In 1978, Jim Maloof started the St. Jude Telethon in Peoria, IL.

With the help of WEEK TV and VIP fundraisers, the first ever St. Jude Telethon raised $90,100 for the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Jim Maloof was the host of every St. Jude Telethon until his passing in 2013. By then, the St. Jude Telethon was raising a toteboard total of over $7 million! In Jim Maloof’s fundraising lifetime, with the help of local events, VIPs and St. Jude runners, Central Illinois raised a cumulative total of over $81 million!

This event is the longest running event in Central and Southern Illinois and would not have been possible without Jim Maloof. Because of his vision for 44 years, the St. Jude Telethon has served as the culminating event for Central & Southern Illinois’ year-round fundraising campaigns.

The Telethon features the finish line for the St. Jude Runs program, as well as check presentations from year-round fundraising events. Through runners, volunteers, donors, and well-wishers, more than 6,000 people gather at the Peoria Civic Center to celebrate the incredible mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.