President Gabriel Boric and host Mario Kreutzberger, known as Don Francisco, opened Teletón 2025 at Santiago's Teatro Teletón, stressing solidarity in polarized times. The event aims to exceed last year's $40.502.617.946 raised to support over 32,000 children in 14 institutes. Boric donated items to the Lucatón auction and Kreutzberger called for a national support day for the crusade.
Teletón 2025 kicked off on Friday, November 28, at 22:00 with a joint broadcast from Anatel channels, at Santiago's Teatro Teletón. President Gabriel Boric, in his final intervention as head of state at the event, highlighted the importance of the solidarity crusade beyond the 27 hours of transmission. “Esa cifra de ahí se ve difícil (...) pero esa cifra al final del día no es solo plata, se traduce en sonrisas, se traduce en una trayectoria de esfuerzo que cambia la vida”, said Boric, praising the Teletón team's work.
Boric called for national unity amid polarization: “Son tiempos polarizados, tiempos difíciles. Son tiempos en donde es más fácil buscar solamente a las personas con las que uno está de acuerdo y alejarse de las que piensan distinto. La Teletón es un momento en que nos invita a dejar eso de lado y ojalá sea contagioso, no solamente durante estas 27 horas, sino durante los 365 días del año”.
He also joined the Lucatón auction by donating a soccer ball signed by Universidad Católica's Fernando Zampedri, a book on Violeta Parra by Isabel Parra, and a jacket from singer Emmanuel, which he had auctioned the previous year.
Mario Kreutzberger, in his opening speech after a musical overture featuring artists like Nicole, Pancho Sazo, and Denisse Malebrán, recalled the 47 years of Teletón and his involvement, except for the pandemic year. He greeted present authorities, including Boric and presidential candidates Jeannette Jara and José Antonio Kast. Days from turning 85, he questioned his 2026 participation: “A esta altura del calendario, uno no puede garantizar la presencia el próximo, que sería la Teletón 48”.
Kreutzberger urged the next government to declare the first Saturday of December week as National Support Day for Teletón and Sunday as Family Day, likening it to a Chilean “Thanksgiving” to promote unity. The opening featured child ambassadors like Alan García, guided by Nicolás Massú, with nods to TV shows and ChatGPT. The event runs through Saturday with local and international artists, closing at Estadio Nacional.
