Plans progressing for 54th annual Ernie Blankenship Radio-Telethon
From left, event organizer Judge Rocky Coss, emcees Herb Day and Rick Williams and event organizer Doug Karnes are pictured at the 53rd annual Ernie Blankenship Radio-Telethon in 2025. (HCP Photo/Caitlin Forsha)
Courtesy of Judge Rocky Coss
Hillsboro Rotary Club
Planning is underway for the 54th annual Ernie Blankenship Radio-Telethon conducted by the Hillsboro and Greenfield Rotary Clubs for the benefit of the Highland County Society for Children and Adults.
The Hillsboro Rotary Club broadcast will take place on Wednesday, March 25 from 7-9 p.m. at the Hillsboro Orpheum. This year’s host bank will be NCB and its employees.
The Rotary Club event will be broadcast live on Channel 13 of the Spectrum Cable System, on WSRW 101.5 FM and WSRW AM 1590, iHeart radio. It will also be live-streamed on the Society’s website, hicoso.org. and on Tech-t.com’s website. Terry Mikkelsen, owner of Tech-t.com will again provide the equipment for the broadcast and live-streaming.
The Greenfield Rotary Club event will be broadcast live on the same evening from the Greenfield McClain High School studio from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on WVNU radio and the Spectrum community access channel in the Greenfield area.
Rotarians at both locations will take pledges during the event by telephone or in person. Pledges can be made during the radio-telethon by calling (937) 402-5557 in Hillsboro or (937) 981-7731 in Greenfield. Donations can also be made on line through the Society’s Facebook page or website. Any donation, no matter the amount will be appreciated. Checks payable to HCCSA can be dropped off at any local bank or mailed to the Society at P.O. Box 972, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133.
There will be several items donated to be auctioned during the event including sports memorabilia, game tickets and other items which will be announced in March. Bids can be submitted during the event by telephone or in person.
• As part of the fundraising for the event, the Society Board and the Highland County Family YMCA will be conducting the Chili Cook-Off on March 10 at theYMCA in Hillsboro at 11:30 a.m.and the annual Chili Supper and Dessert Auction on March 17 from 4:30-7 p.m. at the Hillsboro AmVets.
The two Rotary Clubs raised over $168,000 during the 2025 event, all of which is used by the Society to provide assistance and services to Highland County children and adults who are unable to pay for expenses for necessary medical treatment, transportation, equipment, pharmaceutical and other health care devices and services. The total raised by the event over the past 53 years is over $4.5 million.
The Highland County Society for Children & Adults is a non-profit corporation founded in November of 1950. It has a volunteer board of trustees representing each township in the county who employ a part-time Executive Director responsible for reviewing and approving requests for assistance from county residents.