RBTV will hold its annual telethon on February 23 . The telethon has been a recurring event in the history of RB.  The first telethon aired in 1989.

“There have been 20 different fundraising events [in the past], most of which were telethons,” said RBTV teacher Gary Prokes.

Proceeds from the telethon go to the Riverside Brookfield Education Foundation (RBEF).

“The money raised goes towards student and faculty grants,” Prokes said.  “In the spring the foundation has a grant where teachers and students can apply to the foundation to help offset costs of educational enrichment opportunities.”

This year, the telethon will feature new hosts and a new incentive for donation.

“At different levels of contribution, your name will be displayed on a light up marquee outside of the school,” Prokes said.

People who give fifty dollars or more will get this new reward as thanks for their contribution.

The telethon will run from 1 – 9 p.m..  The planned host list is as follows:

1 – 3:  English teachers Wendy Cassens, Daniel o’ Rourke, and Applied Arts Department chair Pattie Farlee.

3 – 5:  Principal Pamela Bylsma, and Special Education teachers Colleen Ireland and Michelle Bauer.

5 – 7:  RBEF President JoAnne Kosey, Fine Arts teacher Blair Jensen,  and World Language teacher Deirdre Sullivan

7 – 9:  Science teacher Dave Monti and two RB alumni

Entertainment throughout the show will include the improv club Shenanigans, magic from last year’s RB’s Got Talent winner TJ Ketchmark, a choir performance led by Fine Arts Department Chair Diane Marelli, and much more.

The telethon will stream live at www.rbtv.tv.  It will also be shown locally on Comcast channel 16 and statewide on AT&T U-Verse channel 99.