This year’s United Way Perth-Huron fundraising campaign kickoff wasn’t brought in with a bang, but rather with a tractor.
Standing on a stage with a haystack podium next to a pair of farm vehicles in Market Square Friday, campaign co-chairs Martin and Kathryn Ritsma announced the 2018-19 goal of $1.4-million. Although they were happy with the final number, they weren’t pleased with the initial setup for the harvest-themed event.
Now the pair will both be channeling that determination in order to hit the fundraising target of $1,446,625.
“Martin and I don’t like to fall short of goals, and we don’t want to have our supported partners fall short, either,” Kathryn said.
The local United Way currently supports 48 organizations and programs across both counties. Several representatives held signs expressing “unignorable issues” such as isolation, poverty, and homelessness they’re attempting to address during the unveiling.
To get things rolling, over 300 businesses will be hosting workplace campaigns over the next two weeks, Martin said.
He also pressed people to volunteer and spread the word about what United Way is doing to address issues throughout the area.
The pair, taking over from former campaign chairperson Andrew Williams, also announced a three-year goal of $4,427,000. Planning a trio of years in advance helps agencies forecast funding.
“It tends to work out better,” Kathryn said.
As for the one-year mark, it’s slightly less than last year’s goal of $1,556,445. In the end, $1,317,738 was raised. Now there’s a new target to take aim at.
“We’re all going to work hard over the next little while to make sure that that goal is met,” Perth-Wellington MP John Nater said.
Stratford Mayor Dan Mathieson said the city has a reputation as a caring and giving community.
“It’s through the generosity of all of you that make it really count,” he said.