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Saskatchewan people are probably far too humble to even say they are humble.
About the only thing that exceeds the quiet humility in this province is the generosity … unless, perhaps, it’s the needs of Saskatchewan women who are facing domestic violence.
Humbleness, generosity and needs sure seemed to nicely align this past year.
The Regina Leader-Post Christmas Cheer Fund has again proven how generous Saskatchewan people can be. In fact, you’ve been more generous than you’ve been in quite some time.
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Take Daniel Coderre and Lynne St. John of Stoughton.
It’s hard to even get either of them on the phone to talk about their generosity — something they’d prefer we make as little fuss about as possible.
About all Daniel would say is that they are fortunate and he and Lynne strongly believe it’s important to give back.
Asked why they chose to donate to the Cheer Fund, Daniel only offered a few well-chosen words.
“It’s a worthy cause,” he said. “You got to help.”
It certainly is a worthy cause.
For more than three decades now, since the Leader-Post revised an annual fundraiser that actually started nearly 100 years ago, the Cheer Fund has been providing necessary additional funding to Regina’s four area women’s shelters: the WISH Safe House, Regina Transition House, YWCA’s Isabel Johnson Shelter and SOFIA House.
It’s money that goes toward a lot of those extra needs — everything from toys for the kids at Christmas or on their birthdays to money for programming so their moms can forge a new and better life, as well as things like prescriptions and clothing for moms and their children.
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As we learned during this 2024-25 Cheer Fund campaign from those who run the shelters, regular government funding doesn’t always cover those extra costs. So, as Coderre succinctly put it: “You got to help.”
And help, they did. The $25,000 donation from Coderre and St. John becomes the biggest single donation to the 2024-25 campaign, pushing the total so far to $162,403.81.
That not only exceeds the 2023-24 total of $142,868.05, it’s also the most money this worthwhile cause has raised since 2017-18. And with delays in the mail, it’s not quite over.
For this, we need to say thank you to Coderre and St. John, and everyone who gave to the Cheer Fund.
You are as generous as you are humble.
The Regina Leader-Post Christmas Cheer Fund would like to thank the following:
Daniel Coderre and Lynne St John $25,000
Norma Louise McDonald Lissel $100
Larrie and Caroline Strecker $100
Debora Poncsak $50
Gary McLeod $400
Tom Coolican $50
Elaine Arnusch and Alonso Celis Household $100
Sandy and Bill Johnstone (in honour of all those in shelters) $100
Tara Osborne (in honour of Celeste Yawney) $50
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William Pelletier $100
Lorraine and Marcel (in loving memory of Raymond, Marie and Karen Gosselin) $500
Anonymous (in memory of Patricia Styles) $250
Anonymous $900
GRAND TOTAL: $162,403.81
We kindly request that, if you are able to give, consider making your donation online. It’s quick, easy and secure.
Simply visit leaderpost.com/cheerfund and click on the DONATE HERE button. You’ll be directed to a safe and secure payment platform managed by the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, where you can enter donation details and payment method. Your generous contribution will be processed right away, ensuring it reaches us without delay.
Alternatively, cheques can be dropped off at the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation (1911 Broad Street) during office hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). The front doors of the building are locked, so please call 306-751-4756 upon arrival and someone will meet you at the door.
We truly appreciate your continued support and thank you for helping us make a difference!
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