Wednesday was the third annual ‘It’s All For Children’ Telethon,  at the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg. The telethon was from 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

All the proceeds go to Judi’s Place for Kids, a non-profit organization providing resources for kids who have been abused. To donate, call 606-637-GIVE, text GIVE to 606-653-9704 or go online at judisplace.org/telethon.

Judi’s Place has been helping abused children for nearly 20 years. They help more than 400 children a year, from Pike, Floyd, Martin, Johnson and Magoffin Counties. They run completely off donations.

“It’s my heart,” said Judi Conway Patton the namesake of Judi’s Place and former First Lady of Kentucky.

Patton always had a heart for children.

Patton says helping these children takes a village, but they could not keep the doors open without the support for the community.

Executive Director Laura Kretzer said hearing back from the children they have helped is what keeps her going.

“It’s really hard work to work in the field of child abuse and hear such heartbreaking stories on a day to day basis, so when someone reaches back out to us and lets us know that we’ve made a difference. It makes every day that we’ve worked worth it,” Kretzer said.

Hoping the people will help make a difference in a hurting child’s life.

The telethon raised $22,503 Wednesday night. Many community partners spoke as well as a variety of entertainment from Coaltown Dixie to Nick Jamerson to local youth performers.

Anyone who made a donation of $25 or more was entered to win a guitar signed by Tyler Childers.