Despite an economy that is floundering the 56th annual Crusade raised $5,289,841 — up slightly from last year’s $5,249,094.

We at the Pinkie would like to give thanks to all of the firefighters and numerous others throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana — giving to and collecting for the WHAS Crusade for Children.

The largest contributions from fire departments were Pleasure Ridge Park, $269,472; Fern Creek, $231,580; McMahan, $154,755.30; Highview, $140,177.69; and Zoneton, $101,252.

According to Crusade officials, the total from Zoneton, in Bullitt County, represented the first time a department outside Jefferson County reached six figures.

Among the largest nonfire department contributors were the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville, $215,500; LG&E/EON-US, $167,501; Kroger Stores, $153,248.67; Norton Healthcare, $139,167.23; and the Louisville Triple Crown of Running, $128,880.

For the Courier-Journal’s write up on this year’s Crusade go HERE.