ESTEVAN - The United Way Estevan celebrated the generosity of the community and its accomplishments from the past 12 months during the organization's annual general meeting on March 26 at the Beefeater Plaza.
United Way board members and staff were joined by representatives of the member agencies and community impact projects, and others, for the meeting. Reports were provided, audited financial statements were released and numerous speeches were delivered.
The finance document showed the United Way Estevan received $437,713 in donations in 2024. Total revenues were $454,866.
The United Way provided $301,500 in allocations for its member agencies and $30,276 to the community impact projects last year, along with $7,692 through the special projects fund and $8,500 for designated donations. Total expenses came in at $385,691, and the excess of revenues over expenses for the United Way was $18,075.
The United Way had $514,857 in revenues in 2023, but $123,918 was from a one-time grant that were spent through the United Way's special projects fund. Overall donations to the United Way and allocations to member agencies were both up in 2024.
In his report, outgoing president Mark Pettitt told the crowd how proud he was of the support last year.
"What can you say to a community like Estevan other than 'thank you' and 'we did it?'" asked Pettitt. "We did such a great job this year. We came to raise money at the telethon for our member agencies and community impact partners, and boy did we raise some money this year."
The 48th annual telethon in October went off the air with a record total of more than $380,000. Donations continued to come in after the event.
"When times get tough, it seems like people give more. I've learned that about Estevan," Pettitt said.
He also pointed out that in 2023, Estevan was fifth in Canada for per-capita fundraising, and second in Canada for donors per capita.
Pettitt thanked the volunteers who supplied their time and talents, which helped the United Way pull off a live show for 33 hours; the member agencies and community impact partners for making a difference in people's lives on a daily basis; Access Now for not only providing the TV station for the show, but for all of the help they provide before, during and after the telethon; the United Way's staff members, Heidi Hesselink and Kent Pachal, for their contributions to the United Way's success; and the board members for all of their work in the past 12 months.
"I'm living proof that this board is so great and so strong that you put any one of its members as president and we will be successful in Estevan," Pettitt said to laughter. "There's a lot of humour in that and a lot of truth to that."
Pettitt presented the president's gavel to Brittney Brokenshire, who reflected on her experiences with the United Way.
"I remember being in elementary school and being so excited to perform. Every year my choir came, you got to dance and sing on the stage. It was so much fun, and it's something I always found was in my blood."
When she was young, she didn't realize the full scope of helping the community, but she always knew she was part of something special.
"That feeling, essentially, was what drew me back to volunteer in my adult life and then join the board in 2023," said Brokenshire.
She cried when she thanked her family, as they are the reasons she wants to make the world a better place.
"It's a beautiful thing to see a group of community-minded folks all together in one room," she said.
Brokenshire admits she has "big shoes to fill" after the year the United Way had under Pettitt's leadership, but the community does good things when it bands together.
The United Way has a dedicated group of volunteers and board members who want to do good in the community, and she wants to learn more from them. The community partners and member agencies are so passionate and dedicated to helping the community and creating change.
"I think being able to be part of the United Way and being able to help so many diverse groups is what helps make it really special."
As for the rest of the executive, Lynn Trobert and Larry Elash will share the first vice-president role; they are the two longest-serving members on the United Way board, with more than 70 years of combined experience. They will be the co-presidents when the United Way has its 50th annual telethon in 2026.
Trobert will also be the treasurer, Becca Foord will be the second vice-president and Pettitt is the past-president.
Trobert, Elash, Foord, Robert Godfrey, Tania Andrist, Breanne Lees and Denise Olsen have all agreed to remain on the board for another three years.
Also during the meeting, Wendy Gustafson and Shelly Veroba, who co-chair the Day of Caring committee, promoted the upcoming event, which is slated for May 28. (Â鶹´«Ã½AV will have more on the Day of Caring at a later date).
It was also announced at the meeting that the late John Deadlock would be receiving a posthumous King Charles III Coronation Medal. Deadlock played a pivotal role in the United Way for much of its history, and in the early years, was the host throughout the telethon back when it was a 36-hour event. Deadlock also had five terms as an alderman on Estevan city council.
The official medal presentation will happen in the future. Elash nominated Deadlock, will accept the medal on behalf of the family, and then get the medal to Deadlock's family in Alberta.
"We're very happy that John is being recognized for his decades and decades with the United Way. And when he hosted, he hosted. He never went for a nap, he never went to sleep. He just hosted," said Pettitt.
The United Way announced a new planned giving initiative, similar to what the Kinsmen and Kinettes have with TeleMiracle. A brochure has been created.
The meeting wrapped up with member agency and community impact project representatives addressing the crowd on what they do in the community, and explaining how the United Way helps them deliver services.
The United Way Estevan's 49th annual fundraising telethon will take place on Oct. 17 and 18 at the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
