American Cancer Society Telethon volunteers gathered Sunday night for a dinner at Chantilly’s Banquet Hall in Barnesville to honor those who have made contributions to the fight.

The highlight of the evening was the Pat Haughton Award, designed to recognize someone whose exceptional contributions to the telethon extended over several years. It is named after one of the telethon’s founders, the late Pat Haughton.

Haughton was executive director of the Carbon-Tamaqua Unit of the American Cancer Society from 1976 until retiring in 1999.

In 1982, she took on additional responsibilities as executive director of the ACS Schuylkill Unit. She was instrumental in organizing the first telethon at Tamaqua High School in 1980.

Joe Krushinsky, telethon chairman, spoke about Haughton. She came and said, “Why don’t you do a telethon for the American Cancer Society? Here we are 42 or 43 years later.”

This year, Clementine “Clemie” Yamona of Hazleton, received the award. She’ll be 92 in December and has participated in all 42 of the Hazleton telethons.

Yamona said the fundraiser started because Hazleton wanted a unit and services. The Luzerne chapter said if they raised $25,000 they could do it. With the help of others, she organized a dance marathon that raised $29,000.

She commended the cancer telethon volunteers for continuing, especially last year with the pandemic.

“Your last telethon succeeded against all odds.”

Most of the telethon was held remotely, with people performing virtually or in small groups throughout the area.

Coming off a record year in 2019 with $250,334 raised, the 2020 telethon raised $178,975.

In accepting the award, Yamona mentioned her age and said, “Is anybody older than me? I thank God every day.”

She concluded, “Hopefully you will continue this fight. We’ve got to kill cancer.”

Tamaqua Elementary

Tamaqua Elementary teachers Jolene Barron and Danelle Kane were recognized for their fundraising efforts.

Barron, who organizes the daffodil sales at the school, said, “We feel it is more special to us that we are getting the children involved. The students love fundraisers, they get excited about the fundraising. We look forward to many more years of helping the cancer society.”

Kane, who accepted by video, said her family has been hard-hit by cancer. Her mother lost her battle to breast cancer, her brother had testicular cancer and she too had breast cancer two times. She has helped organize a Relay for Life team, dress-down days, a fun day and the students’ favorite, “Pie in the Face Day.”

It’s so much fun for everyone involved,” she said.

Her father, Joseph Ligenza Sr., was at the dinner and accepted the award.

“To me cancer is a four-letter word,” he said.

Other awards

Sue Urban accepted the Fundraiser Spotlight Award on behalf of Jerry McAward and the Lehighton Outdoor Center. She said the Lehighton Outdoor Center has not only restarted the raft race, but also provides space for daffodil sorting.

She said McAward is a “true example of giving to others.”

The Hope on the Hill team received the Robert E. Ames award, named in honor of the lifelong educator.

“The Hope on the Hill Relay Team of Hope of Christ Presbyterian Church combines faith, fellowship and community spirit for an important cause. They say they raise money to ‘fight the good fight,’?” Krushinsky said.

Damian Munoz started out as a student runner at the basket raffle, and with his brother Ivan joined the house band on the telethon. They received the Generation Next Leadership Award for their efforts.

Accepting the award, Ivan Munoz talked about the importance of music during the pandemic.

“We learned during the pandemic that we need people more than we realize.”

The Wheel Restaurant, with owner Savas Logothetides, received the business spotlight award for his efforts to help the cancer society. He thanked the cancer society for its positive effect on the community.

“We are blessed to be able to give back to the community,” he said.

The 2021 Cancer Telethon will be held from noon to midnight Aug. 14 and 15 at Penn’s Peak. The event will be broadcast on local cable stations and will stream online.