A group of prominent Winnipeggers is set to lose a quarter of a million bucks -- and they're happy about it.
John Loewen, Bob Silver, Hartley Richardson and Sandy Riley decided to issue a Leadership Challenge this year.
Robert McGee responded to challenge: ‘We see the direct impact the United Way has on the community’
If the United Way could find 2,150 people to commit to making a Leadership donation of $1,200 or more, they would kick in an additional $250,000 together on top of their individual donations.
Riley said they came up with the idea as planning was underway for this year's fundraising campaign.
"We came to the realization that while we've had tremendous growth at the very top of the leadership pyramid, we really needed to broaden the base," Riley said.
The generous quartet found six others to join them in the challenge which will go towards the United Way's strategies for reducing poverty.
Richardson said it wasn't too tough to find six people who also recognized the importance of the challenge.
"It is critical to the ongoing sustainability of the United Way to have people give at the leadership level," Richardson said.
So far 1,480 people have made leadership donations. Of that number, 325 people are newcomers to the leadership level.
Robert McGee is new to the leadership ranks, signing on after attending a Young Leader event.
"My wife is an inner-city school teacher so we see the direct impact the United Way has on the community," McGee said.
He believes there's a lot of potential for the United Way in donations from middle-income families.
"My wife and I certainly fall into that, and donation leadership is well within our grasp," McGee said. "Hopefully other people in similar circumstances will realize similar donations are within their reach."
Many people choose to give by taking advantage of payroll deduction programs, meaning that a $1,200 donation can cost less than $24 a week.
If the challenge is successful, the United Way will have at least 500 more leadership donations compared to last year.
For the challengers, it's not a question of if, but when.
"We've all been involved as volunteers in the United Way for a number of years," Loewen said. "We all know the dedication amongst the staff and the volunteers. When they're given a challenge they tend without fail to rise to it."
"If we can get 500 new people working in support of the United Way, for me as a Winnipegger, it's a great investment," Riley said.
The sentiment was echoed by Richardson.
"We look at it as an investment," Richardson said. "We would absolutely consider doing another challenge next year."
michelle.melanson@freepress.mb.ca
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