This year’s Dream Come True telethon netted $85,248 in pledges and donations.

The four-hour telethon was broadcast Sunday night on Blue Ridge Communication TV-13 and Service Electric Cable.

Last year, the telethon raised a total of $99,076.

Eileen Thompson, coordinator of the event, said the figure raised still surpassed expectations.

“I was hoping to hit $85,000 and we went over,” she said.

She said the main reason for the lower total is because the rainy summer affected many of the fundraisers for Dream Come True.

“Mother Nature wasn’t good to us on a lot of our fundraisers,” she said.

There were several major presentations made during the program.

Tony Wolfe, representing the Hunter Wolfe Memorial Golf Tournament, gave a check totaling $19,605.88.

Taylor Green, one of 13 members of the fifth grade class of Lehigh Township Elementary School, gave a check totaling $16,165 representing various fund raisers. They were accompanied by teacher Michael Fronheiser.

Fronheiser was one of 14 recipients of “Dream Makers” awards given for years of support for the Dream Come True program.

A check in the amount of $13,701 was presented by Wayne Halliday and committee members of United Dream Ride.

The Walnutport Playground presented a check for $7,200.

A check totaling $3,414 was given by Jimmy Pasquariello as the amount raised by a Bath Motorcycle Ride.

Hosting the show telethon were Kim Bell and George Roberts of Blue Ridge Communications TV-13, Dr. Edward Miller and Kristal Nemeroff.

Nemeroff, who has osteogenesis imperfecta, which causes bones to become brittle and break easily, had a dream come true in 1996 when she was 8 years old. The Dream Come True organization hosted a trip for her to Disney World.

“That was one of my favorite memories and experiences every,” she said of the Disney World trip.

The Effort resident has been appearing on the annual telethon regularly as an appreciative gesture for that dream.

She soloed on the telethon and sang a closing duet, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” with acclaimed vocalist Tommy Zito.

Other recipients of Dream Makers plaques were: Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank; P. J. Whelihan’s Pub; Eric J. Heiney; Sebelin Law Offices P.C.; Billy’s Body and Paint; Bath Chemical Engine and Hose Company No. 1; Bimbo Bakeries; Friedens Fire Company; Subway of Palmerton; First Northern Bank and Trust; Duane Deppe; Joan Deppe and Marlene Kriner.

Craig Zurn, who represented Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank, presented three checks to Dream Come True, which combined totaled $1,650.

Thompson said she was pleased with the talent that performed at the telethon.

“I think we had an amazing turnout of talent,” she said.

Dream Come True is an organization which grants wishes to seriously ill children.

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.

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 confirm the child’s condition, and two Dream Come True volunteers then visit the child to talk about their dream. The 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.

Dream recipients are also eligible for a scholarship, $1,000 per semester for a maximum of $8,000 to further their education. Sixteen children have either completed or participated in the scholarship program.