Fundraising benefit (8) Crossword Clue
Answer: TELETHON
Understanding the Crossword Clue: Fundraising Benefit (8)
- TELETHON is the solution to this 8-letter crossword clue about a fundraising benefit. A telethon represents a unique form of charitable fundraising event that combines television broadcasting with marathon-style programming to generate donations for worthy causes.
- The answer TELETHON perfectly matches the crossword clue "Fundraising benefit (8)" because it describes a televised fundraising event that typically runs for extended hours, featuring entertainment, celebrity appearances, and continuous appeals for viewer donations.
- These broadcast fundraising marathons have been instrumental in raising millions of dollars for charities, medical research, disaster relief, and community organizations since their inception in the 1940s.
Related Crossword Answers and Variations
- CHARITY (7 letters) - nonprofit organization
- DONATION (8 letters) - contribution to a cause
- CAMPAIGN (8 letters) - organized fundraising effort
- PLEDGEDRIVE (11 letters) - fundraising solicitation period
- RADIOTHON (9 letters) - radio-based fundraising marathon
Expert Crossword Solving Tips
- Pattern Recognition Strategy: When you see "fundraising benefit" with an 8-letter answer requirement, immediately consider compound words that describe charitable events. TELETHON fits perfectly as it's a widely recognized term in both American and British crossword puzzles.
- Word Construction Clues: The structure of the word itself provides solving hints - if you have T_L_T_ _N as partial letters, the distinctive "thon" suffix (common in marathon-related words) should trigger recognition. Similarly, the "tele" prefix relates to broadcast media, making the connection to televised fundraising events.
- Context Recognition: Crossword setters often use "benefit" to indicate charitable events. Other related answers might include GALA (4 letters), AUCTION (7 letters), or CONCERT (7 letters), but TELETHON uniquely combines the fundraising aspect with the broadcast medium in exactly 8 letters.
- Cross-Reference Technique: If you're stuck, solve intersecting clues first. Letters in positions 1, 4, or 8 of TELETHON (T, E, N) are common enough that surrounding answers should help confirm or reveal the solution.
Fundraising benefit (8) - 7 Little Words - FAQs
Q: Why is TELETHON specifically 8 letters?
The word combines "tele" (4 letters) meaning television or distance, with "thon" (4 letters) derived from marathon, creating the exact 8-letter compound word that crossword constructors favor for this type of clue.
Q: Are there alternative answers to "fundraising benefit (8)"?
While TELETHON is the most common answer, theoretically DONATION could fit the letter count, but it doesn't specifically mean a "benefit" event. TELETHON remains the standard crossword solution for this clue configuration.
Q: How do I distinguish between fundraising terms in crosswords?
Pay attention to letter count and context clues. GALA suggests upscale events (4 letters), AUCTION implies bidding (7 letters), while TELETHON specifically indicates broadcast fundraising (8 letters). The clue's wording usually provides subtle hints about which type of benefit is intended.
Q: Do British and American crosswords use TELETHON differently?
Both British and American crosswords feature TELETHON regularly, though British solvers might associate it more strongly with Comic Relief or Children in Need, while Americans think of Jerry Lewis's MDA Telethon. The answer works universally across English-language puzzles.
