A fundraising broadcast to support Friends of the Smokies will air 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, on WLOS Channel 13. 

The 21st annual Friends Across the Mountains Telethon — the only telethon to support a national park — will benefit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Over the past two decades, the event as raised more than $3 million, pulling in more than $200,000 last year alone. 

“As we celebrate the 99th year of the National Park Service and look ahead to its centennial in 2016, support from our partners at Friends of the Smokies is more important than ever,” said park Superintendent Cassius Cash, who will appear during the broadcast.

The broadcast will highlight the $880,000 worth of park projects Friends of the Smokies is funding this year. Current efforts include rehabilitation of the Alum Cave Trail by the Trails Forever crew, ongoing suppression of the hemlock woolly adelgid and other invasive pests, supporting black bear and elk management and funding for Parks as Classrooms environmental education programs for more than 18,000 students.

The telethon is sponsored by Mast General Store among others.

Donate online anytime at www.friendsofthesmokies.org, call the hotline during the broadcast or call 828.452.0720 to request a mailed donation form.