 Proving the doubters wrong, the event was so successful that Lewis had to climb a ladder and paint a seventh digit, a "1," on the six-digit tote board when the final total reached $1,002,114.The show repeated its success in 1967, raising $1,126,846.Emboldened by positive word of mouth generated from the telethon's success in attracting both donations and celebrity appearances, the event's organizers would seek out a wider audience in 1968 by offering a live broadcast to stations outside the New York City market.