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Colbow amazed at Telemiracle 42’s record-setting support

Susan Colbow is marvelling at the support shown by Saskatchewan residents for Telemiracle 42. The 20-hour fundraiser, organized by Saskatchewan’s Kinsmen and Kinettes, went off the air on Sunday at 5 p.m.
Telemiracle
The closing ceremonies at the end of Telemiracle brought many people onto the stage for a celebration. Photo submitted

Susan Colbow is marvelling at the support shown by Saskatchewan residents for Telemiracle 42.

The 20-hour fundraiser, organized by Saskatchewan’s Kinsmen and Kinettes, went off the air on Sunday at 5 p.m. with a total of $7,151,256 for the Kinsmen Telemiracle Foundation. Not only was it an off-air record total for the broadcast, but it shattered the old record of $5.9 million set in 2012.

The money raised will be used to meet the medical needs of Saskatchewan residents.

Colbow, who is from Estevan and the first Estevan resident to chair the event, couldn’t believe how much money was raised.

Telemiracle doesn’t set a goal for how much money it wants to raise, but Colbow joked before the event that she wanted to eclipse $6 million for the first time.

Once Telemiracle cleared the $6 million mark for the first time with about two hours to go, the donations continued to roll in.

“I honestly did not think we were going to make it to seven (million),” said Colbow. “The higher we went, to 6.8 and 6.9 (million dollars), it was great, but when we hit that seven (million mark), it was ‘holy crap, I can’t believe this is actually happening.’”

Two estate donations helped set the record. Lucien Wayne Jacobs of Trossachs, who died in a farming accident in 2014, made a bequest of $1.2 million early in the show. And Dr. Phil Thacker, who was part of the P.O.W. City Kinsmen Club, made a bequest of more than $1.5 million.

Those marked the two largest donations in Telemiracle’s history. 

Colbow didn’t know that either bequest was coming.

Saskatchewan residents, businesses, organizations and schools contributed donations throughout Telemiracle. Kinsmen and Kinettes clubs presented proceeds from their pre-Telemiracle fundraisers.

There was another big surprise during the broadcast. Bob McGrath of Sesame Street fame showed up just after noon on Sunday. McGrath appeared at 38 of the first 39 Telemiracle broadcasts, but announced in 2015 he was retiring from the fundraising.

Colbow believes there were three to five people who knew McGrath would be there this year.

“Until he appeared on the show, nobody knew he was there,” said Colbow. “He wasn’t there as a regular cast member. He wasn’t there for the entire show. He was just there for that special appearance, and it was great to have him.”

Colbow praised with the entertainment as well. It ranged from the Saskatchewan performers to the national cast, which included Brad Johner and the Johner Boys, and former Estevan resident Chris Henderson.

“The talent in this province is amazing,” said Colbow. “I can’t believe how much talent comes out of this province, and the national cast never fails.”

New for this year was a pre-Telemiracle countdown show on Facebook, which featured more Saskatchewan talent.

The countdown generated another $27,000 for Telemiracle, she said.

Also new for this year was the naming of the teddy bears that people received if they donated at least $142. This year’s bear was named Katie, and Colbow believes people liked the personal touch.

“The fact that she was named, I think made a difference to people about how much they were donating,” said Colbow.

As the event chair, Colbow was kept busy during Telemiracle. She had to supervise committee members, and if she needed to help out in a role, she would. Colbow also toured corporate donors around the set and showed them when their dollars were going.

And she was on screen a couple times, one for a memorial donation, and at the end of the show when she handed over the leadership reigns to the Telemiracle 43 chair.

Colbow said she has mixed emotions now that Telemiracle is finished. It was a hectic week, and she had a great committee, but she’s also glad it’s finished.

“In a month or two, I’ll probably be sad that it’s done, but for right now … we worked hard, we accomplished what we wanted to and we had great results,” said Colbow.

Her term as the chair of the Telemiracle committee will end on June 30 when the fiscal year ends. She will continue to sit on the foundation board and make appearances for cheque presentations when funds are distributed for this year’s event.