EASTER SEALS TELETHON IS SET FOR THIS WEEKEND

Though the Easter Seals Telethon is a national event, a local telethon Saturday and Sunday will raise money for residents of Southeast Missouri.

The local telethon will air live on KBSI from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be staged at the KBSI studio. Segments will include features on local residents and recognition of individuals, corporations, and organizations that have supported the Southeast Missouri Easter Seal Society throughout the year.

The telethon also will include segments from the national telethon hosted by Pat Boone, Mary Frann and Robb Weller.

Local hosts are Jhan Thomas from KBSI and Chuck Martin from Easter Seals. The honorary chairman this year is Dennis Marchi, unit manager of Schnucks.

Locally, the Easter Seals Society provides programs for adults and children with disabilities and public education and advocacy services.

The Easter Seals Early Learning Center, for newborns to 6-year-olds, is an intervention program for the developmentally delayed. The Adult Services Program provides employment services and job training.

The Easter Seals has conducted the telethon for 21 years and supports more than 900 community-based rehabilitation programs nationwide.