THREE LANGUAGES AND HE WANTS TO BE A TATTOO ARTIST WHEN HE’S OLDER. HE SAYS, TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF HIS PAST WHILE HOPING FOR A BETTER FUTURE, FEELS LIKE A BALANCING ACT. I WORK AT MY ANGER. I WORK ON MY DEPRESSION. I WORK ON OTHER STUFF. WHILE JOSE DOES WANT TO BE ADOPTED, HE SAYS THE IDEA CAN SOMETIMES MAKE HIM FEEL LIKE HE’S BETRAYING HIS BIOLOGICAL FAMILY. OUR PARENTS ARE GOING TO BE MAD AT US OR OUR SIBLINGS GOING TO BE MAD AT US. JOSE’S SOCIAL WORKERS SAY HE WOULD DO BEST IN A FAMILY SETTING. HE IS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC HE’LL FIND THE RIGHT FIT, EVEN THOUGH LIKE EVEN THOUGH LIKE LIFE IS GOOD SOMETIMES THERE’S BAD. SOMETIMES YOU MAY FEEL LIKE YOU DIED. DEATH DEAD, BUT SOMETIMES YOU FEEL ALIVE. GUESS HE JOINS US NOW. JUDGE HERE COMES THE JUDGE, DARREN WEBB’S WITH US, FORMER U OF L PLAYER. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US. YOU ALWAYS COME OUT TO SUPPORT WEDNESDAY’S CHILD ADOPT A THON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT’S AN HONOR TO BE HERE. I’M AN ADOPTIVE DAD MYSELF, SO I REALLY ENJOY PARTICIPATING IN THINGS LIKE THIS. AND BY THE WAY, JUDGE WEBB IS NOT SUPER TALL. I’M JUST SUPER SHORT. JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT. DON’T KNOW ABOUT THAT. WHAT DOES THIS EVENT MEAN TO YOU? IT MEANS A LOT BECAUSE IT GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A CHILD TO FIND A FOREVER HOME. IT’S SOMETHING WE DO AS A FAMILY COURT JUDGE AND OUR FAMILY COURT TERM TAKES PRIDE IN MAKING SURE THAT KIDS HAVE FOREVER HOMES AND DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS JUST CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT. ABSOLUTELY. IT DOES. YOU’VE BEEN TAKING A LOT OF PLEDGES BACK THERE. I HAVE. IT’S BEEN GREAT TO HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THEIR STORIES, TALK ABOUT WHY THEY WANT TO DO THIS, TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY CAN GIVE, WISH THEY COULD GIVE MORE. SO EVERYONE IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF PROGRAMS LIKE THIS. WE’LL LET YOU GET BACK TO THE PHONES, ANSWER THE PHONES. RIGHT. WE HAVE SOME PLEDGES TO TALK ABOUT, LARRY. WINNING IS $50. PLEDGE FROM LOUISVILLE. I HAVE DAVID AND SHIRLEY WILLIAMS FROM LOUISVILLE, A $50 PLEDGE AND $20 FROM LADONNA STIVERS. PLEASE GIVE OUR PHONE BANKS THE CALL. THE PEOPLE ARE ON THERE. WE’VE GOT THE TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ON THE PHONE. THREE RIGHT NOW. SO THE PHONES ARE OPEN RIGHT NOW. WE’RE GOING TO SEND IT OVER TO CHRISTINA AND WE’LL HAVE SOME MORE PLEDGES FOR YOU IN JUST A SECOND. SHE’S TAKING SOME MONEY. THAT’S IMPORTANT. I KNOW. I HATE TO IT’S IT’S WEIRD TO SAY IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY, YOU KNOW? WELL, THAT’S HOW WE CAN HELP THESE KIDS AND KOSAIR FOR KIDS. YOU GUYS WERE OUR SHINING STAR THIS YEAR, SO WE HONORED YOU EARLIER THIS YEAR FOR REALLY HELPING OUT WEDNESDAY’S CHILD. YOU GUYS, I FEEL LIKE DO SO MUCH BEHIND THE SCENES THAT NOT EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT IT. BUT YOU DO SO MUCH FOR KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. TALK TO ME ABOUT WHY YOU WANTED TO BE INVOLVED WITH US. WE’VE BEEN DOING IT FOR 100 YEARS AND THAT’S, YOU KNOW, WEDNESDAY’S CHILD IS ALL ABOUT KIDS. SO ARE WE. AND WE’RE JUST SO THANKFUL TO PARTNER AND SUPPORT THIS ORGANIZATION AND MANY, MANY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT KENTUCKY AND SOUTHERN INDIANA. SO THAT’S THAT’S WHAT WE LOVE TO DO. AND WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE HEAR THE NAME KOSAIR FOR KIDS, THEY THINK OF THE MEDICAL BILLS OR THE THERAPY OR THE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT THAT FAMILIES CAN’T AFFORD. OTHERWISE, THEY DON’T REALIZE ALL OF THE RESEARCH, THE EDUCATION, THE SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE CHILD ADVOCACY THAT HAVE GONE INTO MAKING US THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE CHILDREN’S CHARITY IN OUR REGION. AND WE CAN DO THOSE THINGS BECAUSE WE HAVE PARTNERS LIKE YOU IN WEDNESDAY’S CHILD AND THE GREAT FOLKS HERE AT W-L-K-Y AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO HELPING CHILDREN FIND THEIR FOREVER HOMES REALLY HELPS US IN OUR MISSION TO HELP ALL CHILDREN LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST. WE CAN ONLY SPREAD MORE JOY, CARE AND HOPE IF WE HAVE THOSE SOLDIERS BEHIND US. AND WITH US WHO ARE IN THE MISSION, WHO ARE HELPING SPREAD HOPE. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS GOING ON IN OUR SOCIETY, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT A CHILD HAS HOPE. AND WHAT BETTER WAY OF GIVING THEM HOPE THAN A STABLE HOME LIFE, AN OPPORTUNITY AT HAVING A REAL CHANCE BEFORE I BEFORE WE SHOW THIS CHECK, I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT I WAS DOING A STORY AT BELLWOOD BROOKLAWN RECENTLY WHERE THEY SAID THAT KOSAIR FOR KIDS HAD PAID FOR SOMETHING THAT A CHILD REALLY NEEDED, AND IT WAS JUST SO IT WAS JUST SO SPECIAL TO HEAR THAT YOU GUYS WERE HELPING THEM IN THAT WAY. OKAY, LET’S TURN THAT THAT CHECK. OH, WELL, WOW. 7005. I FEEL LIKE I’M ON PRICE OF PRICE IS RIGHT. $7,500. SO GENEROUS, YOU GUYS. THIS MONEY WILL GO SO FAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND WE APPRECIATE OUR FRIENDS HERE AT W-L-K-Y FOR PUTTING ON THIS AMAZING ADOPT A THON EVERY YEAR. AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALL CAN DO SOMETHING. WE CAN ALL DO SOMETHING, EVEN IF YOU DON’T THINK THAT YOUR JOB IS ADOPTING A CHILD OR FOSTERING A CHILD, DON’T. AND VOLUNTEERING, GETTING GET INVOLVED IN A CHILD’S LIFE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IT’S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE’RE GOING TO WE’RE GOING TO ADVANCE OUR MISSION. SO TRUE. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I THINK RIGHT NOW WE’RE GOING TO GO TO 12 YEAR OLD MACKENZIE. SHE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT SHE WANTS IN A FOREVER FAMILY. THE SEVENTH GRADER ULTIMATELY WANTS TO BE IN AN ADOPTIVE HOME THAT MAKES HER HAPPY. IT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER TO ME AS LONG AS IT’S A HAPPY FAMILY. YEAH, IT’S EASY TO SEE. 12 YEAR OLD MACKENZIE LOVES TO HAVE FUN. YOU TRICKED ME ON THAT ONE. SHE CAN BE SILLY AND QUIRKY AND SHE ISN’T SHY ABOUT WHAT SHE WANTS FOR HER FUTURE. I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE LIKE CARING AND LOVING AND ALSO TO LIKE. LIKE BE THE MIDDLE CHILD, BUT NOT TO BE THE OLDEST. TO HAVE, LIKE, SOMEONE YOUNGER SO WE CAN, LIKE, CHAT AND PLAY A LITTLE BIT MORE ACTIVE INSTEAD OF HAVING SOMEBODY OLDER. THAT’S ALWAYS BUSY, MACKENZIE SAYS. JIM IS HER FAVORITE CLASS IN SCHOOL BECAUSE SHE GETS BORED SITTING AT A DESK SHE LOVES SLEEP AND HER FAVORITE FOOD IS AS WELL, A COMBINATION OF THINGS. I LOVE PIZZA AND LASAGNA WITH RANCH. IT’S KIND OF WEIRD, BUT RANCH IS REALLY GOOD. BUT PIZZA AND LASAGNA IS. MACKENZIE HAS NOT LET HER EXPERIENCE IN FOSTER CARE BREAK HER SPIRIT. BUT SHE ADMITS, THOUGH, IT’S NOT EASY. IT’S JUST KIND OF HARD BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING AND YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN LIFE AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO THAT FEELING IS SCARY, RIGHT? YOU DON’T KNOW. YEAH. MACKENZIE’S SOCIAL WORKER SAY SHE’S MORE THAN READY TO MOVE ON FROM FOSTER CARE AND SETTLE INTO A CARING FAMILY. LOUISVILLE’S FIRST LADY, RACHEL GREENBERG, IS WITH US THIS YEAR. RACHEL, FIRST TIME ON THE PHONES HERE AT WEDNESDAY’S CHILD ADOPT A THON. ARE YOU IMPRESSED? IT. I’M EXTREMELY IMPRESSED. EVERYBODY HAS BEEN SO NICE. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY FRIEND WILMA. THANK YOU, WILMA, FOR BEING SO KIND WITH ME. WITH OUR FIRST DONATION. AND IT’S BEEN WONDERFUL. SO THANK YOU. I KNOW IT’S YOUR FIRST TIME HERE, BUT OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW OF THE EVENT. AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO ALL OF US PLAY A ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND AND I THINK IT’S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER HERE AND SAYING, EVEN IF I CAN’T FOSTER OR I CAN’T ADOPT, THEN I CAN GIVE I CAN PLEDGE SOMETHING I CAN GIVE A PART OF MYSELF. SO I’M HAPPY TO BE HERE DOING THAT. AND TO TAKE THE CALLS, IT MEANS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT AT THIS TIME OF YEAR WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN AND I KNOW YOU SAY YOU’RE AN EMPTY NESTER NOW, BUT YOU DO HAVE TWO BOYS. I DO. WE HAVE TWO BOYS AND AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR IS WONDERFUL. WE HAD LIGHT UP LOUISVILLE THIS PAST WEEKEND AND IT WAS PHENOMENAL TO SEE DOWNTOWN. IT WAS SO POSITIVE AND HAPPY AND YOUNG PEOPLE. AND THE TREE LIT UP AND IT’S IT’S A NICE, NICE TIME OF YEAR. I LOVE TO SEE YOUR STUDIO. IT’S LOOKING VERY GOOD. WE I DON’T HAVE ANY DECORATIONS. YEAH. AND WE’RE JUST PAST THE DINNER HOUR AND MAYOR GREENBERG WAS AT HOME. WHAT WAS HE DOING FOR US TONIGHT? COOKING A LITTLE DINNER. HE’S MAKING DINNER TONIGHT. SO, YES, WE’RE WATCHING YOU ANSWER PHONES. HOW THIS WORKS. WE’RE GOING TO SEE HOW THIS WORKS. HI, CRAIG. I HOPE IT’S GOING WELL IN THE KITCHEN. WE’RE GOING TO SEND YOU BACK TO THE PHONE BANK. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE WITH US THIS YEAR. LET’S SEND IT OVER TO CHRISTINA NOW. WE COME BACK. WE HAVE SOME PLEDGES TO READ FOR YOU, CHRISTINA. YEAH, THIS IS AN IMPRESSIVE GROUP. SO THESE GUYS ARE FROM MSD. YOU JUST TOLD ME YOU’VE BEEN SUPPORTING WEDNESDAY’S CHILD FOR 26 YEARS. AND I’M SO IMPRESSED BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE SUCH A A GIVING BACK MENTALITY FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES. YOU HAVE A WHOLE PROGRAM THAT YOU DO FOR I’M NOT EVEN SURE. HOW LONG WERE YOUR EMPLOYEES GIVE BACK AND WEDNESDAYS CHILD IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS. TELL ME ABOUT WHY YOU CONTINUE YEAR AFTER YEAR TO CONTRIBUTE TO US. WELL, MSD IS OUR EMPLOYEES DONATE FROM THEIR HEARTS AND EVERY YEAR WE DO AN MSD CARES CAMPAIGN AND WEDNESDAY’S CHILD IS ONE OF THE FAVORITE NONPROFITS THAT WE DONATE TO. AND OVER THE 26 YEAR PERIOD, I THINK WE HAVE DONATED OVER $1.2 MILLION TO WEDNESDAY’S CHILD. SO WE’RE GLAD TO BE HERE THIS YEAR. AND OUR PROGRAM IS A SIX WEEK PROGRAM THAT WE RUN, AND WE HAVE A TEAM OF FOLKS THAT HELP US INTERNALLY TO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET ALL THE FUNDS WE CAN FOR DIFFERENT CHARITIES. AND IT COMES STRAIGHT FROM OUR EMPLOYEES POCKETS. AND THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR MSD, THAT IT COMES FROM THEIR PAYCHECK AND THEY’RE TAKING IT OUT TO GIVE TO A NONPROFIT. IT’S IT’S VERY IMPRESSIVE. AND YOU SHOULD BE PROUD, VERY PROUD AND REALLY, I’M JUST PROUD OF OUR TEAM. SIR HORN, OUR CHIEF OF EQUITY AND PARTNERSHIPS, TIM MORAN, A CHIEF OF OUR COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND WE JUST WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM. AND, OF COURSE, SARITA DAVIS WORKS WELL WITH US AS WELL. BUT WE HAVE AN ENTIRE TEAM OF FOLKS THAT HELP US WITH THIS FUNDRAISING, AND IT’S FOR THE CHILDREN AND WE BELIEVE IN SUPPORTING THE CHILDREN AND SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION. AND SO WE GIVE FROM OUR HEARTS AND WE REALLY ARE REALLY SO PROUD OF BEING A PARTNER TO WEDNESDAY’S CHILD. OKAY. SO THIS IS A HUGE CHECK. LET’S TURN IT AROUND AND DO THE UNVEILING. $28,000, GUYS. MSD CARES. THANK YOU. ALL SO MUCH. SO GENEROUS. AND OF COURSE, THIS MONEY GOES BACK TO OUR KIDDOS. ONE OF THOSE KIDDOS IS RJ. I GOT TO INTERVIEW HIM IN SEPTEMBER. HE’S ONE OF THOSE KIDS WHO STICKS WITH YOU. AND WHAT’S THE OF COURSE THAT. SOME KIDS MAY PREFER VIRTUAL REALITY, BUT TEN YEAR OLD RJ SAYS HE’S GOOD WITH THE REAL THING. MY LIFE IS ALREADY TOO GREAT BECAUSE I HAVE BECAUSE I CAN TALK TO MY SISTER AND SHE’S THE BEST PERSON ON EARTH I’VE EVER WANTED TO BE WITH. IT’S FOSTER CARE HARD? NOPE. IT’S REALLY EASY AND YOU GET LOTS OF REWARDS. I DON’T THINK I SHOULD REALLY GET THEM BECAUSE THERE’S OTHER PEOPLE IN LIFE, OTHER PEOPLE IN LIFE THAT DESERVE IT. RJ IS ONE OF MORE THAN 8000 KIDS IN KENTUCKY’S CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, BUT THIS THOUGHTFUL AND CLEVER YOUNG MAN SAYS BEING IN FOSTER CARE WON’T STOP HIM FROM BEING THE BEST VERSION OF HIMSELF. HOW WERE YOUR GRADES? A, A. A. B? IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD BE SO PROUD OF MYSELF. ARE YOU REALLY PROUD OF YOURSELF? NO, BECAUSE I CAN IMPROVE. AND PICKING JUST ONE FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL ISN’T EASY WHEN YOU’RE GOOD AT ALL OF THEM. PE MUSIC, ART AND STEM. AJ IS SMART, FUNNY AND NOT AFRAID TO CALL SOMEONE OUT FOR ASKING QUESTIONS THAT ARE TOO SIMILAR. I YOU USE THE MACHINE, THE TEN YEAR OLD ADMITS HE’S STILL GETTING USED TO THE IDEA THAT HIS ORIGINAL FAMILY WON’T BE HIS FOREVER FAMILY SMILE. ONE, TWO, THREE. BUT HE’S READY FOR A FRESH START. GUESS WHO’S WITH US NOW? OUR SPECIAL GUEST IS A FACE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS OUT THERE, LIZ EVERMAN. LIZ, THANKS FOR BEING HERE. AND IT’S SOMETHING THAT YOU STARTED MANY, MANY YEARS AGO. WHY DID YOU FIND A NEED TO HELP FOSTER CHILDREN IN IN KENTUCKY WHEN THIS BEGAN? WELL, THE THING IS, IS THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT AT THE MY NEWS DIRECTOR ACTUALLY ASKED ME TO CHECK AND SEE IF THERE WERE KIDS WAITING IN KENTUCKY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THEY THERE WERE KIDS WAITING AND THERE HAD BEEN SOME STORIES ABOUT THAT. AND I CHECKED AND YES, IN FACT, THERE WERE KIDS LANGUISHING IN FOSTER HOMES. AND SO WE BEGAN THE INITIATIVE FOR WEDNESDAYS CHILD IN 1980. AND THE NUMBERS HAVE CHANGED SO DRASTICALLY. BACK THEN, I THINK THERE WERE 90 KIDS WAITING FOR ADOPTIVE HOMES, AND NOW THERE ARE OVER 10,000, 10,000. FOSTER CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, AND THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WAITING. SO, YOU KNOW, THE NEED IS EVEN GREATER. YEAH, YEAH. AND YOU’RE VERY MUCH RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AWARENESS OF THIS. NOW, LAST 40, 43 YEARS. WELL, GOODNESS, 37 ON THE 37, THE LAST SIX YEARS AS CHAIR AND CHAIRMAN EMERITUS OF THE BOARD. SO INVOLVED WITH WEDNESDAY’S CHILD. I KNOW YOU’VE DONE SO MUCH FOR THIS PROGRAM, BUT THERE HAS TO BE JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT REALLY STICK OUT IN YOUR MIND. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. WELL, YOU KNOW, THE THING IS, IS THAT THE REASON THAT I’M SO DEDICATED TO IT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT’S IT CHANGES LIVES FOR THE BETTER AND NOT JUST FOR THE KIDS WHO ARE BEING ADOPTED, BUT FOR THE FAMILIES, THE PARENTS, BECAUSE BECAUSE TOGETHER THEY BUILD A FOREVER FAMILY. AND, YOU KNOW, IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT THE MONEY THAT IS GIVEN TONIGHT AND THE CORPORATE DONATIONS, THEY PROVIDE SO MUCH. AND I REMEMBER ONE OF THE THINGS IS OUR WEBSITE AND I REMEMBER SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE FEATURED A CHILD ON THE WEBSITE THAT WAS WAITING FOR ADOPTION, A TEENAGE BOY AND SOMEONE IN ILLINOIS SAW THEM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT REACHES SO MANY PEOPLE. AND THEY DID THE INTERSTATE ADOPTION AND CAME DOWN AND I WAS ABLE TO BE THERE WHEN THEY PICKED HIM UP AND I TELL YOU WHAT, THERE IS JUST NOTHING LIKE THE JOY OF SEEING THAT FAMILY CREATED. AND THAT’S WHAT YOUR DONATIONS DO. YOU KNOW, THAT’S WHAT OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS THAT’S THE KIND OF THING THAT HAPPENS. LIZ, YOU’RE GREAT. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THE PROGRAM IS A GREAT SUCCESS AND MOSTLY BECAUSE OF YOUR DEDICATION TO IT. SO THANK YOU. A BIG TEAM OF COMPASSIONATE VOLUNTEERS WORKING TIRELESSLY BEHIND THE SCENES. YOU JUST DON’T SEE THEM. JADE’S GOING TO SING FOR US NOW. AND IF YOU AND JAY WOULD LIKE TO GO IN THERE AND SING BACK UP, YOU GUYS ARE WELCOME TO TAKE IT AWAY. AFTER EVERY DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING SALE. THE MALL JUST STAYING COMPLETE. WITHOUT A BUNCH OF DECORATIONS AND A PAPER ANGEL TREE. THERE’S ARTIFICIAL SMILES ON ARTIFICIAL OLD TREE LIMBS SAYING WHAT SHE LOVE TO HAVE AND WHAT A BUY FOR HIM. WELL, I HOPE MAGGIE LIKES HER NEW WINTER CLOTHES AND HER BUGGY WITH A BABY DOLL. AND MAYBE TOM WILL SMILE IN HIS NEW NIKE SHOES WHEN HE SHOOTS THAT FAST BALL. I CAN’T HELP BUT WISH HIM THAT I COULD DO. TWO MORE, BUT NOT JUST WHILE I’M SHOPPING IN THE DEPARTMENT STORE LAWN AND PAPER. ANGEL, YOU’RE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. REMEMBER, GOD’S RIGHT THERE. HE’S ASKING ALL OF US TO HELP TAKE CARE OF HIS PAPER ANGELS EVERY WHERE. GOING THROUGH THE MAIL ALMOST EVERY AFTERNOON TO SEE YOUR MOM AND DAD’S WORST DREAM. THEY’RE ON THE BACK OF A MONEY SAVING AND TO GET MY CARPET CLEAN AND HEIGHT, WEIGHT, HAIR, I THE DAY MISSING THE DEAL BE A CHILD’S NAME A PICTURE AND THE WORDS HAVE YOU SEEN ME BE PAPER ANGEL YOU’RE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. I REMEMBER GOD’S RIGHT THERE. HE’S ASKING ALL OF US TO HELP TAKE CARE OF HIS PAPER ANGELS IN EVERYWHERE. IT’S DOCUMENTED. BRUCE IS FILL A FOLDER AND A FILE. WELL, HE’S A SECOND GRADE SELF PORTRAIT DRAWN WITHOUT A SMILE AND EVERY TOWN IS LITTLE WITH THIS KIND OF DEBRIS WE’VE WE’VE GOT TO STOP THIS MADNESS IS UP TO YOU AND ME. WE. AND PAPER ANGELS. YOU’RE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. REMEMBER, OUR GOD’S RIGHT THERE. HE’S ASKING ALL OF US TO HELP TAKE CARE OF HIS PAPER. RAIN ANGELS. EVERY EVERYWHERE. THANK YOU, SIR. WONDERFUL. HEY, SPEAKING OF JADE. JADE, ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS JUST CHIMED IN. MARY CARNEY, MARY CARNEY, HER EARLIER TODAY SENDING MY LOVE TO YOU, MARY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. $50 PLEDGE. THANK YOU, MARY. MORE FAMILIAR FACES. CHINA LACY, VALERIE COMBS, BOTH OF YOU BEEN WITH US BEFORE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING PART OF WEDNESDAY CHILD WORKING ON THE PHONE BANK. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO YOU? YOU COME EVERY YEAR. WELL, I USED TO BE ONE OF THESE KIDS, SO I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE BACK. IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM WHEN I WAS WELL, I OFFERED, BUT I WILL ALWAYS BE HERE FOR THESE KIDS AND I WILL ALWAYS BE HERE. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY? IT’S A IT’S A NO BRAINER FOR ME, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, I’VE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, YOU KNOW. AND VALERIE, HOW ABOUT YOU? SO I CAME LAST YEAR AND IT JUST TOUCHED MY HEART. ALL THE STORIES THAT I HEAR ABOUT WEDNESDAY’S CHILD JUST MADE ME WANT TO COME BACK AND GIVE. I MEAN, HOW CAN YOU NOT, RIGHT. IT’S INCORRECT. ABSOLUTELY. AND I WANT TO CHALLENGE ALL FORMER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE TO CALL ME AND MAKE A PLEDGE. YES. ALL RIGHT. YOU LIKE THOSE CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR. WHAT A GREAT TIME. THE KIDS NEED IT. AND RIGHT NOW IN THE WEST END, I KNOW A LOT OF KIDS THAT ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAM. AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS FOR THROWING THIS. AND LIKE I SAID, I’M GOING TO BE HERE NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT ANSWERING PHONES AND ASKING PEOPLE TO SAY THEIR NAMES ABOUT 20 TIMES OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL I GET THE RIGHT SPELLING. LET’S GET A LITTLE A LITTLE LOUD IN HERE, DOESN’T IT? IT DOES. I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THEM CALLING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. YES. FOR ANSWERING THOSE PHONES. WE GET $20 PLEDGE IN FROM CHARLESTON, INDIANA, FROM TAYLOR. AND THIS IS IN HONOR OF HIS WIFE, MAZ. I HAVE BARBARA BLACK BACK. OH, I HOPE I DIDN’T BUTCHER THAT. BARBARA. IF I DID, I DO APOLOGIZE. NONETHELESS. FROM LA GRANGE $100. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. ANOTHER $20 PLEDGE FROM JEANETTE MOORE OF LOUISVILLE AND ELIZABETH ECKMAN, $200. THIS IS IN HONOR OF CHLOE WEBB, VERY NICE. CERTAINLY IS. CHRISTINA, LET’S SEND IT BACK TO YOU NOW. ALL RIGHT. WELL, ON A WARM, SUNNY DAY BACK IN SEPTEMBER, DOZENS OF BIKERS GATHERED AT SAINT TERESA OF CALCUTTA CHURCH ON FAIRDALE ROAD BEFORE TAKING OFF ON A RIDE. IT WAS THE 21ST ANNUAL KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS MOTORCYCLE RIDE TO BENEFIT WEDNESDAY’S CHILD. THE MONEY RAISED EVERY YEAR AT THIS EVENT IS USED TO BUY CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR THE CHILDREN WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE, WHICH WILL BE HANDED OUT LATER THIS WEEK. AND KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, THEY BROUGHT SOMEONE WITH THEM. LOOKS A LITTLE FAMILIAR. SANTA. I HAVE FIVE KIDS AT HOME WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING. I. I HOPE THAT. DO YOU HAVE ANY MESSAGE FOR THEM? YES. BE GOOD. BE GOOD UNTIL CHRISTMAS DAY. AT LEAST. THEN AFTER. BE GOOD AFTER AS WELL. YOU KNOW, KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS REALLY GO ALL OUT ALWAYS EVERY YEAR. TALK TO ME ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU’VE HAD WITH WEDNESDAY’S CHILD AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. WELL, THIS IS THE 21ST YEAR, AS YOU SAID, THAT KNIGHTS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH WEDNESDAY’S CHILD. IT STARTED WITH BROTHER KNIGHT CLYDE HAYES, AND HE WANTED BUY CHRISTMAS PRESENTS AND MAKE SURE THESE KIDS HAD A REALLY NICE CHRISTMAS PRESENT. AND HE’S TRYING TO THINK OF A WAYS TO MAKE MONEY. SO HE DECIDED TO DO THE MOTORCYCLE RUN. SO HE DILIGENTLY FOR YEARS, DID THE MOTORCYCLE RUN. AND UNFORTUNATELY, IN 2018, HE PASSED AWAY. SO THE KNIGHTS WANTED TO KEEP HIS LEGACY GOING. SO WE DECIDED TO KEEP GOING AND GOING AND GOING. AND SINCE THEN IT’S EVEN GOT EVEN BIGGER. IT’S EVEN GOING STATEWIDE. WE’RE RECEIVING DONATIONS FROM FUNDRAISERS OUT THROUGH THE STATE, FROM KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL, THROUGH THERE. AND LAST YEAR WE HAD OUR BIGGEST YEAR YET. SO MAYBE THIS YEAR, MAYBE, MAYBE BETTER. WELL, I KNOW I FEEL LIKE EVERY YEAR THAT WE TALK, YOU SAY, OH, IT’S BEEN OUR BIGGEST YEAR YET. SO CAN WE CAN WE MAYBE DO THE UNVEILING OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS? OH, WOW. WE RAISED $14,614. WOW. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU, THIS IS FOR KIDS THIS WEEK WHO ARE HAVING THEIR CHRISTMAS PARTY, KIDS WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE. THEY MADE A WISH LIST AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF WEDNESDAY’S CHILD GO SHOPPING AND MAKE SURE THEY GET WHAT THEY WANT BECAUSE THEY DESERVE TO FEEL SPECIAL AND THEY DESERVE TO FEEL LIKE THE COMMUNITY LOUCITY KNOWS WHO THEY ARE. AND WE’RE WE’RE ROOTING FOR THEM. SO THIS IS PERFECT. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US. APPRECIATE IT. OH HO! HEY, HE’S HERE, YOU GUYS. SO YOU BETTER BE GOOD. ALL RIGHT, LET’S SEND IT BACK OVER TO VICKI AND JAY. TELL YOU WHAT, YOU BETTER GET GOING BACK TO THE NORTH POLE. THAT’S RIGHT. HE’S GOT WORK TO DO. SANTA. HEY, JOINING US LIVE RIGHT NOW IS MISTER NICK MARSHALL, LONGTIME WEDNESDAY’S CHILD VOLUNTEER. YOU WERE IN FOSTER CARE YOURSELF AND YOU SAY THAT YOU REALLY CREDIT THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GOT FROM TWO SETS OF FOSTER PARENTS TURNING YOUR LIFE AROUND INTO A SUCCESS STORY. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT? YEAH, SO IT WAS TWO WONDERFUL SETS OF FOSTER PARENTS. SOME KIDS DON’T GET ONE, BUT I GOT TWO. IF IT WASN’T FOR THEM, I WOULDN’T BE THE MAN I AM TODAY. ABLE TO BE A GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE, ABLE TO RUN FOR OFFICE LAST YEAR AND BE A HUSBAND OF SEVEN YEARS NOW AND A FATHER OF TWO. SO WHEN YOU INVEST NOT ONLY MONEY BUT ALSO TIME AND LOVE INTO CHILDREN WHO ARE VULNERABLE, YOU CAN BE SUCCESS STORIES LIKE ME. SO I TELL YOU, PLEASE DONATE AND PLEASE HELP ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN. YOUR TIME, TALENTS OR TREASURES WILL GO FAR. MONEY RAISED TONIGHT, NICK GO TO ALL SORTS OF THINGS, BUT BRACES, MUSIC LESSONS, AN INSTRUMENT A CHILD WANTS TO PLAY A DANCE LESSON, SOME BALLET SHOES. WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT EXTRA EXTRA MONEY TO SUPPORT THESE FOSTER PARENTS? YES, BECAUSE THEY TAKE ON THE BURDEN AND THE COST LIKE ANY OTHER PARENT WOULD DO FOR THEIR CHILDREN. AND I REMEMBER BEING IN A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WANTING TO PLAY BASKETBALL. SO THOSE SHOES HAD TO GET PAID FOR AND PRACTICE HAD TO BE TAKEN, HAD TO BE TAKEN TO. BUT I KNOW IF THAT EASES THE BURDEN FOR THEM AND THAT’S WHAT WE’RE SUPPOSED TO DO, TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER. SO LET’S LET’S LEAN IN AND TAKE CARE OF THESE FOSTER PARENTS AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS. SO, YES, PLEASE DONATE. WELL SAID. NICK, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. WE’LL LET YOU GET BACK. WE KNOW YOU’RE BUSY. THANK YOU. HAPPY HOLIDAY. THOSE PHONES. THANKS, NICK. CHRISTINA, BACK TO YOU. YEAH, IT WAS A DAY BACK IN JULY WHEN ADOPTIVE AND FOSTER FAMILIES GOT THE CHANCE TO ENJOY ALL OF THE FUN AT KENTUCKY KINGDOM. THE KENTUCKY COLONELS GIFTED WEDNESDAY’S CHILD WITH $7,000 GRANT THAT WAS USED TO BUY 500 AMUSEMENT PARK TICKETS AND CATERED LUNCHES FOR ADOPTIVE AND FOSTER FAMILIES. AND LET ME TELL YOU, I’VE BEEN THERE. IT IS A LOT OF FUN. THE ANNUAL WEDNESDAY’S CHILD FAMILY FUN DAY AT KENTUCKY KINGDOM PROVIDES THESE FAMILIES AN OPPORTUNITY THEY MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO AFFORD. AND ALSO IT PROVIDES SOME CAMARADERIE. YOU KNOW, THEY’RE AROUND FAMILIES WHO ARE LIKE THEM, WHO LOOK LIKE THEM, WHO ARE MADE UP LIKE THEM. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT MEANS A LOT TO FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES. WHY DO YOU GUYS DO IT? WE DO IT TO HELP THE KIDS. KENTUCKY COLONELS AND THE MONEY THAT WE DONATE OUT COME FROM 59 COUNTRIES. EVERY STATE IN THE UNION KENTUCKY COLONELS THAT SUPPORT WHAT WEDNESDAY’S CHILD DOES. OUR GRANTS ARE GIVEN TO REALLY THE BEST OF THE BEST. SO I WANT TO TELL YOUR VIEWERS TONIGHT OR KENTUCKY COLONELS OUT THERE YOU CAN TRUST DONATING TO WEDNESDAY’S CHILD BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT WE DO. AND OUR GRANT, AS YOU SAID, GAVE ADMISSION TICKETS BECAUSE WE WANT THE KIDS TO BE KIDS AND WE WANT THEM TO ENJOY BEING AROUND OTHER KIDS JUST LIKE THEM BECAUSE BECAUSE IT’S A FAMILY EVENT FOR. SO WE’RE DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO HELP YET AGAIN THIS YEAR. AND I ALWAYS SAY FOR FOR KIDS IN FOSTER CARE, IT’S IMPORTANT TO HELP THEM FEEL NORMAL AT THE SAME TIME. SPECIAL BECAUSE THEY DESERVE TO HAVE THESE SPECIAL THINGS. OKAY. SO I THINK WE’RE READY FOR THE UNVEILING. LET’S SEE WHAT OUR CHECK IS. OH, AND THERE IT IS. 7000 REPRESENTS 500 ADMISSION TICKETS FOR KIDS WHO HAD GREAT MEMORIES THIS SUMMER. OH, I CAN TELL YOU, THEY HAD A BLAST. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TONIGHT. AND OF COURSE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR DONATION. ALL RIGHT, JAY AND VICKY, THE PHONES ARE RINGING. THE PLEDGES ARE COMING IN. LET’S TALK ABOUT THEM. JAY, CHARLES GAMBREL, $100 FROM LOUISVILLE. LET’S SEE. AND DEBBIE JUST CAME UP TO US A SECOND AGO. WHAT DID SHE SAY? WE’RE UP TO THE TOTAL. SO FAR AND WE’RE ADDING TO THAT. DID SHE SAY 89,000? 80 SOMETHING THOUSAND? YES. WE NEED YES, WE’RE GOING TO SET A RECORD TONIGHT. I HAVE JOE AND CAROL TAYLOR, $100, $15 DOLLARS FROM LORI BACK OF NORTH VERNON, INDIANA, PAMELA DAVIS, SHELBYVILLE, $25. PAMELA, THANK YOU SO, SO VERY MUCH. AND $25 FROM CHERYL THOMAS OF LOUISVILLE. HOW ABOUT BRANT DEARSON? AND BRANT CALLED IN AND DONATED $100, $100 FROM JOHN WHITTON OF JEFFERSON VILLE, THERESA GAGA, THERESA LG&E FROM LOUISVILLE, $20. THANK YOU, THERESA. AND ANOTHER 20 FROM PATRICIA EWING OF CAMPBELLSVILLE, KENTUCKY. AND ONE MORE, TWO MORE, TWO MORE. $20 FROM LADONNA STIVERS OF BARDSTOWN. AND I HAVE PHYLLIS PROFUMO. I HOPE I SAID THAT RIGHT. PHYLLIS IF NOT, I DO APOLOGIZE. $300. THAT’S A NICE $25 FROM CHRISTOPHER BROWN OF LOUISVILLE. ONCE AGAIN, GIVE THE PEOPLE ON THE PHONE BANK A CALL. 893 3232 $5, $10. $100 MORE. WE’LL TAKE WHATEVER YOU CAN GIVE US. ABSOLUTELY. IT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER AT THIS POINT IN THE GAME. JUST AS LONG AS YOU HELP US OUT. HELP A CHILD FIVE ADD A PERMANENT HOME. THAT’S RIGHT. REMEMBER THERE ARE FOUR WAYS TO DONATE TONIGHT. THOSE ARE ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN. AND THAT QR CODE ALSO. ABSOLUTELY. CHRISTINA, LET’S GO BACK TO YOU. YEAH, GUYS, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO INTERVIEW THESE KIDS WHO ARE IN THE NEED OF A FOREVER FAMILY. AND EVERY SINGLE TIME I INTERVIEW SOMEONE, I GO HOME AND I TALK ABOUT HOW, OH, GOSH, WE NEED TO WHAT CAN WE DO? AND WE I CAN’T DO IT ALL. SO MAYBE THINK ABOUT 11 YEAR OLD DELRAY. HE’S HOPING TO FIND A FOREVER FAMILY TO SHARE HIS LOVE OF SCHOOL PUZZLES AND FOOTBALL. 11 YEAR OLD DELRAY IS AN ALL STAR. THE SIXTH GRADER CAN BE SHY AND RESERVED, AND BUT HIS TALENTS SHINE THROUGH. BESIDES SINKING BASKETS, DELRAY LIKES TO PLAY AND WATCH FOOTBALL. HE’S INVOLVED IN ROBOTICS AT SCHOOL, AND HE WANTS TO BE A POLICE OFFICER WHEN HE’S OLDER. I LIKE TO DO PUZZLES. EAGLES BOARD GAMES. I LIKE TO COOK. WHERE DO YOU COOK? I HAVE A COOK. NOT YET. DELRAY DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS HELPFUL AND HOPES TO BE PART OF A PERMANENT FAMILY SOON. WHAT TYPES OF THINGS DO YOU LOOK FOR IN THAT LOVE? WHAT IS LOVE LOOK LIKE TO YOU? CHANGE SOMEONE LIKE THAT? YOUR KID? YEAH. TREATING. TREATING YOU LIKE IT WAS. YOU KNOW, YOU’RE JUST PART OF THE FAMILY, RIGHT? YES, SURE. HOW LONG? THAT’S HOW MUCH WE’VE COLLECTED SO FAR. $89,140. THE PHONES ARE STILL RINGING. WE HAVE PLEDGES IN OUR HANDS. WE HAVE NOT READ. THAT’S NOT PART OF THE TOTAL YET. SO THAT TOTAL WILL INCREASE. OH, YEAH. AND I JUST GOT TO SAY, THIS REAL QUICK, GLENN GRUBBS HAS PLEDGED $100 NOW. HE ADOPTED TWO CHILDREN FROM WEDNESDAY’S CHILD BACK IN 88. AND HE HAS A TOTAL OF SIX ADOPTED KIDS. THE FAMILY IS DOING PHENOMENAL. OH, THAT’S GREAT. WOW, THAT’S GREAT. I LOVE HOW ARE YOUR ADOPTED YOUR FOUR ADOPTED KIDS. OH, GOSH. GUYS, ARE YOU WATCHING? HOW ARE YOU? THEY HAD THEY HAD BASKETBALL TONIGHT. THEY’RE DOING GREAT. YEAH, WE WE ADOPTED TWO FROM FOSTER CARE TO INTERNATIONAL WELL, ONE FROM ME. BUT I MEAN, THEY’RE DOING GREAT. AND I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO LIZ EVERMAN. SHE SHE LET ME CALL HER SUNDAY MORNING TO JUST GET SOME BACKGROUND ON THE THE HISTORY OF THE ADOPT A THON BACK IN THE EARLY 80S. AND IT DIDN’T ALWAYS LOOK LIKE THIS. NO. AND SHE WAS WILLING TO TALK TO ME ON SUNDAY MORNING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE BACK THEN. IT WAS LIKE A RED CARPET EVENT, SHE SAID AT ONE POINT. HOW FUN WE NEED PICTURES. CAN WE DO CAN WE DO THAT AGAIN? SO. SO THANK YOU, LIZ, FOR THAT. ALWAYS, ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP THE ORGANIZATION. CERTAINLY IS. THOSE PHONE LINES ARE STILL OPEN. REMEMBER, THE NUMBER TO CALL IS 893 3232. AND DON’T FORGET, YOU CAN ALSO DONATE ONLINE BY MAIL. THE INFORMATION, AS WE SAID EARLIER, IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN. ABSOLUTELY. KEEP THOSE PHONE CALLS COMING IN. WE’RE GOING TO CLOSE OUT THE PROGRAM NOW, THOUGH, WITH A VERY SPECIAL PRESENTATION. JD SHELBURNE, ONCE AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND CONTINUING OUR DECADES LONG TRADITION OF HELPING KENTUCKY FOSTER CHILDREN. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. THANKS FOR HELPING US OUT. MAN. WE DID. YOU KNOW, IT. YOUR BABY BOY WOULD SOMEDAY WALK ON WATER. MARY DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR BABY, BABY BOY WOULD SAVE OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS? DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR BABY BOY HAS COME TO MAKE YOU NEW AND THIS CHILD THAT YOU’VE DELIVERED, SIR, WILL SOON DELIVER YOU? MARY, DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR BABY BOY WOULD GIVE SIGHT TO A BLIND MAN? MARY, DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR BABY BOY WOULD CALM THE STORM WITH HIS HAND? DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR BABY BOY WALKED WHERE ANGELS TRY WHEN YOU KISSED YOUR LITTLE BABY AND YOU’VE KISSED THE FACE OF GOD. OH, MARY, DID YOU KNOW? OH. OH, OH. MARY. DID YOU KNOW. THE BLIND WILL SEE THE DEAF WILL HEAR. AND THE DEAD WILL LIVE AGAIN. THE LAME WILL LEAVE, THE DUMB WILL SPEAK THE PRAISES OF THE LAME. OH, MARY DID YOU KNOW. OH, MARY, DID YOU KNOW? OH. MARY, DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR BABY BOY IS LORD OF ALL CREATION? LISTEN, MARY, DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR BABY BOY BOY WOULD ONE DAY