The Blue Ridge Chapter of Dream Come True will hold its annual telethon Sunday night at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe.

Running from 5-9 p.m., the telethon will be televised by Blue Ridge Communications TV-13, and Service Electric Cablevision in Schuylkill and Luzerne counties. The event will also be streamed at dreamcometrue-brc.org.

“It’s always a privilege to be able to honor all of our individuals and groups who raise funds for Dream Come True over the previous year,” said Eileen Thompson, president of the Blue Ridge Chapter. “No matter how big or small donation, they are all equally important in allowing us to fulfill dreams. The telethon is our way of saying thank you.”

By the end of the 2016 telethon, $77,285 was raised for the chapter with all funds used to fulfill dreams of seriously ill children in the local area.

Each year, Dream Maker awards are presented at the telethon. Dream Maker awards were initiated to honor people, corporations and organizations that have gone above and beyond to assist Dream Come True in fulfilling its mission of providing a dream for every eligible child in its service area.

The 2017 award recipients are Hager Furniture, Blue Ridge Winery, Pocono Raceway, Susanne DeAngelo, Amey’s Garage, Lehigh Elementary School fifth-grade students and Scoopendorf’s Ice Cream.

According to Thompson, average dream costs have increased to between $7,000 and $10,000, and every fundraising dollar means that much more to the organization.

“Since our inception in March 2004, we have fulfilled 70 dreams and helped pay for funeral expenses for three children,” Thompson said.

Two dreams have been fulfilled in the past year with eight children in various stages of dream fulfillment.

Several dream recipients will be on hand at the telethon to talk about their experience.

George Roberts, Kim Bell, Dr. Ed Miller and Nick Hawkey will host the telethon.

The entertainment lineup includes Tommy Zito, John Bronico, Mr. Hyde (jazz band), Mark Isaiah (former Voice contestant), Emily Gonzales, Pat and Shane McGeehan, Ricky Bell and wife, Blue Mountain Church, Dance With Kim, Jupiters Arrow, Elizabethtown College a cappella group “Vocalign,” Erin Kelly and Lynn DeHaven, George Roberts and family, Large Flowerheads, Chris Eckert and Leigh Pollari.

Telethon sponsors include Ackley-Sweeney Advertising, First Northern Bank and Trust, R.F. Ohl’s, George LaRose Insurance Ltd., Foster Jewelers, Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank, PenTeleData, Prodigy Studios, Rentschler Chevrolet, and Rentschler Chrysler-Jeep Dodge.

The telethon is open to the public and free to attend.

People or groups can help make a dream come true in various ways, including making a donation, referring a child, volunteering or holding a fundraiser event for the benefit of the chapter.

Telethon viewers are encouraged to help make a dream come true by calling in a pledge during the telethon to 610-826-9600, or call the toll-free number, 800-585-1240.

Referrals, donations and volunteer sign-ups can all be done at the chapter’s website, dreamcometrue-brc.org.

Donations can also be mailed to Dream Come True, Blue Ridge Chapter, P.O. Box 344, Palmerton, PA, 18071.

Qualifying children can come from families of all income levels from Carbon, upper Lehigh, lower Monroe and parts of Schuylkill counties. The children must be between 4 years old and their 18th birthday.

When a child is referred for a dream, a letter is sent to the child’s family, who must give permission for the fulfillment. The child’s physicians then confirm the child’s condition, and two Dream Come True volunteers then visit the child to talk about their dream. The all-volunteer Blue Ridge Chapter board of directors then names a team to begin the process of fulfilling the dream. The entire process can take anywhere from three months to two years to be completed, depending on the child’s request and medical issues.

When a child has a dream, they are invited each year to special events.

“This year we are taking a trip to Cirque Dreams Holidaze at the Sands Event Center,” Thompson said.

Dream recipients are also eligible for a scholarship, $1,000 per semester to further their education. Thirteen children have either completed or participated in the scholarship program.