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!!