1. televised fundraising events, typically lasting many hours, featuring entertainment and appeals for donations to charity

Examples

• The annual telethons raised millions of dollars for children’s hospitals.
• Local TV stations often host telethons during the holiday season.
• Celebrity guests appeared on the telethons to encourage viewer donations.
• The charity organized several telethons throughout the year to support their cause.
• Volunteers answered phones during the 24-hour telethons.
• Many people remember the famous telethons from the 1970s and 1980s.