Kevin Hart Set to Host Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy Association

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) announced the relaunch of their legendary Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon with Kevin Hart joining as the host.

The MDA Kevin Hart Kids Telethon will be a two-hour special airing globally on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 8:00 pm ET, giving audiences the opportunity to support the essential work of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and Kevin Hart's Help From the Hart Charity.

Hart will be joined by celebrity guests including Jack Black, Usain Bolt, Josh Gad, Michael B. Jordan, Eva Longoria, Jillian Mercado, and more.

"This is an incredible opportunity to bring the work of Jerry Lewis and the Muscular Dystrophy Association forward,” Hart said. “I'm honored to collaborate with MDA and my organization, to educate and entertain the public about the need to support people with disabilities and disadvantages, because we are all in this together. "I can't wait to have an incredible night for two critically important causes that are in urgent need of funding and hope."

For 70 years, the MDA has been committed to transforming the lives of people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases through funding research and care for over 250,000 people in the United States.

HelpFromtheHart.com supports underserved communities, providing financial scholarships for youth to attend college, and assisting those with medical needs.

The virtual fundraising event aims to drive mass awareness and charitable contributions to help transform the lives of children with disabilities and disadvantages.

The event will unite a cast of Hart's celebrity friends for a star-studded evening of comedy and musical performances, utilize modern technologies for interactive gaming components, as well as give viewers a look at the work of both organizations through exclusive profiles on families, research and care.

"For decades Jerry Lewis brought the world together through the historic Labor Day telethon, establishing an incredible foundation of help and hope for MDA and the families we serve," said MDA President and CEO Lynn O'Connor Vos. "The telethon was instrumental in raising awareness and donations that today have been directly linked to the development of life-changing therapies for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related neuromuscular diseases.”

“Kevin Hart and the Help From the Hart organization are the perfect match for MDA to bring the magic and power of the telethon into a new era of giving, and to bring the remarkable stories of strength of MDA families into the hearts and homes of people across the country"

Additional live content will include seven weeks of live gaming and esports events leading up to and simultaneously with The MDA Kevin Hart Kids Telethon.

Viewers will have access to an overtime show that will run outtakes and entertaining content from the making of the telethon.

Donations to Help From the Hart support community-based organizations that address the educational, health and social needs of underserved communities, in addition to helping youth obtain higher learning through education scholarships and vocational training.

Funds raised from this event go directly to MDA to provide funding for research that is shared freely to develop treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS and over 43 related neuromuscular diseases including Duchenne and SMA.

Funding also supports a network of medical care teams at over 150 MDA Care Centers at the nation's top medical institutions.