True North Square Plaza was filled on Friday with music, dancing, camaraderie—and a united ambition to protect our city’s social safety network so Winnipeggers can heal and thrive.
Virgin Radio Winnipeg’s Chrissy Troy hosted the Walk This Way Finish Line and 2024 Campaign Kickoff Party, which marked the end of the annual Walk This Way challenge and the official start of this year’s fundraising campaign.
Over the course of a week, 3,725 people hit the roads, trails, and more to reach an incredible collective final distance of 159,307 kilometres to unlock $80,000 for United Way Winnipeg.
“Last Friday, we started this thing at zero kilometres. None. We had just seven days to reach our goal of 150,000 kilometres and unlock $80,000 to help our community,” Chrissy Troy told the crowd. “It hasn’t been always easy. Our muscles are sore, but our hearts are full … because we knew that with every step of the way, we were making a difference.”
“It’s the reason we give our time and our dollars—to make sure there’s somewhere to go and someone to offer help whenever anyone reaches out in need."
2024 Campaign Chair Austin Abas picked up the torch, thanking everyone for helping to sustain United Way Winnipeg’s 125+ agencies, programs, and services in a year with such urgency for these critical supports to remain in place. Stress is high for many people and families, with the high cost of food and basic needs, the grip of substance use, and mounting mental health pressures.
“Did you know that Winnipeggers visit our donor-funded agencies over 2.4 million times every year?” Abas said. “Those are the Winnipeggers we’ve been walking for this week.
“It’s the reason we give our time and our dollars—to make sure there’s somewhere to go and someone to offer help whenever anyone reaches out in need.”
A Managing Partner at KPMG, Abas has been a committed United Way Winnipeg volunteer for over 20 years. Giving back to community is also a family affair; he and his wife Siham are longtime donors, and their son Mohammed has taken up the mantle.
Abas said he’s grateful to be able to inspire generosity by spreading the word about the incredible difference people can make for Winnipeggers by giving in a united way.
Last year, generous donors raised a record-breaking $22.8 million to support United Way Winnipeg’s 125+ network of agencies, services, and programs.
“We need to remove barriers and create pathways so anyone can rebuild and strengthen their lives.”
