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Fundraising moving along for United Way
Creating Community
Tim Walsworth
While payroll deduction continues to be the main way United Way generates donations, several recent fundraising events have produced incredible results.
The 11th Annual San Juan Brew Fest was held Aug. 30 in downtown Durango. Sponsored by Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort, the Brew Fest was a big success.
Two years ago, Purgatory moved the San Juan Brew Fest to downtown Durango, and United Way was chosen as the charity partner. Despite the longevity of the event, moving it to a new location and a different weekend essentially meant starting over with planning and promotions. The Brew Fest was successful that year, but both United Way and Purgatory wanted the event to get bigger and better.
Thanks, in large part, to our friends at CookManFood.com, Todd Youngblood and Dan Mantineo, this year's Brew Fest exceeded our expectations. About 700 people attended, which more than doubled the attendance from last year. Eighteen regional breweries participated. United Way made about $7,000 from the event, again exceeding expectations.
A big thank-you goes out to Scott Warren from Purgatory for all his help, as well as to CookManFood.com, A-Dub-Rock Band for the entertainment, the 18 breweries that participated, our volunteers who staffed the event and to everyone who attended.
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United Way also just completed the 13th annual Radiothon. Four Corners Broadcasting helped United Way raise a lot of money with this annual radio auction.
United Way's Radiothon coordinator Krystyn Dennis and the Four Corners Broadcasting staff worked tirelessly for more than six months to put together the event. Almost 300 items were donated by local businesses, resulting in more than $80,000 worth of goods and services for auction.
Several sponsors helped to make the event a success. Larry Holiday, Todd Youngblood, Qwest, American Tel-Com, Durango Mall, United Blood Services, Brainstorm Internet and JC Penney put together the infrastructure for the Radiothon.
To work the event, United Way recruited about 50 volunteers to set up, take bids, take payments and to clean up.
United Way and Four Corners Broadcasting also put together a moving tribute for the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The Colorado Mounted Rangers presented the colors, and we stopped the auction for a few minutes to honor and remember this day in our nation's history.
Durango Area Association of Realtors, Southern Ute Indian Tribe Growth Fund, Mercury Payment Systems and the town of Ignacio put the icing on the cake by sponsoring an hour or two during the broadcast.
The Radiothon raised as much as it did last year - $52,309. Four Corners Broadcasting DJs Tom Little, Cosmo and Mike Riggs did an incredible job of promoting auction items. United Way also sends a special thank-you to Gina Antrillo at Four Corners Broadcasting for her help.
Southwest Colorado does not lack for fundraising events. I am very proud that United Way's events continue to be well received in our community.
Tim Walsworth is President
and CEO for United Way of Southwest Colorado.
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