42nd Children’s Miracle Network Telethon to air on WGAL8

HERSHEY, Pa. — The 42nd annual Children’s Miracle Network Telethon benefiting Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital will air Monday, June 1, through Thursday, June 4, on WGAL8. Telethon segments throughout the week will highlight the stories of children who have received life-saving care at the children’s hospital, followed by a finale special at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 4. Gifts will support equipment, programs and research.

Telethon viewers will be encouraged to make a gift online at WGAL.com or at CMNHershey.org. Donors who would like to give by phone may contact the CMN office at 717-531-6606 or mail their gift to CMN, P.O. Box 852, Hershey, PA 17033.

Eight-year-old Izzy Rivera, of Wernersville, is one of several local children who will be featured during the broadcast. At six months old, Izzy was airlifted to the children’s hospital in critical condition. Soon after arriving, her heart stopped, and a member of her care team performed CPR to save her life. She was then placed on a donor-funded heart-lung machine and underwent lifesaving heart surgery within 24 hours.

A few years later, Izzy faced another medical crisis and needed emergency brain surgery. Throughout her journey, donor support helped provide the lifesaving care, equipment and supportive programs that gave her a second chance.

Music therapy helped ease her pain during treatments, while Child Life services gave her opportunities to play, cope and simply be a kid during hospital stays. Today, Izzy is thriving in school and loves collecting stuffed animals. Her parents remind her often: you are brave, you are strong.

Izzy designed this year’s 42nd-anniversary telethon T-shirt, featuring the Life Lion helicopter that helped save her life. The shirt will be given to donors who make a recurring monthly pledge of $35 or more.

This year’s telethon is sponsored by Johnson Controls; The Hershey Co.; Hershey Entertainment & Resorts; Woodstream Corp.; Donegal Insurance Group; Vizo Financial Corporate Credit Union; Highmark Bright Blue Futures; McClure Co. Shollenberger, Januzzi & Wolfe LLP; Universal Media; JPL; and Member’s 1st Federal Credit Union.

Learn more and give at CMNHershey.org.

About Children’s Miracle Network at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is a nonprofit organization affiliated with 170 children’s hospitals, including Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital. Local donations to Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) fund equipment, patient programs and pediatric research at Penn State Health Golisano Children's Hospital, which is the top-rated and most comprehensive children’s hospital between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, fully equipped to treat the most severely ill or injured children with both the highest-level neonatal intensive care unit and a Level I pediatric trauma center. CMN’s mission is to save kids’ lives and improve their quality of care.

About Philanthropy at Penn State

Gifts advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni, faculty, and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the Commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.