page_title: Muscular Dystrophy Association
section_title: Telethon
hierarchical_section_title: Muscular Dystrophy Association / Programs and Events / Telethon
caption_attribution_description: English: This is the Official MDA Logo, Uploaded June 2013
context_page_description: The Muscular Dystrophy Association is an American organization, formed in 1950, which combats muscular dystrophy and diseases of the nervous system and muscular system in general by funding research, providing medical and community services and educating health professionals and the general public. MDA is also notable for its 55-year working partnership with comedian, actor, singer and filmmaker Jerry Lewis, who served as its national chairman from 1956 to 2011 while hosting his live annual telethon each Labor Day weekend from 1966 to 2010.
  Frank Sinatra, Don Rickles, Sammy Davis, Jr., Milton Berle, Wayne Newton, Norm Crosby, Don Francisco, Tony Orlando, Johnny Carson, Aretha Franklin, Maureen McGovern, Diana Ross and other entertainers have also supported MDA over the years. Its national office is in Chicago, Illinois.
context_section_description: Debuting in 1966 and held annually on Labor Day weekend until 2014, the telethon was originally hosted by veteran film and stage star Jerry Lewis, who also served as the MDA's national chairman since its inception in 1950 and hosted the show until 2010. In 2005, the MDA made the unprecedented decision to pledge $1 million of the telethon's money raised to Hurricane Katrina disaster relief, making the donation specifically to the Salvation Army (though the telethon also urged viewers to give to the American Red Cross). In 2008, the annual televised fundraiser raised a record $65,031,393. 
   Originally broadcast for up to 21½ hours from 1966 to 2010, the event was cut back to six hours in 2011. The 2011 edition of the telethon was originally announced to have been Lewis' last as host, with him continuing his role as national chairman; however, on August 3, 2011, the MDA announced that Lewis resigned as host and chairman, due to circumstances not revealed. However, in 2016, one year before his death, Lewis broke a five-year silence in a video endorsing MDA's redesigned web site and brand, declaring that the work to end muscular dystrophy be continued. 
  Additionally, Lewis' support has been so ironclad over the years that children and adults assisted by MDA are referred to as Jerry's Kids. From 2012 to 2014, the show was known as the MDA Show of Strength. In 2014, the organization announced it was discontinuing the show.
caption: Official MDA Logo used until January 29, 2016.
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