Celebrities from music, television, movies, and sports come together to help raise funds and awareness for the Red Cross recovery effort
A “Rebuild West Virginia” telethon for flood relief originating from West Virginia will air nationally on television stations across the USA and stream online this Friday, July 1st from 7pm-9pm. Proceeds will go directly to Red Cross relief efforts across all affected areas of West Virginia. The telethon will also air statewide in West Virginia, including all areas directly affected by the flooding, with the assistance of the West Virginia Broadcasters Association.
Viewers will be encouraged to make donations directly to the Red Cross West Virginia flood relief efforts at www.rebuildwestvirginia.com; to text the word “WVFLOODS” to 909999 to make a $10.00 donation; or to call 1-800-273-0511 during the telethon to assist with the effort.
Entertainers, athletes, and others with strong ties to West Virginia who have agreed to appear on the Rebuild West Virginia telethon Friday, originating from the WVVA television studios in Bluefield WV, and/or the live concert event Sunday in Charleston, include America’s Got Talent winner and Logan WV resident Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., who is also donating all profits in the month of July from his new song Come Home To West Virginia to flood relief; Billy Ray Cyrus, country superstar and star of the new CMT series “Still The King;” actor and Princeton WV native Kevin Sizemore (Fear The Walking Dead: Flight 462, NCIS, Resurrection, Under The Dome, Rizzoli & Isles); Leonard Coleman and Blunt, the former lead singers of legendary groups the Temptations, Platters, and Drifters; Beckley WV resident Cody Wickline from Season Eight of “The Voice;” Mike Estes, formerly of Lynyrd Skynyrd; “Rocket Boys” New York Times #1 best selling author and Coalwood WV native Homer Hickam; Princeton resident Dreama “Mrs. Gilligan” Denver; Charleston WV’s The Carpenter Ants; actor Chad Lindberg (Fast and the Furious, October Sky); Lewisburg WV resident and former NBA star Bimbo Coles; major league pitching sensation and Charleston WV native John Kruk; Kenova native and Contemporary Christian superstar Michael W. Smith; and John Fogerty pianist/solo artist Bob Malone who has composed an original song for flood relief called “The River Gives.” MORE are expected to be added soon.
West Virginia was devastated by historic flooding June 23rd and 24th, causing the deaths of 23 residents, forcing thousands of residents to flee from their homes and businesses, and hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage. National Guard and FEMA are on site, along with tens of thousands of volunteers. Clean up efforts are expected to take many months.
The Friday evening telethon is airing from the studios of WVVA TV Bluefield WV from 7pm-9pm ET, will air across the USA and online, and is available for free for broadcasters to carry courtesy of the West Virginia Broadcasters Association. The Sunday evening July 3rd live concert event headlined by Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. will include a huge fireworks display and will be held at The Levee in downtown Charleston starting at 8pm. It will be a free event, with monetary and cleaning supply donations for the Red Cross being accepted on site.
