The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) announces the relaunch of its Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon with Kevin Hart joining as host. The MDA Kevin Hart Kids Telethon will be a 2-hour special airing globally on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 8:00pm ET (streaming partners to be announced).
The virtual fundraising event will give audiences the opportunity to support the essential work of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, as well as Kevin Hart’s Help From the Hart charity. Hart will be joined by celebrity guests including Jack Black, Usain Bolt, Josh Gad, Michael B. Jordan, Eva Longoria, Jillian Mercado, and more, according to a media release from MDA.
Additional live content will include 7 weeks of live gaming and esports events leading up to and simultaneously with The MDA Kevin Hart Kids Telethon. MDA is an active member of the gaming community on a year-round weekly basis through the MDA Let’s Play gaming platform, which will host the gaming events starting September 12 and taking place on Twitch every Saturday until the final marathon stream called MDA Let’s Play For A Cure on October 24. Each week will feature top gaming influencers and showcase the most popular game titles including Fortnite, Fall Guys and Minecraft.
In addition, per the release, viewers will have access to an overtime show that will run outtakes and entertaining content from the making of the telethon.
“This is an incredible opportunity to bring the work of Jerry Lewis and the Muscular Dystrophy Association forward. I’m honored to collaborate with MDA and my organization, to educate and entertain the public about the need to support people with disabilities and disadvantages, because we are all in this together. I can’t wait to have an incredible night for two critically important causes that are in urgent need of funding and hope.”
— Kevin Hart
Donations to Help From the Hart support community-based organizations that address the educational, health and social needs of underserved communities, in addition to helping youth obtain higher learning through education scholarships and vocational training.
Telethon Aims to Raise Funds for Research
Funds raised from this event go directly to MDA to provide funding for research that is shared freely to develop treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS and over 43 related neuromuscular diseases including Duchenne and SMA. Funding also supports a network of medical care teams at over 150 MDA Care Centers at the nation’s top medical institutions.
“For decades Jerry Lewis brought the world together through the historic Labor Day telethon, establishing an incredible foundation of help and hope for MDA and the families we serve. The telethon was instrumental in raising awareness and donations that today have been directly linked to the development of life-changing therapies for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related neuromuscular diseases.
“Kevin Hart and the Help From the Hart organization are the perfect match for MDA to bring the magic and power of the telethon into a new era of giving, and to bring the remarkable stories of strength of MDA families into the hearts and homes of people across the country.”
— MDA President and CEO Lynn O’Connor Vos
“As MDA’s National Ambassador I am excited to be a part of such a fun event alongside Kevin Hart to support MDA as they work to help find a cure for my disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases.”
— Ethan LyBrand (11), MDA’s 2020-21 National Ambassador
[Source(s): Muscular Dystrophy Association, PR Newswire]
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