The support remained strong for the United Way Estevan鈥檚 39th annual telethon, but the organization has some work remaining if they hope to eclipse their goal.聽
The 33-hour broadcast closed with a total of $321,357, which was short of their $338,000 goal. President Wendy Gustafson said the board will now focus on reaching their goal, so they can fulfill their commitment to their 15 member agencies and three community partners.
All of the telethon鈥檚 activities were at the Royal Canadian Legion鈥檚 Estevan branch, and were shown live on Access Channel 7.
鈥淚 cannot tell you how impressed I am with Estevan and area, just how it came together at the end,鈥� said Gustafson. 鈥淚 saw the total rising, and it seemed to go slowly. But as it got towards the end, it was amazing how the people rallied around and came up with so much for the United Way.聽
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 quite hit the goal we had set, but what I think is amazing is what they have given us in support of our member agencies.
鈥淚t isn鈥檛 what we didn鈥檛 get, it鈥檚 what we got. I can鈥檛 say enough for the people and their generosity.鈥澛�
Gustafson said she鈥檚 not disappointed that they didn鈥檛 reach their goal.聽
鈥淧eople gave what they had, and not just large amounts. People gave small amounts. They made bid items. They donated their time. All of these things, put together, made for a very successful telethon for us.鈥�
The telethon started at 8 a.m. on Friday morning. Local schools filled the entertainment slots during the morning and the early afternoon.
People from the community filled the remainder of the schedule, as they sang, danced and played musical instruments. Perennial acts such as the Drewitz School of Dance, the Estevan Elks PPCLI Pipes and Drums Band, the Me鈥檌ra Belly Dancers and the Foster Family showcased their skills.聽
The cast from the Estevan Comprehensive School鈥檚 upcoming production of聽Grease聽offered a preview of their play. Midale violinist Nadia Babchouk returned for the second straight year, and was joined by American musician Tony DeBlois. Babchouk and DeBlois performed at a fundraiser for Pro-Life Estevan and Area earlier in the evening.
The entertainment continued during the overnight hours, with a Mexican fiesta theme and a cooking contest featuring members of the United Way board.
Entertainment for Saturday morning and afternoon included people of different ages and abilities. Margaret Duncan and her piano students displayed their growing talents. Kay Johnson, a 91-year-old local musician, impressed with her abilities on the piano, while local youngster Kathryn Orlowski sang a couple of songs and brought a donation of $209, which she raised through collecting empty bottles and cans.聽
The Red Hat Society, Blair Wrubleski and Lexie Tytlandsvik were among the other performers.聽
The Daae Family was the closing act for the telethon, which went off-air at 5 p.m.聽
鈥淭he entertainment was so good,鈥� said Gustafson. 鈥淚 forgot that we were raising money for a while, and I was just enjoying the entertainment.鈥�
The Legion was packed for much of the telethon as well, and Gustafson said the entertainment played a big role in attracting the crowds. She was pleased with the variety of performers they had, and the fact there were few lulls in the schedule.聽
Also during the telethon, each member agency and community partner were able to explain their impact on the community, and how they have benefitted from the United Way鈥檚 support.
Local people also served as hosts during the telethon. Former Estevan resident Trevor Gowen returned to the city to serve as a host for much of the broadcast.
The telethon received a record number of 63 bid items for the silent auction that ran throughout the show. The bid items fetched more than $3,800, which was another record number.聽
鈥淪ome people (will) start getting ready for 鈥� next year,鈥� said Gustafson. 聽
The Hearts and Hands Quilting Guild created a quilt for the raffle, and it raised another $1,902. All these efforts contributed towards the amount raised during the telethon.聽
The employees and the head office for SaskPower had the largest donation, as they pledged $117,171.85. The Westmoreland Coal Company鈥檚 staff and corporate office came through with $62,636.17.
Enbridge Pipelines donated $37,000, thanks in large part to the money that was raised during the Cooks that Cook fundraiser last month. Torc Oilfield contributed $10,000.聽
The United Way has reached their goal each year they have had the telethon in Estevan, and while they didn鈥檛 do it during this year鈥檚 broadcast, Gustafson looks forward to when they will reach their campaign goal. 聽
