Saskatchewan’s long-running Kinsmen Telemiracle raised a record $5.9 million last weekend, thanks in large part to donations from people in agriculture.
The largest single donation was a bequest from the late Roy Wudrick, a cattle producer from the Rural Municipality of Aberdeen, who left $1.46 million to the annual telethon that raises money to help people with special needs. It also provides money for medical equipment and travel costs related to accessing certain equipment and procedures.
Viterra Inc. chief executive officer Mayo Schmidt presented a cheque for $418,000 on behalf of the company and about 5,600 shareholders who held fewer than 99 shares.
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The company announced a charity program last summer, in which shareholders who held shares that couldn’t be traded as a 100-share block could donate them. The brokerage fee was waived and donors received a tax receipt.
The company contributed $100,000 as incentive and shareholders responded, Schmidt said.
He wasn’t surprised.
“One thing that I’ve learned over my years living in Saskatchewan and being a Canadian,” he said. “Never underestimate the Saskatchewan support. When there’s a challenge they rise to the occasion and they participate.”
Schmidt said presenting the cheque and hearing stories about how the money helps was an emotional experience.
“It’s just heartbreaking,” he said of some of the stories he heard.
Meanwhile, Potash Corp. of Sask. twice issued challenges to people phoning in to donate. Each time the company offered to match up to $250,000 the donations received within one hour.
Both challenges were successful, resulting in a $500,000 contribution from the company to match the $500,000 raised by donors.
