Help 4 Hurricane Relief Telethon – Tuesday, Sept. 12

WDIV-Local 4 partners with Art Van Furniture and American Red Cross

DETROIT–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In response to the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey and
the potential destruction of Hurricane Irma, WDIV-Local
4/ClickOnDetroit, Art Van Furniture and the American Red Cross Michigan
Region will join forces to air an all-day telethon “Help 4 Hurricane
Relief” that will run from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 12.

Hosted at the downtown Detroit studios of WDIV-Local 4, with an
additional phone bank at the Warren location of Art Van Furniture, the
telethon will feature firsthand accounts of Harvey’s impact on the
nation’s fourth largest metropolitan area. WDIV-Local 4 reporter Nick
Monacelli and a station crew have been reporting from the devastation in
Houston for sister station KPRC since soon after Harvey began to flood
neighborhoods.

“Television has the power to show in vivid images just how destructive a
hurricane can be,” said Marla Drutz, Vice President and General Manager
of WDIV-Local 4. “We’re proud that television will also allow generous
metro Detroiters to help our fellow Americans recover and rebuild after
so much catastrophic damage.”

Money collected will be donated to the American Red Cross relief efforts
for hurricane devastation in Texas, and if needed, in Florida. Hurricane
Irma is the second-strongest storm ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean,
and has the entire state of Florida on high alert. The “Help 4 Hurricane
Relief” telethon will conclude at 8 p.m.

“It is during times of difficulty and devastation when the human spirit
shines the brightest,” said Kim Yost, President and CEO of Art Van
Furniture. “On behalf of our 3,700 team members, Art Van Furniture plans
to do everything we can to help families in need restore their lives.”

“The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey is being called the worst flooding
disaster in U.S. history,” said Kimberly Burton, CEO of American Red
Cross Michigan Region. “It’s important to rally together through efforts
like the ‘Help 4 Hurricane Relief’ telethon.”

The American Red Cross response to Harvey is a massive, very costly
undertaking. Tens of thousands of people are escaping the devastation in
hundreds of Red Cross and community shelters, many having lost
everything except what they could carry as they fled their flooded
neighborhoods. The Red Cross continues to work around the clock to help
thousands affected by Hurricane Harvey while preparing for potential
additional damage in Florida from Hurricanes Irma and Jose.

Financial donations help the American Red Cross provide shelter, food,
emotional support and other assistance to those affected by disasters
like Hurricane Harvey. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization
that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to
perform its mission.

About WDIV-Local 4

WDIV-TV is the authentic local voice that informs and celebrates Detroit
and is honored to be recognized as Station of the Year by the Michigan
Association of Broadcasters. Local 4 News is currently the No. 1
newscast at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. in Nielsen ratings for
the Detroit television market. WDIV is the No. 1 NBC affiliate in the
top 13 LPM markets. In addition, Local 4’s ClickOnDetroit.com
is a leading breaking news and weather website in Michigan and the No.1
TV news website in Metro Detroit.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to
victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood;
teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid;
and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a
not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the
generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more
information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or
visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

About Art Van Furniture

Art Van Furniture is the Midwest’s largest furniture retailer. The
company operates more than 120 stores throughout Michigan, Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, including freestanding Art Van PureSleep
mattress stores, Art Van Flooring stores, Art Van Furniture franchise
locations and Scott Shuptrine Interiors, the interior design division of
Art Van Furniture, as well as a full-service e-commerce website. Founded
in 1959, the company is headquartered in Warren, Mich. Visit artvan.com
for more information.

Contacts

WDIV-Local 4
Donna Harper
donnah@wdiv.com
313.222.0643