By Greg Nikkel
The 36th annual Communithon fundraiser event will begin at 8 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 20, with the aim to raise $140,000 for the Weyburn United Way and their 13 member agencies.
This year’s event will include the first-ever Concert Jam event on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 1 to 8 p.m., with both days of events in the Cugnet Centre.
The Comp STARS Show Choir will open the Communithon, fresh from their performance on Monday evening with the rock group Foreigner, and the day will be taken over with school performances through to 3:30 p.m. Local performers will entertain until 11 p.m., with The 7th Avenue performing as the house band in that time, and STARS will also perform as the closing act on stage.
“We’re proud to showcase local talent all day on Friday. We’ll have groups from all of the schools in Weyburn,” said Sabrina Kraft, president of the United Way and chair of Communithon.
She noted the host school, the Weyburn Comprehensive, will have their bands and choirs in addition to the STARS Show Choir. Friday’s entertainment will be broadcast live on Access 7, the community channel, along with being live-streamed on the United Way’s website at weyburnunitedway.com. The Concert Jam on Saturday, however, will not be broadcast, and the only way to see various groups perform will be to buy a ticket for the day.
There will be seven groups performing, with food catered by the Captain’s Hall throughout the day. The event is licensed, so there will be liquor available for patrons of the Concert Jam.
The tickets, at $50 each, are available in advance, and will be on sale throughout the day on Friday, plus at the door on Saturday, with children under 12 getting in for free.
“It’ll be a good family-friendly event, so we’re hoping lots of people will be interested in coming out to see the bands play,” said Kraft.
This year’s Communithon has been promoted by the Superheroes, Comp students Taylor Cameron and Landon Field, and both will be present throughout the day Friday to lend their smiles and encouragement to the performers and attendees.
“I’ve been involved in Communithon since I was six,” said Taylor, noting that as a young girl she watched Captain United and Lady Charity, hoping she could be in their shoes when she got older.
“We need to spread the word about Communithon in the community. People our age don’t always know what Communithon is, even though it’s been around for so long,” added Landon, explaining the importance of their job to let people of all ages know about Communithon.
He noted he and Taylor have spent time at the Open Air Market selling the 50-50 raffle tickets as well as making school visits, such as recently taking part in Haig School’s Communithon Bazaar.
Asked why Communithon is important, Taylor said, “It helps to give back to the community.”
“I think the United Way and its member agencies change from year to year, and under Communithon it kind of saves a lot, and helps them to have a time in the spotlight,” added Landon. “It’s bigger than all of us. It helps the agencies keep going, and they help other people down the road.”
Being involved with the organization as volunteers has open her eyes about the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to put on an event like the Commnithon, added Taylor.
“When you visit elementary schools, you hope to inspire them to be involved when they’re older,” said Landon. “I know Taylor and I are pretty much maxed out (with activities). It’s a lot of work, and it’s all worth it.”
Taylor passed on the message that they both hope a lot of people will come out to support the Communithon, whether to watch the school groups on Friday, the local talent, or to take in the talent from around Saskatchewan during Concert Jam on Saturday.
Landon noted that all of the member agencies will have displays up in the Cugnet Centre, explaining what their services are to the residents of Weyburn and surrounding area.
“I think it’s really important you come and check out them out and see where your dollars are going,” he added.
In addition to taking pledges and donations at Communithon, residents are encouraged to support the Knights of Columbus perogy and sausage supper at McKenna Hall on Friday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The supper cost $12 per adult and $5 per child, with all of the proceeds to be donated to the United Way.
In addition, said Kraft, there will be a silent auction set up in the Cugnet Centre throughout Friday and Saturday, plus there are 50-50 raffle tickets available, with the draw to be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
The silent auction will be closed around that time as well, so people are encouraged to make their bids. In addition, at the Concert Jam, all of the groups will have their CDs available for sale to the public, and a part of the proceeds will be donated to the Communithon.
Kraft said the hope of the organizers of this annual fundraiser is that they will attain their goal of $140,000 during the weekend, something they haven’t done for a couple of years now.
The 13 member agencies include: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Weyburn; Sask. Association of Community Living, Weyburn chapter; Canadian Mental Health Association; Spinal Cord Injury Saskatchewan Inc.; Canadian Red Cross; Sun Country Kids Club; Canadian Institute for the Blind; Weyburn Care-A-Van Society; Community Low Income Centre; Weyburn Special Care Home Auxiliary; Envision Counselling and Support Centre; Weyburn Youth Center; and the Saskatchewan Abilities Council.
