THUNDER BAY – Thursday’s chilly weather could be just the added incentive the United Way of Thunder Bay needs to push them into six figures during their annual Billboard Rescue event.
Executive director Jered Zieroth said the quicker participants hit their goal, the quicker they’ll be lowered from their scissor-lift perch, nearly 30 feet in the air.
“Bad weather doesn’t necessarily dampen the cause. It just makes people feel a little bit more sorry for us and for the people who are going up on the lift. Hopefully people will dig deep to be able to get them down,” Zieroth said.
With one-in-three people living in Thunder Bay affected by the United Way and its affiliated agencies, Zieroth said the Billboard Rescue is an integral part of their annual fundraising goal, the largest single event they take part in year after year.
In its 26th year, without it there would be a huge hole in what the charity organization would be able to accomplish.
“Putting this money toward the campaign goal helps a basket of organizations and programs within our community,” Zieroth said. “It takes a village to raise a child. I know it’s a cliché, but it really does take a whole group of programs – not just one single program in our community – to make a better place for us to live and work.”
Shawn Christie, who as owner of Lowerys has played host to the event on numerous occasions, said the money raised will have a major impact on the way of life for so many living in Thunder Bay.
It’s why he’s taken part in each of the 26 years the event has been held.
And it’s why it’s remained a viable fundraiser.
“I truly believe that the people in the community know the United Way helps out one-in-three people. So somebody you know or yourself has been directly affected by the United Way and some of the programs it helps fund,” Christie said.
“It just really goes a long way. Hopefully we’re going to raise more than $100,000 today and we’re on our way.”
The Billboard Rescue continues throughout the afternoon.
