‘Great first step’: United Way Winnipeg launches annual fundraising campaign

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This article was published 15/09/2023 (742 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

United Way Winnipeg kicked off its annual fundraising campaign Friday with a celebration in the rain at True North Square.

The mid-day event also marked the successful completion of the charity’s first donation challenge, during which more than 4,000 volunteers logged their steps over the past week in order to unlock $80,000 in donations from sponsors Assiniboine Credit Union, Birchwood, Johnston Group and Payworks, and Wawanesa Insurance.

The challenge, dubbed “Walk This Way,” had participants log the distances they walked or cycled over seven days on a cellphone app, with a goal of 150,000 kilometres collectively.

That goal was reached by about 12:30 p.m., fundraising campaign co-chair Kristie Pearson told the crowd at the Friday event, which also featured performances from folk-rock band Indian City and the Winnipeg Dance Collective.

United Way Winnipeg provides operational funding to 125 agencies and programs in the city that provide social services, such as meal programs, safe spaces for youth, job training and counselling, and addictions supports.

Jason Granger, vice-president of community investment, said mental health, illicit drugs and homelessness are among the key issues the funded agencies work to address.

“If you can give a bit more, give to United Way because it’s a community fund, it’s Winnipeg’s community fund. It’s the opportunity for us to all pool our resources together to provide that sustained support to that network of organizations that are there for individuals and families each and every day,” Granger said.

Doug Pollard, co-chair of the campaign (along with his wife Pearson), said the fundraising is about improving the community.

“I consider myself a very fortunate Winnipegger. I think this is a wonderful community, it’s a great place to work, to bring up a family, but as much as it’s a great place, it’s not perfect, and we need to make it better for everybody,” said Pollard, co-chief executive officer of commercial printer Pollard Banknote Ltd.

He said the Friday event was just a small part of the year’s fundraising goal for United Way Winnipeg: over $20 million.

“This is a great first step. What it shows you is not so much the money it raises, it’s how broadly it’s supported — we had to have a lot of Winnipeggers come together to walk 150,000 km,” Pollard said.

“Winnipeggers are very generous with their time and their money.”

Pearson said the event was also a good way to celebrate the agencies United Way Winnipeg support and the work done to help people in need.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca