Labor Day Is "Jerry Lewis Day"

Today is the Labor Day Holiday.

For 56 years, entertainer Jerry Lewis was Labor Day.

Jerry Lewis

There was a time when Jerry Lewis would host a telethon for 24 hours to collect money to fight the disease, Muscular Dystrophy.  Then, in 2010, Lewis did his last telethon at age 84! It was a 20-hour affair.

"The holiday is a celebration of the American labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers".  It was first celebrated in 1887. (Source)

Lewis' telethon celebrated labor. Organized labor was one of the great supporters of the telethon. One group in particular, the International Fire Fighters Association ("IFFA"), would solicit donations to "fill a boot."

Last year was the final year of the telethon.  The Muscular Dystrophy Associated ("MDA") announced its demise this past May. They raised more money using the virtual MDA "Ice Bucket Challenge" than they ever did from any telethon.  In fact, they raised $100million in just one month last year from it.

But it was Jerry Lewis who put MDA on the map.

We think that the name of the labor day holiday should also be: "Jerry Lewis Day."  This would be a tribute to all those Americans who give unselfishly of themselves to help others. Hopefully, that would make it a celebration of each of us.

Enjoy the day.

And thank you, Jerry Lewis, for bringing us together on that one day a year; and for making our lives better.
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