It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to another member of the Crusade family. For twenty years, Wayne Perkey was the face of the WHAS Crusade for Children. In 1980, he became only the second person to be chosen to emcee the telethon, an honor that he respected and cherished. Here’s Wayne’s story told to you in his own words… of his love and dedication to the WHAS Crusade for Children and the children with special needs that are helped every year.
Wayne continued to be involved by hosting on Sunday mornings of the telethon weekend. He most recently helped kick things off this past Crusade Sunday for the 68th WHAS Crusade for Children telethon in 2021. A clip of that appearance is featured at the end of this tribute.
The family has requested that donations and expressions of sympathy go to:
WHAS Crusade for Children
520 West Chestnut St.
Louisville KY 40202
WHAS11 remembers Wayne
Watch more from WHAS11, just click here.
More in the Courier-Journal
Learn more about Wayne’s career and life from the Courier-Journal, just click here.
More on Facebook
See photos and memories of Wayne on the Crusade’s Facebook page, just click here.
Terry Meiners interviews Wayne
Listen to a recent interview of Wayne with Terry Meiners as they celebrate the soon-to-be 100th anniversary of NewsRadio 840 WHAS, just click here.
The Renshaw Early Childhood Center on the campus of Western Kentucky University has received Crusade support since 2007. The “Big Red School” as it’s called, serves children of varying abilities from ages 15 months through kindergarten. The school’s goal is to prepare these children, whatever their abilities, to go on to school and be successful in life.
The WHAS Crusade for Children has granted Renshaw Early Childhood Center over $500,000 in the last 14 years from . The program not only helps special needs children but also allows for hands-on training for Western Kentucky University education students. Here’s a look at how Crusade grant money is being used to change young lives and preparing them to be successful.
It is with great sorrow that we are saying goodbye to one of the pillars in the history of WHAS11 and the WHAS Crusade for Children. Bud Harbsmeier passed away on Saturday, December 4th at the age of 86 after a courageous battle against kidney cancer. Bud was an award winning journalist for 20 years at WHAS11. In 1982 he decided to walk away from his news career and pursue a much different path.
He took over as the Director of the WHAS Crusade for Children and stayed in that role for the next 19 years. Bud retired from leading the Crusade in 2000 but he never gave up working for the children with special needs in #Kentucky and #Indiana.
Bud Harbsmeier is survived by his three sons: Curt, Craig (Paula) & Kent (Debbie) and 4 grandchildren Kristen Alvarez (Justin), Alexis, Kyle & Katlyn Harbsmeier.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Cards and donations can be sent to:
WHAS Crusade for Children
520 West Chestnut
Louisville KY 40202
Click here to make a secure online memorial donation remembering Bud.
Crusade for Children tribute
Watch this video tribute, produced by Phil Dunaway, as Bud talks about the WHAS Crusade for Children in his own words.
WHAS11 legacy
Click here to see a video and more about Bud’s life and WHAS career from WHAS11’s Doug Proffitt.
Courier-Journal story
Click here to read more about Bud’s life from this story in the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Bud’s obituary
Click here to read Bud’s obituary and funeral arrangements.
Terry Meiners and Hayley Minogue host
The WHAS Crusade for Children’s annual year-end special, “Building the Future”, will air on WHAS11 Saturday, December 11th at 6:30pm. It’s hosted by Terry Meiners from NewsRadio 840 WHAS and Hayley Minogue of WHAS11 News.
Hear from experts
It’s a special about the Crusade Endowment. You’ll hear from financial experts on the many ways you can help the WHAS Crusade for Children in your will and estate planning.
See your donations helping
You’ll meet some of the children with special needs your donations help. And you’ll learn about the many ways to give and how you can make a difference in the life of a child.
The endowment is critical every year, but even more so during this pandemic.
The 30-minute program will air multiple times on WHAS11:
Saturday, December 11 at 6:30pm
Saturday, December 25 at 1:00pm
Sunday, December 26 at 5:30am
A special 60-minute version will air multiple times on NewsRadio 840 WHAS:
Friday, December 24 at 4:00pm
Saturday, December 25 at 6:00am
Saturday, December 25 at Noon
Watch it now on YouTube
There are many ways to make a year-end donation
By phone
Call 502-582-7706, leave your name and number, someone will get back to you.
Donate by Mail
Send your donation to:
WHAS Crusade for Children
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202.
Please be sure to make note if the donation is in honor or memory of someone or if you’d like to give credit to a certain fire department.
Donate Securely Online
Give online safely and securely. There is a section where someone can honor/memorialize a loved one or credit a fire department.
Venmo
Venmo a donation to @CrusadeForChildren. You can credit your fire department in the comments section.
Cash App
Just like Venmo, use Cash App and make a secure donation to $CrusadeChildren. You can credit your fire dept. in the notes section.
Paypal
If you use PayPal, you can use it to donate to the WHAS Crusade for Children!
Alexa
If you have an Amazon smart device, just say, “Alexa, donate to the Crusade for Children…” and Alexa will walk you through your secure donation, charging it to your card on file with Amazon.
Donate via Facebook
Go to the Crusade’s Facebook page to donate securely online. Facebook does not keep any fees for a charitable donation!
Donations are tax deductible
The WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Gifts are tax deductible as permitted by law. EIN #23-7075524.
After a 20-year career serving his community, preceded by decades of volunteering, firefighter Jack Miller retired from the Buechel Fire Department in 2010 on a Friday.
On the following Monday, he showed back up at work to continue his career as a volunteer.
Miller is the longest-serving firefighter in the county, celebrating fifty years of serving, teaching, and saving lives.
We talked with Kate Nason about her 10th Frogtown Hop and how grateful she is for everything associated with the event. Check out Kate’s interview plus her run today and her great finish with cheers from everyone. Thanks to Highview Fire Protection District for all of your support and help today to make sure this event was so successful!!
2021 Crusade Grants Announced
The WHAS Crusade for Children announces its grants for 2021 – 2022. 225 grants have been awarded totaling $5,100,000. That matches the tote board at the conclusion of the 68th annual WHAS Crusade for Children which took place on June 5 – 6, 2021.
Grant funds become available as the Crusade for Children begins a new fiscal year on September 1, 2021.
“Thanks to the tremendous support of the community, we are so excited Crusade 68 raised $5,100,000 which will be awarded in 225 grants this year. With over $11 million in requests, the board of ministers, rabbis and priests who make the funding allocations had some difficult decisions. Their job was made even tougher these past two years because the pandemic has created needs they want to fully fund. They did a great job selecting terrific projects and programs that will make life better for children with special needs across Kentucky and southern Indiana, ranging from small communication devices to large capital projects,” said WHAS Crusade for Children President & CEO Dawn Lee.
100% for the kids
The Crusade reached a milestone this year of $200 million raised for children with special needs since 1954. One hundred percent of all donations raised are returned in the form of grants to agencies, hospitals and schools that provide direct services and make life better for children with special needs.
It takes a cast of thousands for this annual miracle, from individual donors dropping pocket change into boots at firefighter roadblocks to schools hosting penny challenges to corporations offering payroll deduction.
Click here to learn more about the WHAS Crusade for Children grant process.
Click here to see a recap of the 2021 68th annual WHAS Crusade for Children.
SEE HUNDREDS OF PHOTOS FROM CRUSADE WEEKEND ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, CLICK HERE.
2021-2022 GRANTS LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Adair County Board of Education $39,000.00
Allegro Dance Project $5,000.00
American Printing House for the Blind $9,000.00
American Red Cross Kentucky $9,000.00
Americana Community Center $8,000.00
Anchorage Independent School District $25,000.00
Appalachian Regional Healthcare $14,500.00
Arc of the Greater Louisville Area $8,000.00
Archdiocese of Louisville $41,000.00
Art Center of the Bluegrass $2,500.00
Asbury University $20,000.00
Baptist Health Foundation – Louisville $100,000.00
Baptist Health Foundation – Madisonville $10,000.00
Baptist Health Foundation – Paducah $15,000.00
Bardstown Independent Schools $12,495.00
Barren Heights Christian Retreat $10,000.00
Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center $10,000.00
Bath County Schools $10,000.00
Bellarmine University – Kids on the Move $75,000.00
Bellarmine University – Scholarships $18,000.00
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest $12,000.00
Best Buddies International $6,000.00
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana $7,000.00
Bluegrass Center for Autism $30,000.00
Bluegrass Therapy and Equine Center $4,000.00
Boone County Public Schools $18,000.00
Borden-Henryville School Corporation $10,000.00
Boy Scouts of America – Lincoln Heritage Council $12,000.00
Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana $15,000.00
Breckinridge County Board of Education $25,000.00
Bullitt County Public Schools $30,000.00
Burgin Board of Education $21,000.00
Camp Tessa $5,000.00
Camp Tessa of Meade County $4,000.00
Campbellsville Independent Schools $14,000.00
CASA at Woodlawn (of the Bluegrass) $6,000.00
CASA by the Lakes $7,000.00
CASA of Lexington $14,000.00
CASA of South Central Kentucky $5,000.00
CASA of the Heartland $10,000.00
CASA of the River Region $5,000.00
CASA Program For Bullitt County $16,000.00
Central Kentucky Education Cooperative $36,000.00
Cerebral Palsy KIDS Center for Pediatric Therapies $20,000.00
Child Development Centers of the Bluegrass $2,000.00
Clark County Youth Shelter & Family Services $15,000.00
Cloverport Independent School District $50,000.00
Commonwealth Health Foundation Medical Center Health Foundation $10,000.00
Commonwealth Theatre Center $5,600.00
Communities In Schools of Clark County $9,500.00
Community Action of Southern Indiana $21,000.00
Critically Loved $4,000.00
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation $4,000.00
Deaf Youth Sports Festival $13,000.00
Dorman Preschool Center $21,000.00
Down Syndrome Association of Central Ky $8,000.00
Down Syndrome of Louisville $18,000.00
Down Syndrome of South Central Kentucky $7,000.00
Dreams With Wings $7,000.00
Dyslexia Association of the Pennyrile $2,100.00
Easter Seals West Kentucky $2,000.00
Eastern Kentucky University – Developmental Disabilities Clinic Autism Social Groups $5,600.00
Eastern Kentucky University – Special Education Scholarships $21,000.00
Eminence Independent Schools $23,000.00
Englishton Park Children’s Summer Camp Program $4,500.00
Exploited Children’s Help Organization of Greater Louisville $10,250.00
Family & Children’s Place $26,000.00
Family Ark $16,000.00
Family Enrichment Center $6,500.00
Family Scholar House $13,000.00
Father Maloney’s Boys & Girls Haven $74,000.00
FEAT of Louisville $13,500.00
First Chance Center $22,000.00
Flaget Memorial Hospital $21,819.00
Floyd Memorial Foundation $33,626.00
Franklin County Schools $14,000.00
Friends School $30,000.00
Fund For The Arts $8,500.00
Gateway Children’s Services $1,197.00
Gateway Community Action $4,500.00
Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana $12,000.00
Graves County Board of Education $14,000.00
Grayson County Schools $14,000.00
Greater Clark County Schools $20,000.00
Green County Board of Education $14,300.00
Green Hill Therapy $26,000.00
Green River Regional Educational Cooperative $7,700.00
Hancock County Public Schools $6,000.00
Harbor House of Louisville $10,000.00
Hardin County Schools Special Ed Dept. $40,000.00
Hardin Memorial Hospital Foundation $88,000.00
Harrison County Exceptional Learners Coop $16,000.00
Hart County Board of Education $15,000.00
Henderson County Schools $28,000.00
Henry County Public Schools $35,000.00
Heuser Hearing & Language Academy $21,000.00
Home of the Innocents $127,400.00
Hosparus Health $40,000.00
Hospice of the Bluegrass – Bluegrass Care Navigators $8,000.00
I Would Rather Be Reading $7,500.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – Autism Program $7,000.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program $7,500.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – Early Childhood Special Services $5,500.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – ECE Assistive Technology Center $63,000.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – ECE Psychological Services $22,500.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – ECE Transition Services $4,500.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – ECE Visually Impaired $14,000.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – Exceptional Child Education (ECE) Communication Disorders Program $9,000.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – Moderate to Severe Disabilities $65,000.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – Occupational and Physical Therapy $50,000.00
Jeffersonville Township Public Library $3,000.00
Jennings County School Corporation $6,500.00
Jessamine County Schools $4,000.00
Jewish Community of Louisville $63,000.00
Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana $2,650.00
Kendyl And Friends Foundation $20,000.00
Kentuckiana Children’s Center $20,000.00
Kentucky Center For Special Children’s Services – Carriage House Educational Services $65,000.00
Kentucky Dance Council – Louisville Ballet $5,000.00
Kentucky Easter Seal Society – Cardinal Hill $1,696.52
Kentucky Ed Development Corporation $8,000.00
Kentucky Hemophilia Foundation $6,000.00
Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation $14,000.00
Kentucky School for the Deaf $15,000.00
Kids Cancer Alliance – Indian Summer Oncology Camp” $10,000.00
Kore Academy $5,500.00
La Casita Center $7,500.00
Lake Cumberland Community Action $7,000.00
LaRue County Public Schools $4,000.00
Lexington Hearing And Speech Center $6,000.00
LifeSpring Health Systems $2,766.00
Lighthouse Academy at Newburg $3,500.00
Louisville Central Community Center – Mini-Versity Child Development Center $21,000.00
Madison Area Educational Special Service $6,000.00
Madison Consolidated Schools $30,000.00
Make-A-Wish Foundation $9,000.00
Marion County Board of Education $48,148.00
Maryhurst $25,000.00
Masonic Home – Sproutlings Pediatric Day Care & Preschool $2,525.00
Meade County Public Schools $37,000.00
Meredith-Dunn School $20,000.00
Miracle Dancer Scholarship Foundation $10,500.00
Miracle League of Louisville $33,000.00
Mission Hope For Kids $4,000.00
Montgomery County School District $30,000.00
Mountain Comprehensive Care Center $7,000.00
Nativity Academy At St Boniface $27,000.00
NELCASA $12,000.00
Nelson County Schools $13,000.00
New Albany Floyd County School $31,000.00
New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding $10,000.00
Newport Independent Schools $12,000.00
Northern Kentucky Children’s Law Center $12,000.00
Northern Kentucky Cooperative For Educational Services $3,500.00
Norton Children’s Hospital – Epilepsy Equipment $280,111.10
Norton Children’s Medical Group – Autism Services $58,000.00
Norton Children’s Medical Group – Pediatrics Nutrition Program $48,000.00
Norton Children’s Medical Group – Learning and Attention Disorders Clinic $55,000.00
Oldham County Board of Education $60,000.00
Orchid House – Marty’s Orchid House $10,000.00
Our Lady of Providence High School $16,000.00
Owen County School District $5,000.00
Owensboro Dance Theater $14,000.00
Owensboro Health Foundation $15,000.00
Paoli Community School (Throop Elementary) $45,000.00
Paws With Purpose $19,000.00
Personal Counseling Service $20,000.00
Personal Counseling Service – Capital $45,000.00
Pitt Academy $8,030.78
Project Camp – The Center for Courageous Kids $40,000.00
Providence House Family Preservation $13,000.00
Puzzle Pieces $18,000.00
Rachel’s Fun For Everyone Project $12,000.00
Rauch $14,000.00
Riley Children’s Foundation $6,000.00
Rockcastle Regional Hospital & Respiratory Care Center $30,000.00
SAFY of Kentucky $3,000.00
Saint Joseph Berea Hospital Foundation $19,500.00
Saint Joseph London Foundation $40,000.00
Saint Joseph Mount Sterling Foundation $47,000.00
Seven Counties Services $148,500.00
Shelby County Public Schools $74,000.00
Silver Creek School Corporation $20,000.00
South Central Area Special Education Cooperative $13,250.00
South Central Kentucky Kids On The Block $2,487.00
Spencer County Public Schools $30,000.00
Spina Bifida Association of Kentucky – Kosair Charities Center $15,000.00
St. Francis High School $18,800.00
St. Joseph’s Catholic Orphan Society $25,000.00
St. Joseph’s Catholic Orphan Society Capital Campaign $50,000.00
St. Joseph Hospital Foundation – The Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East $24,000.00
St. Vincent de Paul Louisville $15,000.00
Stage One The Louisville Children’s Theatre $6,000.00
Summit Academy of Greater Louisville $15,000.00
Sunrise Children’s Services $16,000.00
T J Samson Community Hospital $46,600.00
Taylor County Board of Education $45,000.00
The de Paul School $25,000.00
The Morton Center $25,000.00
The REATH Center $7,000.00
UK Research Foundation $60,000.00
University of Louisville – Peace Hospital – Partial Capital $18,041.00
University of Louisville – Special Education Scholarships $20,000.00
University of Louisville – Health Knowledge and Self-Advocacy $20,500.00
University of Louisville – Hospital Center for Women & Infants $110,000.00
University of Louisville – Psychology $20,500.00
University of Louisville – Pediatric NeuroRecovery Program $50,000.00
Vincennes Community School Corporation $13,500.00
Visually Impaired Preschoolers Services – Indianapolis $58,000.00
Visually Impaired Preschoolers Services – Lexington $50,000.00
Visually Impaired Preschoolers Services – Louisville $95,000.00
Volunteers of America Mid-States $35,000.00
Washington County Schools $10,000.00
Wayne County Hospital $1,634.27
Wendell Fosters Campus For Developmental Disabilities $5,700.00
Western Kentucky University – Kelly Autism Program $25,000.00
Western Kentucky University – Scholarships $23,000.00
Western Kentucky University – Renshaw Early Childhood Center $40,000.00
Whitley County Board of Education $1,701.33
Wilderness Trace Child Development Center $7,072.00
Woodford County Public Schools $9,000.00
Young Men’s Christian Association of Greater Louisville (YMCA) $40,000.00
Youth Advocate Programs $9,000.00
Youth Ethics And Skills Center $6,700.00
Youthbuild Louisville $5,000.00
Total: $5,100,000.00
You can still donate!
It’s always Crusade season. Donate now to help change a child’s life.
Donate By phone
Call 502-582-7706
Donate by Mail
Even though our office is closed for now during the pandemic, we are able to access our mail.
Send your donation to:
WHAS Crusade for Children
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202.
Please be sure to make note if the donation is in honor or memory of someone or if you’d like to give credit to a certain fire department.
Donate Securely Online
Give online safely and securely. There is a section where someone can honor/memorialize a loved one or credit a fire department.
Text to Donate
Supporters can now text CRUSADE to 50155 to complete a donation. There is the ability to honor a fire department on the donation link.
Venmo
Venmo a donation to @CrusadeForChildren. You can credit your fire department in the comments section.
Cash App
Just like Venmo, use Cash App and make a secure donation to $CrusadeChildren. You can credit your fire dept. in the notes section.
Paypal
If you use PayPal, you can use it to donate to the WHAS Crusade for Children!
Alexa
If you have an Amazon smart device, just say, “Alexa, donate to the Crusade for Children…” and Alexa will walk you through your secure donation, charging it to your card on file with Amazon.
Donate via Facebook
Go to the Crusade’s Facebook page to donate securely online. Facebook does not keep any fees for a charitable donation!
Donations are tax deductible
The WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Gifts are tax deductible as permitted by law. EIN #23-7075524.