UCP Shoals telethon set for March 10
Nonprofit United Cerebral Palsy was founded in 1949 and today serves around 200,000 adults and children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities each year.
UCP Shoals held its first telethon fundraiser in 1964, and the event has been an annual occurrence on local TV ever since.
However, this year UCP Shoals has decided to change things up for a more modern approach.
The 62nd annual telethon will be streamed live on the UCP Shoals Wee Care Facebook page on Tuesday, March 10, from 6 to 8 p.m.
“All of the money raised that evening will stay here in The Shoals to serve local children and their families,” said Executive Director Alison Isbell. “So many people watch streaming services now, so we decided to try something a little different.”
Isbell said UCP Shoals is partnering with students at Florence High School for the broadcast.
She said FHS has a full production studio, and students will help manage each aspect of the telethon.
“It’s a great partnership, and we are so very thankful for their help,” Isbell said.
UCP Shoals telethons over the past few years have been known to raise around $100,000, but the 2025 event garnered $127,000.
“We had a really good year. It was awesome,” Isbell said. “That’s the most we’ve raised in several years, and we were thrilled.”
Isbell said UCP Shoals helps special needs children aged 0 to 3 with physical, occupational and speech therapy.
“Any child behind in development, we can help them at no cost to families,” she said. “We work with 75 to 100 different families on average each year, and we wouldn’t be able to continue our services without the telethon.”
According to the United Cerebral Palsy website, the services offered by the organization include information and resource referral, advocacy, research, educational instruction, home- and community-based services, early intervention therapies, job coaching, integrated employment support, recreational opportunities and community-based residential programs.
“We are committed to the belief that all people with disabilities should be treated as equal members of an inclusive society,” per the site.
