The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon

By Paula Green

The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon began in 1956, when Lewis hosted the Thanksgiving Party for MDA to raise funds for families battling muscle diseases in New York City. Co-hosting with his comedic partner Dean Martin, Lewis helped raise more than $600,000 in the telethon’s early years.

Building on this charitable mission, a televised MDA telethon in 1966 raised over $1 million—a testament to the event's value in garnering nationwide support for those affected by muscle diseases. This paved the way for Labor Day weekends to become synonymous with the telethon and its outreach.

At that time, before the advent of cable TV, most households could only tune into four basic channels. The telethon quickly became a Labor Day tradition for many families, with viewers pledging donations by phone. In later years, contributions expanded to include online giving and text-to-donate campaigns. Direct marketing and sponsor-driven fundraising also supported the campaign.

As a result of its growing popularity, the telethon became a mark of the transition from summer to fall for viewers nationwide. A highlight for viewers was the star-studded lineup, featuring guests such as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Celine Dion, and even The Muppets.

The all-time highlight in telethon history was the 1976 reunion of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, staged by their mutual friend Frank Sinatra. It was their first public appearance together in 20 years—an unforgettable moment in television history.

The telethon became a vital force in raising awareness and donations for those fighting muscular dystrophy, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and other devastating muscle diseases. Its enduring impact highlights the telethon’s role as a beacon of hope and support since its inception.

Because of Lewis’s partnership with the MDA, those afflicted with the disease became known as “Jerry’s Kids.” Each year, a few of these children shared their stories on air, giving viewers personal insight into their experiences.

In December 1996, Lewis and MDA were recognized by the American Medical Association with Lifetime Achievement Awards "for significant and lasting contributions to the health and welfare of humanity."

In subsequent years, as MDA expanded its other sources of income, it gradually reduced reliance on the telethon. In 2010, the 21½-hour show was shortened, followed by a six-hour program in 2011. The 2012 telethon, now known as the MDA Show of Strength Telethon, aired for three hours.

By 2013 and 2014, the show lasted only a mere two hours. A milestone was marked on August 31, 2014—the final year Jerry Lewis hosted. In May 2015, MDA announced that it was discontinuing its telethon, citing "the new realities of television viewing and philanthropic giving."

Sadly, Jerry Lewis passed away on August 20, 2017, at 91. During his years hosting the telethon, over $2 billion was raised to strengthen the fight against muscle diseases. 

His love for ‘Jerry’s Kids’ always shone through. Each Labor Day, Lewis inspired millions to reflect on those less fortunate—a legacy that endures to this day.