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.
The History of Jude's Jingle Tree
Jude's Jingle Tree started in 2017 with an idea to just collect ornaments, decorate the station tree and then donate the decorations to the Home of the Innocents.
By 2018, Jingle Tree started collecting donations for HOI and raised $6,750. In 2019, the total was about the same collecting $7,000, and in 2020 the total went to $7,879, and by 2021, the total grew to $12,793.
But Jude wanted to do more, and so did our viewers. In 2022, the donation raised by Jingle Tree went up to $98,359! In 2023, it was $105,000.
In 2024, Jude Redfield and WDRB Mornings presented a check to the Home of the Innocents for $225,022.99!
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.
More stories about the holidays & Jude's Jingle Tree!
Jude's Jingle Tree back for 8th year to collect ornaments, donations for Home of the Innocents
The Crashers rock WDRB Mornings to raise money for Jude's Jingle Tree
WDRB's Jude Redfield receives Home of the Innocents 'Hero for the Home' award
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