Sunday night’s 27th Chabad Telethon raised nearly $7.2 million.
The six-hour annual call-in event was broadcast live from Los Angeles on cable TV and online. It raises money for Chabad West Coast’s non-sectarian educational and social service programs, most notably drug rehabilitation, crisis intervention and senior services.
As usual, it was a celebrity-studded evening, boasting live appearances by actors Elliot Gould, Josh Malina and Mare Winningham, as well as long-time Chabad friend Jon Voight. Martin Sheen, Jackie Mason and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger were among those who sent pre-taped messages of support.
John R. Fishel, president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, also appeared onstage to enourage viewer support.
