A new children's hour, local entertainment and support for member agencies of the Weyburn and District United Way are all highlights of the annual 33-hour Communithon.
A new children's hour, local entertainment and support for member agencies of the Weyburn and District United Way are all highlights of the annual 33-hour Communithon.
Residents are encouraged to attend the 33-hour event in person, by going to the Weyburn Comp Cafetorium on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25 and 26.
They are also reminded that the telethon will be aired lived on Access 7, and streamed online from www.weyburnunitedway.com. Communithon starts at 8 a.m. on Friday and ends at 5 p.m. on Saturday. There are 11 member agencies for the Weyburn and District United Way, and the goal is to raise $140,000.
"The Communithon is a huge event," said Christine Cooper, co-chair of the Communithon committee. "My background was as an executive director for a member agency in the past, and I have seen first-hand how these dollars go right back into the community. Without this event, it would take time away from the member agencies to do their own fundraising efforts."
"I am excited that everything is coming together, and I am so excited about what Weyburn can do for the community. There has been a lot of support over the last 32 years, and I am really excited that we get to do it again," said Cooper. "This is also the last year that we will get to do the Communithon in the Cafetorium,. There is a lot of memories and history made here."
"I always look forward to the entertainment. I love seeing the school children, the choirs, the dancers and all the entertainment," said Karen Kennedy-Allin, co-chair of the Communithon committee.
"I am quite excited about the children's hour that we are going to have on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon," said Kennedy-Allin. "I am excited to see the children's costumes, the costume parade and just hope we can fill the room."
"I am also looking forward to the Comp theatre club to performing their original play about the spirit of Communithon," said Kennedy-Allin.
In addition to the Communithon skit from the Comp theatre club, the children's hour will feature Ms. Goodbook from the Weyburn Public Library, an interactive pantomime, special mascots and great interaction with attending children.
"I am looking forward to being more involved with Communithon, and even performing with my choirs, I look forward to that every year," said Justin Claude, Captain United. "I am excited to be Captain United, and have looked forward to this for a while."
"We have a lot of great talented people who will be coming out to showcase their skills," said Sarah Doud, Lady Charity. "There will be lots of great entertainment for the 33 hours."
"I would like to announce, as in the past I have volunteered for Communithon and worked the cameras, and was there as a volunteer," said Doud. It takes many volunteers to host the annual fundraising telethon.
"The Communithon doesn't happen with just the co-chairs," said Kennedy-Allin. "We are just the facilitators of a whole bunch of different committees, where a lot of people are doing their own work and organizing."
A full schedule of entertainment if available in today's Weyburn Review. All the school-aged children will be on the stage on Friday morning and afternoon. Individuals, groups and organizations then hit the stage for Friday evening and throughout Saturday.
Both Captain United and Lady Charity visited local elementary schools last week, picking up posters and promoting the Communithon to the students. "We were at Souris last week, and will be at Haig this week. The students are excited to perform, just like I was when I was that age," said Claude.
"The school-aged children are great, they are really excited for Communithon, and I am excited because they are excited," said Doud. "They created a lot of great posters too, so we are getting them judged."
Residents are reminded that due to construction at the Weyburn Comp, they must enter the building in the B doors to access the Cafetorium.
Do not use the doors on the north side or the loading dock. There will be restricted parking, also because of the construction, especially on the Friday when school buses deliver students from other locations. Please note all signage around the school.
All the funds raised during the Communithon are used to support the 11 member agencies of the Weyburn and District United Way.
The member agencies include: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Weyburn, Canadian Mental Health, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Canadian Paraplegic Association, Canadian Red Cross, Color my World Child Care, Envision Counselling and Support Centre, Saskatchewan Abilities Council, Southeast Advocates for Employment (WASES), the Weyburn Care-A-Van Society and the Weyburn Special Care Home Auxiliary.
"The Communithon gives back to the member agencies, and it gives an opportunity for the school children and other community members to showcase their talent," said Claude.
"This event helps to save time for the member agencies, so they can put their efforts towards their services and programs," said Doud. "It takes off the pressure for these member agencies to fundraise on their own."
