Beacon Santa Telethon

The Beacon Santa needs your help

Each year, we rely on volunteers to ensure the success of the WAVM Beacon Santa Telethon. There are many ways that you can help, including:

The 2025 WAVM Beacon Santa Telethon will run from December 12th – 14th.

For nearly four decades, WAVM has dedicated itself to community service through its most challenging annual event—the Beacon Santa Telethon, a live, round-the-clock December fundraiser supporting families in 12 local communities during the holidays.

Originating in 1978 when Bill Cassidy and Bill Nelson transformed a holiday broadcast into a charity marathon, the event grew from a quirky radio show—complete with playful antics like repeated Rolling Stones songs and hourly hat changes—into a large-scale television telethon. Though briefly replaced by movie fundraisers in 1981, the telethon returned stronger than ever, combining student leadership, creativity, and determination to raise increasing amounts of money each year.

From organizing crews and auction items to performing on-air dares, WAVM students have upheld a tradition that blends chaos, humor, and heartfelt generosity in service of the Beacon Santa Fund’s mission to bring comfort to struggling families during the holiday season.

Towns served by the Beacon Santa Fund:

  • Acton
  • Bedford
  • Billerica
  • Boxborough
  • Chelmsford
  • Concord
  • Lexington
  • Lincoln
  • Littleton
  • Maynard
  • Stow
  • Westford

Read more about the history of WAVM’s involvement with the Beacon Santa Telethon.

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