The United Way Estevan continues to make progress in their effort to reach their goal for this year’s campaign.
The organization’s telethon, held Oct. 16 and 17, went off the air with a total of $321,357, which was more than $16,000 short of their $338,000 goal.
But in the two and a half weeks since the telethon, donations have continued to come in. President Wendy Gustafson didn’t reveal the exact amount, but she said they are now just a few thousand dollars short of their goal.
“We have been receiving quite a few donations, which is really neat,” Gustafson told the Mercury. “People are still making donations at the banks, and we have been receiving some
in the mail.”
People who were away during the weekend of the telethon have sent in donations because they wanted to support the United Way, which offers funding to 15 member agencies and three community partners. Some supporters have donated more than once, which Gustafson finds amazing.
The board of directors has been reminding people that they are still short of their goal, and it’s not too late to make a donation.
“We are hoping to get to that goal,” said Gustafson. “We are shooting for the end of November.”
The latest that they would want to reach their goal would be Dec. 31, which coincides with the end of the local United Way’s fiscal year, but they don’t want it to happen at the last minute.
This year marked the second time in three years that the United Way has not reached their goal during the broadcast. Gustafson said it’s helpful that they went through the same experience in 2013, when the telethon went off the air with about $337,000 in donations, which was $13,000 short of their $350,000 goal. They reached their objective in late November, thanks to a variety of donations following the telethon.
“Our economy’s quite a bit different than it was two years ago, too, but people have stepped up and continued to support us,” said Gustafson. “When we cracked the $300,000 mark, I was excited, because I know and I understand that the money is just not there this year, and it’s hard for people, and yet, for some reason, people have just dug deeper, and have come up with the money.
“So we are just more than grateful for what people have done in this community and in this area.”
Local banks are still accepting donations. People who made pledges, but haven’t paid them yet, can drop by one of Estevan’s financial institutions to fulfill their pledge. The deadline to do so is Nov. 5.
“We want people to get them in before the banks (stop accepting donations),” she said. “Otherwise you’ll have to contact the office and bring your donation down, or mail it in.”
Gustafson reiterated her concluding statement from the telethon that the event was a success the moment it went off the air, even though the United Way hadn’t reached its goal. People have been so generous, she said, and that’s the truest sign of success.
