The Weyburn & District United Way was organized in 1965 to provide an umbrella organization to support various organizations within Weyburn and surrounding area by coordinating the collection of donations from businesses, individuals, and organizations. In 1982 the Board determined to hold a community talent event utilizing volunteers who would entertain, with the local cable company, ACCESS 7, br
oadcasting the event. Donors were encouraged to phone in their pledges. Communithon, the 33 hour talent show, utilizes over a thousand volunteers in the annual campaign, which results in an annual organized one-time request for support from donors. Organizations make annual applications for support funding from the United Way, indicating their need and the programs and services that they will be able to provide with the funding they receive. The Weyburn & District United Way board of directors represents a broad cross-section of the population of our area. They bring expertise and knowledge of needs and resources to facilitate the planning and ex*****on of the collection of funding for the member agencies. They have been successful in reaching out and mobilizing the community to bring in the donations. In the process of doing this, the Weyburn & District United Way Communithon has become a large community building event. Children from all the local schools are involved as entertainers, participating in the poster competition, doing fund raisers for their classes, and working at the event as volunteers. Local volunteers do the video and audio production work to broadcast the event, ACCESS Communications provides the expertise, equipment and the air time, volunteers do all the tasks that are required to host a 33 hour event successfully. Communithon has become an "event" that people look forward to annually. We changed venue for Communithon in 2007. The move to the Comprehensive High School has been positive. We have more space which allows us to have the member agencies set up displays where they can interact with the people who attend. We are able to accommodate a larger audience. We have many more people who come to Communithon and donate in person vs phoning in a pledge. These people stay and enjoy the entertainment and create a excited and enthusiastic atmosphere. We have created the opportunity for our member agencies to become much more involved in Communithon. Last year they were encouraged and scheduled to work as part of a two person "announcer" team for a shift. This time allowed them to inform the audience and the broadcast audience about their programs and services. Our member agencies touch the lives of many if not most of the population is some way, they offer services to children, youth, adults, and seniors. Individuals and families are impacted by the programs and services they offer.
