The fundraising efforts for Flint just keep coming.
Several Michigan TV stations will come together March 15 to host “Flint Water Crisis: 4 Our Families,” a telethon that will last from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. to raise funds for the Community Foundation of Greater Flint's Child Health and Development Fund.
Detroit’s WDIV-TV will host the telethon, and it will air on stations WEYI-TV in Flint, WILX-TV in Lansing, WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, and WWTV/WWUP-TV in northern Michigan.
The telethon will be hosted at Art Van Furniture in Flint.
The Detroit Free Press spoke with WDIV General Manager Marla Drutz, who said the idea came up during a meeting at the TV station:
“As we became more and more involved in our coverage of Flint, it became more and more important that it had to be more than coverage that we’d be involved in. Every TV station we called, they didn’t even wait five seconds to say yes.”
In April 2014, the city of Flint switched from Lake Huron from the Detroit Sewage and Water Department to the Flint River for drinking water. The switch caused corrosion in some pipes, and is blamed for lead-tainted tap water in Flint.
The consumption of lead for children can cause a host of health issues, including developmental delays and learning disabilities. The Flint Child Health and Development Fund is dedicated to creating long-term solutions to children affected by the crisis. These solutions include health and development programs, childhood education, support services, and immediate response, among other efforts.
Flint Mayor Karen Weaver told The Detroit Free Press she supports the telethon:
“That’s wonderful, because if you can’t protect your future … that’s our most vulnerable population. That’s what we’re here to do.”
Michigan Radio has compiled a list of other places accepting donations, which you can find here.
Do you know of any other places where you can donate? Comment with more information below.
