THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994 TAG: 9405280170
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI LEWIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940602 LENGTH: Medium
As chairman, Eisen is coordinating the efforts of a 17-person team that's responsible for the local arm of this weekend's telethon. Her responsibilities include volunteer recruitment, food, hospitality, guest relations, auditing, pledge verification, security and phone bank training.
{REST} Eisen will also make an appearance on the air, and describe all of the volunteer efforts which go on behind the scenes.
The Children's Miracle Network Telethon airs Saturday and Sunday over WVEC-TV 13. Proceeds from the local arm of the telethon will benefit Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters.
The local segments will be broadcast from the lobby of the children's hospital from 11:30 p.m. Saturday until 8 p.m. Sunday.
Local personalities Sherri Brennan, Joe Flanagan, Barbara Ciara, Terry Zahn, Kathy Barnstorff and Regina Mobley will host the local segments of the telethon. National celebrities include Marie Osmond, Jon Schneider, Mary Hart and Merlin Olsen.
This may be Eisen's first year as chairman, but it's her fourth as a member of the committee. She previously was in charge of volunteer recruitment.
The Philadelphia native is married to lawyer Robert D. Eisen. They have a daughter, Faye, 13, and a son, Michael, 11. Both are students at Norfolk Collegiate.
``I have two absolutely healthy children,'' Eisen said. ``This is a way to show my gratitude.''
Eisen stopped working outside the home when her children were born, but continued to do volunteer work and free-lance writing.
She formerly taught English at Maury High School and was a press secretary and speech writer for a congressional candidate. She was also associate editor, senior editor, and managing editor for Metro Magazine. For two years she served as co-president of the Beth El Sisterhood.
Eisen said she was not apprehensive about taking on the responsibilities of committee chairman because of the support of Karen Gershman, the hospital's telethon and special events coordinator, and the committee members themselves, some of whom have been involved with the telethon since its inception.
``It's an incredible committee. It's composed of very professional people who take their role on the committee very seriously,'' Eisen said. ``And I've yet to meet anybody with any motivation other than the kids.''
The telethon committee started meeting in March. It is made up of people from a variety of walks of life. ``They do their jobs without prompting or cajoling,'' Eisen said, ``but they're also cohesive and fun.''
That fun spirit helps smooth over any minor bumps that may pop up - like the time when the hospital's air conditioner went on the blitz, dropping the temperatures on the set in the lobby low enough that lab coats and blankets had to be passed out to all of the volunteers.
``We are so grateful for volunteers like Paula,'' Gershman said. ``That is what has sustained the hospital over the years. We are so fortunate to have all these friends in the community who believe in the work we do.''
The 1993 National Telethon raised more than $116 million. Of that, $942,297 was raised locally and directly benefited CHKD.
``We have a very good chance to hit $1,000,000,'' Gershman said. ``Year after year, the support gets stronger and we're optimistic that people will be moved by what they see.''
What they will see are pre-taped features about local children who have received care from the hospital. They include Autumn Hendershot, a teen equestrian who is successfully battling cancer; Cory Maier, who at 3 days old had surgery at CHKD to correct a severe cleft lip and palate; Daughtry Wright, a now-thriving baby who weighed just 1 pound at birth; Christian Mateer, who almost died from food poisoning; and Mika Fox, a child with Down Syndrome, who is growing up with the guidance of CHKD's Children's Development Center.
``As long as people continue to be aware of the wonderful work that's being done at CHKD we will continue to get support,'' Eisen said.
by CNB