"Day of Giving" raises more than $60,000

Brett and Krista Hobson during TV interview.

Another "Day," many more dollars raised for Children’s Hospital Boston. On December 12, a CBS4 "Day of Giving," the second this year, brought in more than $60,000.

CBS 4 newscasts featured interviews with Children's patients and families, including eight-month-old Brett Hobson and his mother, Krista. At Children's recently for a routine check-up, Brett was diagnosed with leukemia. "It was your worst nightmare," Krista told CBS4 anchor Lisa Hughes, "but Children's was absolutely incredible."

CBS4 and Children's have now partnered on three "Days" in the last 12 months, raising about $155,000. Viewers are asked to call in their donations or give online at the Children's Web site. During the most recent effort, CBS4 streamed live video to its Web site and heavily promoted the hospital's online giving page, sparking a significant increase in online gifts.

“The CBS4 Day of Giving has become a wonderful holiday tradition,” said James Mandell, MD, president and CEO of Children’s Hospital Boston. “Lisa Hughes and CBS4 staff have been valuable partners for over two decades, helping generate millions of dollars that have significantly strengthened the hospital’s ability to improve children’s health in Boston and worldwide.”

Ed Piette, CBS4 President and General Manager, shares Mandell's enthusiasm for the partnership. “It is a win-win situation for both CBS4 and Children’s Hospital Boston because we’re building greater awareness for the hospital, generating critical fundraising revenue and demonstrating our mutual mission to care for thousands of patients and families each year,” he said.

Children's first joined forces with CBS4 in the 1980s with the launch of the annual WBZ-Telethon. That was officially replaced last year by a new "CBS 4 Kids" program. In addition to the "Day of Giving" specials, CBS4 now features regular broadcasts of Children's stories and news reports by Lisa Hughes. Video clips are posted on the station's Web site, and linked from the hospital's CBS 4 Kids page.