Community generosity shines as Jude’s Jingle Tree raises over $300,000 for Home of the Innocents

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- WDRB Mornings presented their donation check to Home of the Innocents on Friday after closing out the eighth year of Jude's Jingle Tree - and to no surprise, this year topped them all!

Jude and the WDRB Mornings crew started at the end of November opening up ornaments and donations on the show and hanging them on their trees from Robert's Family Farm.

This year, participation was overwhelming and another record was broken. WDRB presented a check to the Home of the Innocents for $344,056.50!

Donations can still be made through Christmas on the Home of the Innocents website.

Jude filled the weather garden with not one, not two, but three trees this year, with plans to fill them all full of ornaments. To no surprise, he did just that!

Throughout the Jingle Tree season, several businesses and organizations visited WDRB Mornings to present their donations and ornaments, including Zeppa's, Craft House Pizza, Zeon Chemicals, Vincenzo's, Brownsboro Hardware and Paint, and more.

Charlestown Fire Department brought the uniqueness factor this year, bringing a firetruck to WDRB Mornings and extending their ladder into the weather garden and all the way up to the tree to hang their ornaments!

Along with appearances from businesses and organization, Jude brought back the Jingle Tree Concert Series, where we got to hear music right here in the weather garden from several bands and artists, including The Crashers, KSB Rock Band, Gary Brewer, Elvis and Pastor Sam, and more!

WDRB Media and Block Communications was also able to donate $5,000.

Last year, Jude and his team of merry elves raised a record $225,022.99, absolutely shattering a year's long list of records.

About the Home of the Innocents:

Established in 1880, Home of the Innocents enriches the lives of children and families with hope, health, and happiness. Programs include residential and community-based behavioral health services, therapeutic foster care and adoption services, supportive services for homeless young adults, and long-term care for medically complex or terminally ill children.