The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon has raised billions of dollars thanks to the generosity of people like you and the work of civic groups like the firefighters and many of our country's leading corporations. As you watch the telethon, it's important to remember that the numbers you see on the toteboard are strictly those of the people who phone in and make a pledge.

Here's a history of what the final totes were each year.

  • 1966 - $ 1,002,114
  • 1967 - $ 1,126,846
  • 1968 - $ 1,401,876
  • 1969 - $ 2,039,139
  • 1970 - $ 5,093,385
  • 1971 - $ 8,125,387
  • 1972 - $ 9,200,754
  • 1973 - $12,395,983
  • 1974 - $16,129,213
  • 1975 - $18,868,499
  • 1976 - $21,723,813
  • 1977 - $26,841,490
  • 1978 - $29,074,405
  • 1979 - $30,075,227
  • 1980 - $31,103,787
  • 1981 - $31,498,772
  • 1982 - $28,415,339
  • 1983 - $30,691,627
  • 1984 - $32,074,566
  • 1985 - $33,181,652
  • 1986 - $34,096,773
  • 1987 - $39,021,723
  • 1988 - $41,132,113
  • 1989 - $42,209,727
  • 1990 - $44,172,186
  • 1991 - $45,071,857
  • 1992 - $45,759,368
  • 1993 - $46,014,922
  • 1994 - $47,105,396
  • 1995 - $47,827,221
  • 1996 - $49,146,555
  • 1997 - $50,475,055
  • 1998 - $51,577,023
  • 1999 - $53,116,417
  • 2000 - $54,610,289
  • 2001 - $56,780,603
  • 2002 - $58,276,118
  • 2003 - $60,505,234
  • 2004 - $59,398,915
  • 2005 - $54,921,586
  • 2006 - $61,013,855
  • 2007 - $63,759,478
  • 2008 - $65,031,393
  • 2009 - $60,481,231

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1966 - 1st telethon to ever raise over a million dollars

1968 - 1st telethon to ever be networked

1970 - 1st telethon ever seen coast to coast

1972 - 1st telethon ever seen outside the continental U.S.

1974 - (UPI) - - "The largest sum ever raised in a single event
for humanitarian purposes."

1980 - (Guinness Book Of Records) "Greatest number of dollars pledged
to a charitable event in history."


© 2010 Chris DeBello
All Rights Reserved. Any copying or republishing of any of this material without expressed written consent is prohibited.