August 20, 2019 submitted by Jay Tolman for the MDA
As Labor Day rapidly approaches, The Tolman Family and their “Telethon Team” are making final preparations for the 43rd annual MDA “Telethon” Party, which will begin Labor Day, Monday September 2nd, 11am-4pm at Congregation Sha’aray Shalom, located at 1112 Main Street in Hingham, to help raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).
Monday’s entertainment will kick-off with special MDA Car Show, bands, “Back In Session”, “Positive Emotion”, “The Vanilla Burritos” and more!, Bouncy Houses, Pony Rides, Face Painting/Balloon Animals, Huge Cookout, Prizes/T-Shirts, Silent Auction/Raffles, , Awards and more!
How many adults remember holding backyard carnivals for MDA when they were children? The carnival kits provided by MDA – featuring tickets, games, booths and shows – were popular in the 1960s and 70s, raising thousands of dollars to help children and adults with neuromuscular diseases.
1966 was the first 21 hour national Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. How many remember watching the Jerry Lewis Telethon over the years? Our local “Telethon” event was recognized nationally,and featured on the Jerry Lewis Telethon in the late 90”s. What started out as a small MDA party fundraiser, with a handful of Jay’s friends, raising $50 the first year, has grown, and has to date raised over $639,000 for MDA. The Hingham MDA “Telethon” event has become a family and community event and tradition. The event began at Jay’s mother’s back yard in 1977, at the Hingham Community Center in 1988, and now at Congregation Sha’aray Shalom, on Main Street in Hingham, in 2011.
For many years Jay returned from Hollywood, Ca to organize the MDA event in Hingham, and then for 17 years, Jay and his family would caravan up from Princeton, NJ to host the MDA “Telethon” event in Hingham. Now living in Cohasset for 10 years, has made for a less stressful journey to organize and put on the event. “I grew up in Hingham, and this special event has its roots in Hingham, and is where we will always have this event for MDA.”
Jay states. “It’s hard to believe that we are in our 5th decade of our MDA “Telethon” event. So many wonderful memories and caring people that have gotten involved with our efforts and support the goals of the MDA. With the support of my wife Jodi, and my three amazing children, Charlie, Chloe, and Jack, and the unending support and compassion of our amazing, “Telethon Team”, our fight continues. Our desire and commitment is to help MDA find treatments and cures for the forty three neuromuscular diseases such as Duchene and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). The tradition of caring continues for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
If you would like to learn more about the Tolman MDA “Telethon” Party, the history of this event, join the fun, or donate and join our “virtual” team, contact Jay Tolman at tagtolner@gmail.com or www.tolmantelethon.com.
MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.