A long television broadcast where viewers are encouraged to donate money to charity, often featuring entertainment and celebrity appearances.
A portmanteau of 'television' + 'marathon,' blending the two words together. First popularized in the 1950s during fundraising events, particularly associated with Jerry Lewis and muscular dystrophy telethons.
The telethon is a uniquely American invention that combined two things: TV's power to reach millions + the marathon's idea of sustained effort, creating one of the most successful fundraising models—some telethons have raised over $100 million in a single night.
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