The Estevan United Way is celebrating a year of generosity as they prepare for their Annual General Meeting on March 26. The 2024 telethon saw the community rally together to raise $380,676, the highest amount in the organization's history at the time of sign-off. And the donations didn’t stop there.
“Every year, it seems to get tougher for a lot of people, but despite that, they continue to give,” said United Way President Mark Pettitt. “This year, we set a record—and when I say ‘we,’ I mean the whole community.”
Additional donations that came in after the telethon, combined with careful budgeting, allowed the United Way to distribute another $97,500 to member agencies and community impact partners.
“Our goal is to give as much back as possible,” said Pettitt. “Once we take only the bare minimum to run our organization, all the rest goes right back into the community, which is just fantastic.”
The extra funds meant that many member agencies were able to receive their full funding requests, helping them continue their work supporting the region.
That impact will be a key focus of the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), where representatives from United Way’s member agencies and community impact partners will share stories of how these donations are changing lives.
“One of the most important parts for me is hearing from our member agencies and community impact partners about what they’ve done throughout the year,” said Executive Director Heidi Hesselink. “We’d love to have members of the community join us. It’s a great opportunity to gather, enjoy a meal together, and connect."
The AGM will be held at the Beefeater Plaza, beginning with a cocktails at 6 p.m., turkey supper at 6:30, followed by the meeting itself at 7:30. Tickets for dinner are $30 and must be reserved in advance. The meeting will also include the annual election of officers, where new leadership will be selected for key positions.
The United Way is also reminding organizations that applications for new member agencies are open until April 24.
To register for the AGM, contact Heidi Hesselink at 306-634-7375 or email admin@unitedwayestevan.com. More details are available on United Way Estevan’s Facebook and Instagram pages or at unitedwayestevan.com.