The 40th edition of Communithon reached and exceeded their goal for 2021, reaching a total of $85,877 when the fundraiser went off the air at 11 p.m. on Friday night at the Weyburn Legion Hall.
There were some late-evening donations that helped to push the tally over the top, including a donation of $7,000 from the Knights of Columbus from their Communithon luncheon, and a donation of $10,500 from the Charles Henderson Estate, which had donated a large bequest at the 2020 Communithon.
The evening portion of the day-long telethon included a birthday celebration for their 40th anniversary, just after Communithon volunteers dressed up chairperson Korryn Kubashek in numerous colourful remnants of costumes.
A live audience was permitted this year at the Legion, unlike a year ago, but those entering the hall had to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test and ID.
Kubashek said the event went off very well, thanks to the tireless efforts of over 50 volunteers who helped out throughout the day. Volunteers manned the cameras, took donations, did announcing and helped run things backstage to ensure everything ran smoothly.
The Communithon raises the funds to assist 11 community agencies who assist Weyburn and area residents in various ways.
The agencies include Big Brothers Big Sisters Weyburn, CMHA Weyburn, Canadian Red Cross, Community Low Income Centre, CNIB Foundation, Envision Counselling and Support Centre, Inclusion Weyburn, Spinal Cord Injury Sask., Weyburn Care-A-Van Society, Weyburn Special Care Home Auxiliary and the Weyburn Youth Centre.
