The goal has been set for this year鈥檚 United Way Estevan telethon.
For the 2017 edition of the event organizers would like to raise $325,000 to give to its member agencies, the same goal it set and smashed last year.
鈥淲e definitely knew going in times are a little tougher, but at the same time we were very fortunate last year and we believe Estevan can continue to step up and support the United Way and all our member agencies,鈥� said Patrick Fisher, president of United Way Estevan.
鈥淟ast year was our 40th year and we definitely got a lot of extra donations we weren鈥檛 expecting, but we had a goal of $325,000 and we ended up with over $400,000.
鈥淲e kind of looked at that a little bit and thought we should keep it the same and we鈥檙e hoping for, maybe not similar results, but we definitely think we can reach our goal.鈥�
The theme for this year is going to be United Though Adversity and though Fisher said he expects a lot of people will assume it鈥檚 inspired solely by the state of the economy, the theme actually goes much deeper than that.
Adversity can be felt from the people served by United Way member agencies, many of which are charitable organizations, as well as the agencies themselves as they struggle to meet the needs of their clientele.
鈥淲hat we realized is that no matter what the adversity is, regardless of whether it鈥檚 a financial situation or it鈥檚 the economy, whether it鈥檚 problems in a household, whether it鈥檚 needing someone to talk to, everybody encounters adversity on a day-to-day basis and what we at the United Way want is to unite people,鈥� Fisher said.
Uniting people is another part of what the telethon is all about, Fisher added, as it gives community members a chance to get together and showcase a lot of the talent and skills within Estevan.
He said the organization is always looking for new and different types of entertainment to feature at the event and in the last few years there have been a lot of great opportunities to showcase some of the local multicultural entertainment that doesn鈥檛 get represented as much as it could be.
鈥淲hether it鈥檚 people performing or volunteering, or even just people coming in and enjoying some of the performances, it鈥檚 an opportunity for fellowship,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 think one of the best things is that it gives us a chance to bring our member agencies to the front and talk to them and find out what they鈥檙e doing, what kind of services they鈥檙e providing and how they鈥檙e making such an impact in our community.鈥�
Fisher added United Way understands money might be tight for many in current economic times, but the recipients of the telethon directly impact a lot of lives locally and it鈥檚 important to keep them in mind.
This year it should be noted the telethon has been moved back a couple weeks from its usual date and will take place on October 27 and 28.
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