CBS Joins Red Cross, Celebs, Athletes To Raise $249,663 For Sandy Victims

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It will take billions of dollars to get all the people devastated by Sandy back into their homes.

WLNY TV 10-55 joined CBS 2 and six CBS radio stations in a team effort with the Red Cross, celebrities and generous viewers for a special day of fundraising on Thursday.

Anchors and reporters from WLNY-TV, 1010 WINS, WFAN and Channel 2 manned the phones, along with famous New Yorkers like former Knicks great John Starks and Cardinal Timothy Dolan. The calls came pouring in.

As CBS 2's Dana Tyler reported, the telethon ended at 7 p.m. on Thursday and the grand total raised came to $249, 663.

But that's not all - our corporate partners have also committed in excess of $5 million, along with a $1 million donation made by the CBS Corporation.

Watch the video below and check out interviews with local celebs like actor Tom Selleck, Rangers legend Rod Gilbert, and actress Christine Baranski as they worked the phones for the big event.