CP Telethon hits a historic total in its 70th year

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - In its 70th year, with a new format, the CP Telethon on WBAY hit a new record total of $1,469,772!

The CP Telethon is this weekend, marking a major milestone of 70 years on WBAY-TV. This year, there’s a historical twist.

The telethon typically happens on the first Saturday and Sunday of March in the auditorium of the WBAY Building in Green Bay.

The entertainment and phone banks will be there on Sunday, March 3, this year.

As CP announced last month, on Saturday, March 2, it’s trying something new: a livestream event.

“I think it’s going to be a different experience, one where they get to participate as well. We’re going to ask questions. We hope people will type into the chat. We’re hoping it will be a conversation not just with each other here but with our community,” Director of Donor Engagement Kristen Paquet said.

Action 2 News morning reporter Kristyn Allen is the host of the interactive livestream from 2 to 4 p.m. on the CP website, WeAreCP.org. It will offer a new lineup of entertainment and guests.

Then the tradition continues Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with returning favorites, including Let Me Be Frank Productions, the Southern Door 5th Graders (for the 42nd year), Sunnyside Elementary, and the Heritage Academy of Irish Dance. (Sunday’s NBA games on ABC will be on WBAY channel 2.3, Spectrum channel 993.)

The livestream will feature four different segments, including health and wellness, talking about exercise and making healthy recipes.

There will be a chat with a panel of therapists from Therapy Services who will answer questions, like which toys are best for your child’s development.

There will also be a coffee klatsch, talking with some adults who are part of the day services program about what it’s like to have a disability.

The livestream event will wrap up with a game of Family Feud.

The telethon is CP’s biggest fundraiser of the year and supports all of its unique programs.

“Without the telethon there probably wouldn’t be a CP,” Paquet said. “It helps fund all of our programs. Everything stays local here. It goes to our programming, our operations, training, the services that we can provide our clients. It goes to everything.”

You need to register to view the livestream. You can do that at WeAreCP.org anytime right up until the event starts at 2 p.m.

The 70th annual CP Telethon airs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on WBAY-TV 2.1 and online at WBAY.com/live and the WBAY news app. It can also be seen all over the country on the WBAY app for Roku and other smart TVs and devices.

Donations can be made now and through telethon weekend at WeAreCP.org/telethon.

Two NBA games on Sunday will air live on WBAY channel 2.3 (Spectrum channel 993):

• 11:30 a.m.-230 p.m.: Philadelphia 76ers at Dallas Mavericks
• 2:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.: Golden State Warriors at Boston Celtics