BY the time the Council Partners Charitable Trust (CPCT) Telethon 2002 went off the air at midnight on Monday the telephones were still ringing and they had raised almost $423,000 - far outstripping their target - and the money keeps rolling in.

This year's telethon was held at the Fairmont Southampton Princess with the slogan: "Give for a Day... Help for a Lifetime".

The goal was to assist families affected by drug and alcohol addictions, as well help with preventative education.

All money raised will be donated to the Centre for Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the Parent Resource Institute for Drug Education (PRIDE), Focus Counselling Services, and Fair Havens residential treatment facility for women.

"It was a huge success," said Austin Warner Jr., host of the telethon and director of development and community for the CPCT. "By the time we went off the air we were at $422,965. Our goal was set at $325,000."

But Mr. Warner said he always sets his own personal goal for the annual telethon.

"My goal was $475,000," he said. "We may surpass that, because we almost always get more money in than what was pledged. Money still kept rolling in after the telephones stopped ringing at midnight."

He said people in the street often hand CPCT workers envelopes of money.

"I can best describe this experience as very humbling and a very clear example of what happens when the community decides to come together, hold hands and partner in respect to substance and alcohol abuse," said Mr. Warner.

Mr. Warner said the Council Partners have many people to thank.

"The corporate community was very supportive by matching donations made by their employees," he said. "The Bank of Bermuda Foundation helped by matching student donations.

"We had a half hour segment where kids ran everything. They answered phones and co-hosted. It was wonderful. We are still counting how much the kids raised. We don't have any totals there yet."

In fact, students led the charge this year to raise money for Telethon 2002.

The Bank of Bermuda Foundation threw out the gauntlet to Bermuda's young people by agreeing to match up to $30,000 of funds raised by students under the age of 18. The Foundation donates thousands of dollars each year to a number of charitable causes on the island.

"Thanks to the generosity of the Bank of Bermuda Foundation, this year their money will go twice as far towards funding quality substance abuse prevention and treatment solutions in Bermuda," said Joanne McPhee, spokesman for Telethon 2002.

In addition, the Foundation extended a challenge to each individual school to encourage participation by agreeing to donate an extra $1,000 for every school that achieved complete involvement. It promised $750 for 75 percent to 99 percent participation and $500 for 50 to 74 percent participation.

Sandys Middle School Principal Melvin Bassett said: "Sandys Secondary was absolutely delighted to learn of the Bank of Bermuda Foundation's challenge and students and teachers alike contributed to this important community fundraising effort.

"We asked the students what they wanted to do to raise money and they agreed on a grub day - a day when they wore casual clothes instead of a school uniform."

Bank of Bermuda Foundation Trust Manager, David Lang said the bank's desire to support the charitable fundraising of the schools and youth of Bermuda stemmed from the foundation's commitment to helping develop the island's young people.

"We hope that by encouraging fund raising we not only increase the amount raised for CPCT, but young people will also learn more about the work of the CPCT and the charities they support, and the vitally important work they do to prevent the misuse of drugs and help those who suffer from addiction," said Mr. Lang.

Somerset Primary also threw their heart into the project. The school headmistress, Evereth Richardson, said: "This teaches us all that it is never too early in life to give. The students and faculty are all very excited about their fundraiser for Telethon 2002. Like many of the other participating schools we elected to have a grub day, but ours was held on the actual day of the telethon which is rather unusual."

Also helping in the Telethon was local artist Robert Bassett of The Regal Art Gallery on Reid Street. Eight of his paintings were sold for charity during the telethon and more paintings earmarked for the Telethon can still be seen and bought at his art gallery.

The Council Partners are still accepting donations. For more information contact 296-3130. People can also pledge online at www.councilpartners.bm .