Reaching Out Now Brings Back the Old-Fashioned Telethon With a Modern Twist for Giving Tuesday

Remember the days when television telethons brought communities together, with celebrities answering phones, entertainers performing, and donations lighting up the tote board?

Reaching Out Now is bringing that tradition back to Front Royal, but with a modern twist.

On Tuesday, December 1, 2026, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., the nonprofit organization will host a four-hour Giving Tuesday telethon to raise money for programs at the Raymond E. Santmyers Student Union & Activity Center.

Instead of broadcasting on traditional television, the event will stream live through Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and other social media platforms, allowing supporters to participate from home.

During a recent visit to the Royal Examiner studio, Reaching Out Now founder and CEO Samantha Barber, co-founder Joe Barber, and community supporter Shelly Cook discussed the unusual fundraising idea.

And while the concept may be old-fashioned, the group believes it could become something special for the community.

An Idea Inspired by the Jerry Lewis Telethon

The inspiration came from Shelly Cook, who remembers watching the annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon as a child.

The marathon broadcasts raised money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association while bringing entertainers, community leaders, and ordinary families together for a common cause.

Cook wondered why something similar couldn’t work for Front Royal’s youth center.

“As a child, I came up watching the Jerry Lewis Telethon,” Cook recalled. “And it was just a lot of fun.”

She envisioned a gathering where community members could answer phones, encourage donations, share stories, and have fun while supporting local children.

The idea grew out of conversations with Samantha Barber, including breakfast discussions at Poppy’s Place in Front Royal.

Unlike expensive fundraising dinners that require substantial spending before collecting a single donation, the group wanted something affordable and accessible.

Joe Barber said the goal is to keep production expenses to a minimum so more of the money raised can support the center’s programs.

The telethon is expected to cost only a few hundred dollars to produce.

The event will include familiar community faces, special guests, entertainment, and perhaps a few surprises.

Some guests may participate remotely, sharing memories of growing up in Front Royal or visiting the youth center years ago.

Cook and community supporter Philip Vaught are expected to host the event.

There may even be some friendly competition between participating individuals and organizations to see who can raise the most money.

“It’s a telethon for the next generation,” Cook explained.

A Youth Center Celebrating 60 Years

The fundraiser comes during a milestone year for the Raymond E. Santmyers Student Union & Activity Center, whose building marks its 60th anniversary in 2026.

For longtime Front Royal residents, the facility is still affectionately known as the youth center.

Cook remembers going there as a child during a difficult time for her family.

Her mother was battling cancer, money was tight, and the youth center provided a place where she could spend time with friends and enjoy being a kid.

That experience helps explain why she feels so strongly about supporting the programs offered there today.

The building has changed over the years, but its original purpose of providing young people with a welcoming place to gather remains.

Under Reaching Out Now’s leadership, that mission has expanded to include educational programs, mentoring, leadership development, and practical life skills.

The students themselves helped choose the name Student Union because they wanted something that reflected a place for teenagers rather than younger children.

For other longtime residents, though, the old name may never completely disappear.

More Than a Place to Hang Out

During the interview, Samantha Barber explained that many people don’t realize how much happens inside the Student Union each week.

Students from Warren County High School, Skyline High School, Warren County Middle School, and Skyline Middle School can ride school buses directly to the center after classes.

When they arrive, they have a safe place to relax, grab a snack, spend time with friends, and join organized activities.

The weekly schedule includes academic support, leadership development, wellness education, creative activities, and opportunities to learn new skills.

Mondays focus on motivation, tutoring, and goal-setting.

Tuesdays emphasize leadership and entrepreneurship, helping students explore business ideas and build confidence. The center is also preparing to offer drone-related instruction.

Wednesdays include wellness programs, with the Phoenix Project providing classes on healthy relationships.

Thursdays feature creative opportunities, including photography classes taught by Leah Howard.

And Fridays are devoted to fellowship, giving students opportunities to enjoy karaoke, games, and other social activities.

One of the most popular offerings is the culinary program, where students learn to prepare meals, measure ingredients, follow recipes, and clean up afterward.

Barber recently watched students prepare Monte Cristo sandwiches during a class.

They cracked the eggs, measured the ingredients, cooked the food, and cleaned the kitchen.

Then something happened that stood out to her.

Instead of sitting around looking at their phones, the students headed outside to throw a football.

For Barber, moments like that show the value of giving teenagers a place to learn, build relationships, and simply enjoy being together.

Helping Families Who Need a Hand

Cook emphasized that the Student Union also supports working families.

Many parents are juggling full-time jobs, second jobs, household responsibilities, and the challenges of raising children.

The center gives teenagers a positive place to spend time after school while offering educational and social opportunities that families might otherwise struggle to provide.

Cook understands those challenges firsthand.

She recalled working two jobs while raising her own children and knowing how exhausting it could be to balance everything.

The Student Union, she said, helps fill some of those gaps.

It’s also about making sure young people have encouragement and support.

McCool noted that for some students, the center may be one of the few places where they regularly receive personal attention, academic help, and positive reinforcement.

The center’s partnerships with local schools, organizations, teachers, and volunteers make much of that work possible.

But keeping those programs operating requires continued community support.

Every Donation Counts

One of the telethon’s biggest goals is to make giving accessible to everyone.

Supporters won’t have to buy an expensive ticket, attend a formal dinner, or leave their homes.

They can watch the livestream, enjoy the entertainment, and contribute whatever amount they can afford.

Cook hopes the event will recreate some of the excitement of an old-fashioned telethon, including announcing donations as they arrive.

She joked that she wants to be the first person to announce a $100 contribution.

But she stressed that smaller donations are just as welcome.

“Every dollar makes a difference,” Cook said.

Even a $5 donation can help support the programs that provide students with food, tutoring, mentoring, and enrichment activities.

Organizers also hope the online format will let participating community leaders share the livestream on their own social media pages, reaching people who might not otherwise know about the Student Union.

The approach could help introduce the organization to a much wider audience.

A Community Effort Worth Watching

For Reaching Out Now, the telethon is something new, and organizers acknowledge that they’re learning as they go.

But they believe the idea could become an enjoyable community tradition.

The evening will be about more than raising money. It will also give residents a chance to see the programs being offered, hear stories from people connected to the youth center, and learn how their support can make a difference.

The group hopes the event will show that a community fundraiser doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive to make an impact.

Sometimes, it simply takes a few familiar faces, a good cause, and people willing to help.

Giving Tuesday Telethon

Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2026
Time: 4:30–8:30 p.m.
Beneficiary: Raymond E. Santmyers Student Union & Activity Center, operated by Reaching Out Now
Format: Livestream through social media, with community guests, entertainment, and fundraising activities.

For more information about Reaching Out Now and the Student Union, visit reachingoutnow.org.

The message behind the fundraiser is simple: Help keep the programs going.

Town Talk, sponsored by National Media Services, Inc., is a Royal Examiner series that introduces you to local entrepreneurs, business owners, nonprofit leaders, and public officials who help shape Warren County. Conversations cover a wide range of topics about our community and the people making a difference.