Jerry Lewis greets Celine Dion Sunday night after she opened the legendary comedian's 41st Labor Day Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The Telethon, broadcast nationwide from the South Coast Hotel (soon to be the South Point Hotel) in Las Vegas, generated a record $61 million in pledges and contributions. The International Association of Fire Fighters, a longtime national sponsor of MDA, contributed a record $23.5 million, representing their year-round fund-raising efforts.

MDA TELETHON RAISES
RECORD $61 MILLION

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 4, 2006 - Thanks to an all-star talent list headed by Celine Dion and a quarter of a million dedicated volunteers across the country, the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon set a record in contributions and pledges.

As MDA's 41st Telethon ended at 6 p.m. EDT today, the tote board showed an all-time high of $61,013,855 for the voluntary health organization's programs of research and services to benefit people with neuromuscular diseases.

"I'm deeply gratified by the generosity of the American public," MDA National Chairman Jerry Lewis said. "They never fail to come through for 'my kids' who have muscular dystrophy and other conditions that waste muscles and too often shorten lives."

Lewis, 80, returned to star in the Telethon despite a heart attack in June. He has never missed a Telethon.

This year's show was dedicated to longtime MDA President & CEO Robert Ross, who died in June.

Returning to "the entertainment capital of the world" after 12 years in Hollywood. The 211/2-hour live Telethon originated from the South Coast Hotel in Las Vegas and was broadcast nationwide and in Canada on the 190 stations in MDA's "Love Network."

Jerry Lewis wipes away tears Monday evening as the tote board indicates that the legendary comedian's 41st Labor Day Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association achieved a record $61 million in pledges and contributions.

Lewis announced Monday that the Telethon would return to the South Coast Hotel in 2007, soon to be renamed South Point Hotel.

America's best "sidekick" Ed McMahon returned as the Telethon's anchor, while Jann Carl of "Entertainment Tonight"; Tom Bergeron, host of "America's Funniest Videos" and "Dancing With the Stars"; popular talk show host Larry King; "General Hospital" star Kelly Monaco; Billy Gilman, award-winning singer; and comedians Norm Crosby and Bob Zany assisted Lewis as co-hosts.

This year's Telethon talent included appeals from the country's most popular actors, singers and TV personalities. Live and taped performances ranged from musical guests in country, pop, rock, gospel and variety acts. Some of Broadway's best casts were also showcased.

In addition to the tote board figure, which reflects pledges and donations, a number of MDA sponsors presented checks representing their year-round fund-raising efforts for MDA. Leading this group was a record contribution of $23.5 million from the International Association of Fire Fighters, the highest yearly contribution ever from any MDA sponsor.

Profiled and interviewed on the Telethon were several families living with neuromuscular diseases.

The Telethon drew international viewers via its live Webcast at www.mda.org through streaming media provided by RealNetworks."

This remarkably successful effort will mean the world to the tens of thousands of individuals and families who are fighting neuromuscular diseases," Lewis said. "I'd like to thank everyone involved in making this really terrific show the best Telethon ever."