RTL Telethon Raises More Than €23 Million
A total of €329 million has been raised since the launch of the RTL charity extravaganza in 1996.
Thirty years. Thirty hours. The 30th RTL telethon hosted by Wolfram Kons has come to an end with an emotional finale and a spectacular donation total. The anniversary edition of Germany’s longest-running charity broadcast generated €23,077,166 for the selected children’s aid projects supported by “Stiftung RTL – Wir helfen Kindern e. V.” Since the first RTL telethon in 1996, the initiative has now raised a total of €329 million for children in need.
“Thirty years of the RTL telethon is so much more than just a number. It is a visible sign of responsibility, solidarity, and a shared goal: Helping children where help is needed most,” said Stephan Schmitter, CEO RTL Deutschland and Chairman of “Stiftung RTL – Wir helfen Kindern e. V.” “Over the past 30 hours, our viewers, celebrities, and partners once again showed what we can achieve together. The incredible donation total of €23,077,166 moves us deeply and reminds us that every single contribution is not only a vote of confidence but also a clear mandate. We will use these funds purposefully, responsibly, and transparently. My heartfelt thanks go to everyone whose dedication and compassion made this special anniversary possible.”
This year’s donations will support carefully selected projects of “Stiftung RTL – Wir helfen Kindern e. V.” in areas including education, health, protection from violence, and the fight against child poverty.
“What we experienced in these 30 hours touches me every year, and especially in this anniversary year,” said Wolfram Kons, who hosted the RTL telethon for the 30th time. “Our result fills me with happiness, gratitude, and humility. I would like to thank everyone who donated, cheered us on, or took part in our initiatives with all my heart. Each of them gives children a voice and a future. For us, the end of the 30th RTL telethon is not the finish line – far from it. We will continue doing everything we can in the years ahead to make an even greater impact and give even more children the chance for a better life.”
From the toughest to the most successful birthday party
Endurance athlete Joey Kelly marked the 30th RTL telethon with his “24-hour birthday challenge,” possibly the toughest children’s birthday party ever held for adults. Twenty corporate teams pushed themselves through a relentless fun course featuring sack races, egg-and-spoon runs, Bobby Car races, pot-banging, cup stacking, bounce houses, and a ball pit. The result of this XXL charity spectacle: A new world record and a donation total of more than €1.8 million.
Successful streaming premiere
The telethon delivered round-the-clock digital charity power for the first time as well: Entertainer Jens “Knossi” Knossalla livestreamed for 24 hours straight, and both the Minecraft creator event “Pixel für Kinder” and Europe’s largest SimRacing charity event streamed nonstop. The combined result of these marathon digital charity efforts: emotional moments, community engagement, and €188,276.29 in donations for the RTL telethon.
