The annual telethon fundraiser hosted by United Way Estevan is beginning to draw closer to its scheduled dates of Oct. 26-27.
In preparation of the event, the agency’s board has begun hosting weekly meetings to ensure the event’s planning remains on track.
Travis Frank, president of United Way Estevan, said that the group is currently looking for volunteers to assist with the event, and they are still currently looking for entertainers.
“Right now our board is getting together, and everyone is on various different committees, and so throughout the next couple of months everyone will kind of be putting all their work together. The event will be 33 hours straight, and will have over 100 volunteers, and 50 to 60 entertainers, so it’s a big project,” said Frank.
“So if anyone is interested in volunteering for the telethon, or before the telethon on one of our committees, or if anyone has an interest in performing in the telethon, they can give us a call and we’ll put them in touch with the right people,” he added later.
In recent years the telethon has exceeded $350,000 in proceeds, and they are hoping to make around the same amount this year.
“This will be our 42nd year of hosting the telethon in Estevan,” said Frank.
“Our fundraising goal this year is $335,000, and we’re looking forward to another great year. This event has always been popular in the past and we’re expecting it will be just as great this year.”
United Way Estevan announced in August that the initially planned date of Oct. 12 and Oct. 13 for the telethon would have to be changed, as the initial date was a professional development day for the South East Cornerstone School Division and Holy Roman Catholic Separate School Division.
“Our schools are a huge part of our telethon,” said Frank.
“It’s one of the biggest things that draws people from our community to the event, and the schools themselves bring in a very large portion of money. So we really didn’t want to host the event without our schools included and the kids that attend them.”
According to Frank, the only major change to this year’s event will be the aforementioned date change. Country gospel group The Daae Family, who are well known throughout Saskatchewan, will be making an appearance as the show’s closing act.
“Everything has come together really, really well,” said Frank.
“We had to make the date change a couple of weeks ago, but besides that everything has been going great. It will be another great year for the telethon and we’re really excited for it. We hope to see a lot of people getting involved and make money for a great cause.”
