SANFORD — Fifty years ago, Waban began providing services to children with developmental disabilities. Over the years, its mission has expanded, but children’s services, through Fraser-Ford Child Development Center, remains a vital piece of the operation.

And 45 years ago, to aid that effort, some community members came together to see what they could do to help the fledgling agency.

Ultimately, they decided on a telethon, which began as a radiothon. The next Waban Telethon, hosted by St. Thèrése of Liseux Parish, takes place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and will be broadcast over Metrocast Television and Time Warner Cable from St. Ignatius Gym, 25 Riverside Ave., in Sanford. It is broadcast from Kittery to Presque Isle.

The effort to help Waban 45 years ago came to the Social Justice Committee at Holy Family Church through Rev. Roland Patenaude, who had a nephew attending Waban. He asked committee member Dee Rodrigue to look into what the parish could do to help out.

“Her first effort was a smorgasbord, which raised $1,000,” said her daughter, Sandy Legere, who, with her husband Bud, took up the cause, for many years, until they moved to Florida a few years ago to care for a family member.

“She decided that it was way too much work,” said Sandy Legere. At that time the Jerry Lewis Telethon was in its heyday, and so, Legere said, the committee figured a similar effort could be held to help Waban.

Their first few efforts were pre-cable television, and there was no way to get television to the public, so they teamed up with the local radio station, WSME. New England Cablevision, which later became Metrocast, then came to town and had an office on Kimball Street, not far from the former American Bank on Main Street – so a temporary cable was run from the office to the bank, and the telethon went out live to the immediate area, Legere said.

“It was a nightmare, and reception was horrible, but because it was live, people were excited,” she said. Those first few efforts saw WSME provide the audio, and the committee called on high school students to run the cameras – also supplied by the school. That first telethon raised $5,000.

“It just got bigger and better from there,” said Legere. In 2015, the Waban Telethon raised more than $86,000 for the child development center.

The cable television company moved to Moody, and the telethon’s scope expanded. And then, Legere’s son Jim went to work for Time Warner Cable, which opened up another area, she said .

While Bud and Sandy are now in Florida, the family tradition continues. Sons Jim and R.J. are heavily involved, daughter-in-law Tammy Legere keeps track of the pledges, and R.J.’s son Alex operates one of the cameras.

According to Waban, funds generated by the telethon are used for developmental therapy, specialized equipment, therapeutic recreation and other services for children who attend Waban’s Fraser-Ford Child Development Center or who receive services from the Children’s Case Management Program. This year, proceeds from the telethon will be directed to Waban’s capital campaign for the new Autism Therapy Wing.

Telethon entertainment will include The Returnables Band, fiddler Ben Guillemette with his band, country singer Brian Wardwell & The Voyage, Pretty Girls Sing Soprano and the Blue Note Big Band. Also returning are 207 Blues and Jazz Tappin’ Dance Academy, Steppin’ Out Dance Academy, Northern Explosion, and Joel Joliceur with Emerald Sky. The Sanford Mainer’s own B’roose da Moose and Kenny Bear from Kennebunk Savings Bank will be there, and, once again, MECA will be on hand to finish out the day.

There will be guest appearances throughout the day, including parents from the Fraser-Ford Child Development Center discussing how the program has helped their children.

Certificates for merchandise and other gifts donated by merchants, businesses and individuals will be given away for donations and pledges throughout the day.

The Knights of Columbus will host breakfast and lunch during the telethon.

Contributors may make donations prior to and after the telethon at Sanford Institution for Savings, 900 Main St., Sanford. Donations may be called in between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the day of the telethon by calling 324-5344 or (877)544-4275, or by accessing PayPal on Waban’s web site at www.waban.org.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 3282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.