Originally aired on PRI’s The World on November 30th 2012.

Every year in Chile the nation unites behind a common cause: a 27 hour-long telethon to raise money for disabled children. Businesses, individuals and the government all subscribe to the Teletón slogan: ‘puro corazon,’ or ‘pure heart,’ emphasizing the good intentions with which the program raises colossal sums of money. But behind this marketing machine is a sad picture of governmental neglect and capitalist profiteering.