The United Way Pembina Valley officially kicked off its 2025 fundraising campaign this week at the Buhler Active Living Centre, setting its sights on raising $125,000 to support local non-profits, scholarships, and community initiatives across the region.
Aiming higher
Board president Levi Taylor says that this year’s new campaign goal is an increase from last year. “The community never ceases to amaze us with how generous they are. So, we're excited to increase our goal. Last year we set it at about 100,000, and this year it'll be 125. Last year, we met that goal, raised $100,000, and we're able to donate back to 19 different local not-for-profits. So we're excited to see what this year holds, and ultimately, we're just grateful to the entire community for all their support.”
In total, the 2024–25 campaign brought in $102,500 in grants for 19 agencies, alongside $7,500 in scholarships for graduates at Garden Valley Collegiate, Northlands Parkway Collegiate, and Morden Collegiate. Beyond those annual commitments, the United Way board also supported the Genesis House transitional housing project with $15,000 from its savings.
Every dollar stays local
Taylor emphasized that every dollar donated stays local. “With the United Way, it's 100% of the money donated goes back into the community. And that's because our administrative costs are covered by government grants.”
He noted that the ripple effect of giving extends across a wide range of services: “We give back to different organizations, whether it's sledge hockey or Big Brothers Big Sisters, Central Station or 500 Stephen Street, all these different organizations then use those funds and impact individual people's lives”.
Related stories:
- United Way Pembina Valley selects 19 grant recipients for their 2024-2025 campaign year
- Genesis House calls for bathroom essentials as shelves run low
Community events and barbecues
The 2025 campaign also includes two community barbecues. The first is coming up this Saturday in Morden at the Co-op grocery store, running from 11 am to 1 pm. The second one is on Wednesday the 24th, in the same time frame. “We’re so excited to see community members out. It'll be a 'by donation', hot dog barbecue.”
Donations can be made online at unitedwaypembinavalley.ca, via e-transfer, by cheque, or at the upcoming events. Businesses are also encouraged to take part through payroll deduction programs. Funding applications for local non-profits will open soon, with a deadline of December 15th, 2025.
Supporting diverse community needs
“We want to meet the needs of the community. And so whether that's a sledge hockey program that might be underfunded, or it's the food cupboard, or it's a handy van, or it's a cultural group that is looking for support...” he said in closing, “The United Way gives based on need and what is desirable in the community. But we try to spread it out and make sure that different groups are affected by these donations. I mean, that's what makes up community, right?”