Online Chillin’ 4 Charity raises $3,607 for United Way
Despite the challenge of moving the event online, the Dhillon Business Students’ Association has raised $3,607 through its 2020 Chillin’ 4 Charity in support of United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta .
Co-VPs of Events, Sarah Fehr and Emily Giesbrecht, said the organizing team was pleasantly surprised with the results.
“We had to be a little more creative this year while planning this event, and by introducing the #chillinchallenge, we hoped to engage and entertain a wider audience,” Fehr said in a news release. “Our goal was not only to raise funds but increase awareness for United Way of Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. I would consider our campaign to be successful in both aspects.”
The event traditionally takes place on the U of L campus with students, faculty and community partners raising pledges before taking a plunge into an icy pool of water. This year, to reduce person-to-person contact, the event was moved entirely online, keeping the fundraising component the same, but inviting participants to film their own creative chilly challenges and share them online.
“We were pretty nervous about the event being online as it was hard to predict how much engagement we would be able to get,” said Giesbrecht. “For our first online campaign, I think we did very well.”
Connolly Tate-Mitchell, Marketing and Communications Coordinator at United Way, said she’s glad the DBSA team decided to push forward with the event online.
“The funds raised through this event are really important, and we’re really proud of what the team accomplished” she said. “Going into next year, many organizations will likely be facing higher demands for service, funding shortages and staff burnout. Fun events like this help keep spirits up in the community and will help keep community programs working.”
Although Chillin’ 4 Charity is over for this year, donations to the annual United Way campaign are still needed and are welcome at
www.lethbridgeunitedway.ca.
Groups looking to organize other peer-to-peer fundraising events are encouraged to contact United Way at 403-327-1700.