Swift Current United Way announced at it's kickoff breakfast earlier this month that they will be raising their fundraising goal to $135,000 this year.

Executive Director Stacey Schwartz explains the reasoning behind the increase.

"In the last few years the dollar amounts that we have received in total from the grants over 2013, 2014 and 2015 have averaged around one hundred and thirty five thousand dollars and this last year exceeding. We are seeing that number come up repeatedly over the past few years."

Schwartz adds that over the past few years they have used a bequest from the State of John Jack Pratt to top up grants, however the funds were used up last year.  

As a result, this year the United Way will be completely reliant upon community donations.

Schwartz says one challenge they will face this year is a change in their fundraising timeline.

"We have changed our timeline to do our kick off in January rather than the traditional September timeline. Part of that is that we really want to get the word out to the community that we are raising money throughout the year. So rather than giving ourselves three months to raise that money were wanting to give ourselves twelve months to raise it."

With the extended timeline Schwartz says they hope to build awareness by making people aware of what they are giving towards when they donate to the United Way.

In response to how they plan to raise this year's fundraising goal, Schwartz says they have been thinking of different ways to fundraise and also hope to raise funds from their Foundation of Hope Gala.

In addition Schwartz says they will also be looking at not just corporate donations but also residential.

Anyone interested in donating or learning more information can visit the United Way website at www.swiftcurrentunitedway.com.