Bob Kurth, Mike Donlin, Leroy Kellen and Tom Loutsch make calls to community members during their hour-long shift at the Knights of Columbus annual phonothon Wednesday, which raised more than $48,000. Ninety percent goes to Life Skills Training Center, of Le Mars, and 10 percent goes to Iowa Special Olympics. [Click to enlarge]

Le Mars KC Phonothon chair Dennis Bollin reported a total of $48,467 was raised by the close of the phonothon at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

"That's a stellar effort," Bollin said, adding some follow up calls may inch the total higher. "It was a long day but people dug deep and they responded well. There's a lot of generosity out there."

Ninety percent of the money raised stays in Plymouth County and goes to Life Skills Training Center in Le Mars, a facility which trains and employs persons with disabilities for jobs in the area. The remaining 10 percent goes to the Iowa Special Olympics.

This year's goal was $45,000, with a challenge goal of $48,000.

Bollin reported the totals for each community: Hinton $1,542; Akron $3,966; Kingsley, $4,240; Remsen $7,532 and Le Mars and Merrill, $31,187.

At the Le Mars KC Hall, 108 members made calls during the 12 hours, each manning a one-hour shift. Similar efforts were made in the other communities.

Since its beginning, the KC Phonothon has raised more than $940,000 for persons with disabilities. Bollin noted it would have been nice to reach the $1 million mark this year, but added that meant raising $52,000.

(Advertisement)

"We came close. It will be hit in the first hour next year," said Bollin.

Becky Scheitler, public relations coordinator for Life Skills Training Center, said the money raised will be used for several needs at the center.

"We needed to replace windows at the center, and will combine this money with Local Option Sales Tax funds we have received to complete that job," Scheitler said. Two new air conditioner units, Z-racks to hang uniforms and replacement of 20 laundry carts at a cost of $200 each are also on this year's list of items to be funded by phonothon funds.

"For us, equipment is important to our mission of training clients, just as textbooks are to students in school," Scheitler said.

Scheitler also gives praise to the Knights of Columbus across Plymouth County for their work on the phonothon. "Countywide, an estimated 150 or more KCs are on the phone that day, calling people and asking for donations," Scheitler said. "It is a tremendous effort and they really pull together."

Scheitler, who works at the Le Mars site each year, said the phonothon goes like clockwork.

"It just amazes me, people walk in the door with their checks all day and throughout the evening," she said. "What other fundraiser do you see people do that. The support of Plymouth County residents is just tremendous for Life Skills and we appreciate it so much."