The Blue Ridge Chapter of Dream Come True will hold its annual telethon Sunday night at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe.

A keystone event for the chapter, the telethon runs from 5 to 9 p.m. and will be televised by Blue Ridge Communications TV-13, and Service Electric in the Tamaqua area."It's our opportunity to highlight Dream Come True and thank the folks who did fundraising for us throughout the year," said Eileen Thompson, president of the Blue Ridge Chapter."We couldn't do what we do without the support of these groups and individuals."Thompson said around $75,000 was raised for the chapter by the end of the 2013 telethon.All the money goes toward fulfilling dreams of seriously ill children in the local area.Each year, Dream Maker Awards are presented at the telethon. Dream Maker awards were initiated to honor people, corporations and organizations that have gone above and beyond to assist Dream Come True in fulfilling its mission of providing a dream for every eligible child in our service area.The 2014 recipients are Danny Rhodes, John Bedics, Thomson's Meat Market, Carbon Mountaineers Marine Corps League Detachment 996, Tony Wolfe, Country Harvest and the American Legion Riders West End Memorial Post 927.George Roberts, Kristal Nemeroff, Dr. Ed Miller and Nick Hawkey will host the telethon.Entertainment includes "Piano Man" Tommy Zito as the house band, Blue Mountain Community Church, Dance With Kim, Shane McGeehan and Livi Morrison, Jupiters Arrow, Erin Kelley and Lynn DeHaven, John Breidinger, Elizabethtown College Vocalign, Jean Andrews and American Dream, Ivory Blue (Frank and Risa Hall), and Bill Haley's Comets.Telethon sponsors include Ackley-Sweeney Advertising, Country Inn and Suites, First Northern Bank and Trust, George LaRose Insurance Ltd., Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank, PenTeleData, Rentschler Chevrolet Chrysler Jeep Dodge Foundation, R.F. Ohl Fuel Oil Inc. and William G. Schwab and Associates.The telethon is open to the public and free to attend."Seven dreams have been completed in 2014 with 11 more in various stages of fulfillment," Thompson said.Several dream recipients will be on hand at the telethon to talk about their experience. People or groups can help make a dream come true in various ways including making a donation, referring a child, volunteering or holding a fundraiser event for the benefit of the chapter.Telethon viewers are encouraged to help make a dream come true by calling in a pledge during the telethon to 610-826-9600, or call the toll free number, 800-585-1240.Referrals, donations and volunteer sign-ups can all be done at the chapter's website, dreamcometrue-brc.org.Donations can also be mailed to Dream Come True, Blue Ridge Chapter, P.O. Box 344, Palmerton, PA, 18071.Qualifying children can come from families of all income levels from Carbon, upper Lehigh, lower Monroe and parts of Schuylkill counties. The children must be between 4 years old and their 18th birthday.Dreams consist of whatever the child requests but usually are trips, contact with celebrities or other special gifts such as computers, shopping sprees or redecorated bedrooms."We recently had a girl who went to California to dance at some of the dance studios out there," Thompson said.When a child is referred for a dream, a letter is sent to the child's family, who must give permission for the fulfillment. The child's physicians then confirms the child's condition and two Dream Come True volunteers then visit the child to talk about their dream. The 15-member, all volunteer, Blue Ridge Chapter Board of Directors then names a team to begin the process of fulfilling the dream. The entire process can take anywhere from three months to two years to be completed, depending on the child's request and medical issues.The average dream costs between $5,000 and $7,000.When a child has a dream, they are invited each year to a holiday party and a special summer event, which this year was a day at Knoebels amusement park, including a picnic lunch and ride tickets for the family.Dream recipients are also eligible for a scholarship, $1,000 per semester with a max of $8,000, to further their education. Five children are currently participating in the program.The organization also helps with funeral costs for children who pass away.