Annual Franklin Regional Holiday Telethon will benefit new 'Mini-THON' club's fundraising efforts

It may have been two decades ago, but Franklin Regional multimedia teacher Becky Magness doesn’t have any trouble recalling the first holiday telethon her multimedia students produced.

“Our first one was live outside of Walmart, and it was so cold that our cameras were actually freezing,” Magness said.

They also blew a power circuit at Walmart when they plugged in a bunch of electronic equipment. But just like every year, it was a learning experience,” Magness said.

“Every year the kids learn a little more about the equipment, and it’s really cool to see how they grow over time,” Magness said.

The 20th annual Franklin Regional Holiday Telethon will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. It will be aired live on Comcast local access Channel 21 in Murrysville, and will be streamed at the “FRHSTV Franklin Regional” YouTube page.

Below, watch a livestream of the 2022 telethon.

And while the telethon will feature the traditional mix of live shots, pre-taped segments and student performances, one new aspect will be this year’s beneficiary: Franklin Regional students started a Mini-THON Club at the high school this year.

Modeled on the very successful annual THON at Penn State University, the club will work to raise money which provides services to pediatric cancer patients and their families through care, support and research.

And just like Penn State THON, the Mini-THON Club is looking to host a similar scaled-down version of the group’s massive all-night dance party later in the school year. The club has set a goal of raising $20,000 this year.

“We were kind of blown away when Becky approached us as the charity of choice this year,” said school counselor and Mini-THON staff sponsor Carrie Jones. “The student who came to me with the idea for this club wanted it to be service-oriented, but also wanted to start building a collaborative culture among all our clubs.”

Another new feature this year is the ability to donate online via a QR code.

The public also is invited to visit the telethon on Dec. 22 to purchase chances on a series of raffle baskets.

“I love watching my students work, because they’re so excited about it,” Magness said. “And I love that it’s combined with service — the kids aren’t just doing it because they love it, but also because they’re raising money for a good cause every year.”

Jones agreed.

“It’s pretty powerful to watch what these kids do, how skilled they are and how involved they get,” she said.

To watch the livestream of the telethon, see YouTube.com/@FRHSTVFranklinRegional.