THE 25TH ANNUAL VARIETY CLUB TELETHON STARTS TONIGHT TO BENEFIT CHILDREN’S CHARITIES STATEWIDE. IT TAKES OVER 2,000 PEOPLE TO PUT THE TELETHONTOGETHER. OVER THE PAST DECADE AND A HALF, THE PROGRAM HAS RAISED 39-MILLION DOLLARS. THE VARIETY CLUB MAY BE BEST KNOWN FOR ITS YELLOW “SUNSHINE BUSES” WHICH ARE USED TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN. OVER THE YEARS, THE GROUP HAS GIVEN NEARLY 200 VANS TO IOWA GROUPS. LAST YEAR’S TELETHON RAISED 3-POINT-6MILLION DOLLARS FOR DISABLED AND DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN. THE PROGRAM WILL ORIGINATE IN THE ADVENTURELAND PALACE THEATRE IN ALTOONA. GUESTS ON THIS YEAR’S TELETHON INCLUDE MISS WORLD 1998 LINOR ABARGIL WHO’S COMING FROM ISRAEL. THE TELETHON AIRS FROM 8 P-M TONIGHT THROUGH 6 P-M TOMORROW ON T-V STATIONS INCLUDING: W-O-I IN DES MOINES/AMES, W-H-B-F IN THE QUAD CITIES, K-C-A-U IN SIOUX CITY AND VIA T-C-I CABLE ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE. A LOCALLY-PRODUCED TELETHON WILL ALSO AIR SIMULTANEOUSLY ON K-C-R-G IN CEDAR RAPIDS.