TV & VIDEO - Dec. 28, 1987

The total of donations for the United Negro College Fund inspired by Saturday night’s “Lou Rawls Parade of Stars” telethon hit the $2-million mark--and that was just for the first hour, telethon organizers announced in a press conference Sunday. The telethon, carried by more than 60 television stations and 100 radio stations nationwide, featured such entertainers as Rawls, Natalie Cole, Whitney Houston, Ben Vereen, Smokey Robinson and Ed McMahon. The “Parade of Stars” raised about $10 million last year to expand courses, buy new equipment and provide financial assistance and scholarships for 42 private, predominantly black colleges with a total enrollment of about 45,000 students. Rawls described the scene backstage, saying, “It’s a madhouse. I just spin and grin.”