Excitement Opens Annual Telethon

A Los Angeles studio was a flurry of activity heading into the broadcast of the annual “To Life” Telethon, a project of Chabad-Lubavitch of the West Coast that over the years, has raised millions of dollars and high-profile publicity for its network of programs, including a residential drug treatment center. Each year, the broadcast has drawn big-name talent, with past participants including Bob Dylan, Martin Sheen, Whoopi Goldberg, Adam Sandler, Dennis Franz and Anthony Hopkins. This year, expected participants included Larry King and Howie Mandel, who was filmed in a short documentary by “Friends” co-creater Kevin Bright touring the Chabad Drug Treatment Center.