Left: Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis made up one of the most popular comedic duos of the 20th Century. Both were involved in raising funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, but it was Lewis who took fundraising and public awareness of the disease to a new level.

You might have heard that legendary entertainer Jerry Lewis died two weeks ago at the age of 91. Many paid tribute to the comedic genius and his brand of juvenile, slapstick, physical humor that set the stage for so many other comedians that followed in his footsteps. You may not know it, but Jerry Lewis also taught film directing classes at USC. Among his students were George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. He performed in over 60 movies, directed and produced 14 of them, had his own television show, did live stand-up throughout his career, was a recording artist, was a successful businessman and much more. However, Labor Day brings to mind his tireless philanthropic work for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Beginning in 1966 through 2010, Jerry Lewis hosted the MDA annual Labor Day Telethon to raise funds and awareness for the debilitating disease. In the years prior to hundreds of TV channels, the MDA Telethon was simply unavoidable every Labor Day. If your TV was on, you were watching the telethon. Over his association with the MDA, Lewis helped raise over $2 billion.

If you are in charge of raising funds for the philanthropic endeavors of your organization, learn a lesson from Jerry Lewis. First and foremost, look for people with a zeal for your philanthropy. Jerry Lewis believed in the cause. Whereas many celebrities might lend their name and speak to a cause, Jerry Lewis took all of that to a much higher level with a passion. Lewis volunteered his services for the round-the-clock event for 45 years. He never took a dime for his services.

Next, look for people with vision. For 10 years before there was a nationally televised fundraiser, there was an annual charity dinner. Jerry Lewis served as the emcee for the event during those ten years. When the idea came for a Labor Day telethon, Lewis had the vision to make it a success. Think about it; the early Labor Day telethons were 21 hour events. How do you keep an audience engaged for that long? Jerry Lewis believed he could make that happen… and he did.

Third, look for people who aren’t afraid to use their influence to accomplish something much bigger than themselves. Jerry Lewis was at the zenith of his career when he started doing the MDA Labor Day Telethon in 1966. He was a star asking ordinary people to give money to eradicate a disease. But his influence was seen with every passing act hour after hour. Entertainment’s most accomplished veterans and the latest upstarts all took their turn performing to keep us all watching. That was Lewis calling in his chips. It was unthinkable that any of his peers would tell him no to volunteering to make an appearance on the show for Jerry’s Kids. In fundraising, you need more than passionate volunteers, you need passionate volunteers with connections. We all have people in our circle of influence, but we might not be so bold as to ask them to give to our cause. Jerry Lewis wasn’t afraid to ask his circle to contribute to the cause he believed in.

Lewis was a rare talent. He worked tirelessly at his craft. However, in my mind, his humanitarian work far outshines his accomplishments as an entertainer. He will be missed this Labor Day.