ESTEVAN -
The United Way Estevan's Telethon was one for the record books.
The 48th annual fundraiser, held Oct. 18 and 19 at the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, received $380,676 in pledges and donations; the goal was $348,000. The funds donated by the community will support the organization's member agencies and community impact projects.
"The community has just stepped up in such an incredible way for the United Way Estevan Telethon, which then means, because we're over our goal, that the member agencies and community impact partners are allowed to have some more money," said United Way Estevan president Mark Pettitt.
The telethon went on the air at 8 a.m. Friday morning and the donations quickly started arriving. More than $122,000 came in on the first day, and the total was more than $172,000 as of Saturday afternoon.
The first big donation on Saturday afternoon came in from SaskPower, with a contribution of more than $113,000, thanks to funds raised by the employees and matched by the corporation.
Then the employees and management of Westmoreland Mining LLC's Estevan mines brought in their donation, which was $84,630, as the corporation matched the amount raised by the employees. That donation at 2:40 p.m. pushed the telethon to more than $370,000, well past its objective.
After the telethon reached its goal, Pettitt called Deborah Osburn, a member of the national United Way board from Saskatoon.
Osburn congratulated the board and the community, and said the amount of money raised was a "remarkable accomplishment". She also pointed out that the Estevan board is one that gets things done and it makes a difference in the community.
During the call, Pettitt cited information from the 2023 annual report that said the member agencies and community impact projects have helped 7,500 people in the city.
"It is a reminder of the difference that you're making … so this is a great achievement," said Osburn.
Pettitt noted it's the first time the United Way has called somebody from Saskatchewan about surpassing the goal.
"She could feel the success and she could also feel the elation we had," said Pettitt.
The previous off-air record was $377,152, set in 2019. This year's telethon set the new benchmark just before 4 p.m.; the telethon wrapped up at 5 p.m.
Pettitt said he never imagined the telethon would eclipse the $380,000 mark for the first time. He thought the $350,000-$360,000 range – which was the off-air figure the previous four years – would still be amazing.
"One, we'd have reached our goal where we've allocated money to our member agencies, but two, we're in that zone which I think is really a place where Estevan can be consistently, but to have this happen is just amazing and it's very humbling."
The entire 33-hour event was broadcast live on Access Now TV. People could also watch it on the United Way's website. This year's theme was You are the Community.
Entertainment took place throughout the 33 hours. School students and other youth organizations accounted for much of the talent in the initial hours. Bands and duets had their turn Friday night.
Members of the Estevan Comprehensive School's student representative council spearheaded the telethon from midnight to 6 a.m. Saturday during the annual ECS Takeover.
Additional entertainment took place Saturday. The Szakacs Family of Carnduff served as the closing act.
Ninety-seven hand-crafted bid items were available for people to bid on through a silent auction. The Hearts and Hands Quilting Guild supplied a quilt for a raffle. The auction and the raffle brought in $7,958.
People volunteered throughout the 33 years by answering phones, operating cameras, hosting, helping out in the kitchen, in the banking room and at the receipt table, and in other capacities.
This year marked Pettitt's second stint as president; he was also in charge in 2007. While a lot has changed in 17 years, much remains the same.
"We live in a very generous community. Everyone who gives doesn't have to give. Everyone who gives chooses to give, whether it's a performance, whether it's volunteer time here, whether it's money, we all choose, in our own lives, to give. And Estevan gives back in spades."
From children to senior citizens, everyone comes together in Estevan to support the United Way.
"I've said that this is probably the event in Estevan that brings Estevan together as a community, as a whole, more than anything," said Pettitt.
He thanked the board for their contributions prior to, during and after the telethon. None of them do it for accolades or thank yous, he said, they just want to do their part to allow member agencies and community impact projects to do their thing. Prior to calling Osburn, Pettitt called the board "the best group of people I have ever worked with in my life".
People are hurting financially right now because inflation has caused issues with a lot of people's finances, so to have this kind of support is wonderful.
The United Way's allocations committee will meet in the future to divide the surplus among the different organizations.
"Our year ends at the end of December 2024, so anything that does come in from now until then will be part of the grand total for our fundraising year," said Pettitt.
