United Way Perth-Huron announces 2024-25 campaign co-chairs

Kristin Sainsbury and John Wolfe will serve as the United Way Perth-Huron’s next campaign co-chairs, the organization announced this week.

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“Kristin and John have been longtime supporters of (the United Way) and are well respected for their ongoing support of the community,” United Way executive director Ryan Erb said. “Pressing local issues like poverty, housing and mental health aren’t going away. We are looking forward to getting the campaign underway and, with Kristin and John’s help, building on the strength of our organization.”

Sainsbury, the City of Waterloo’s manager of business development, said communities are “in flux with issues becoming bigger and more challenging.”

“United Way is central to helping ensure that core agencies working on housing, homelessness, food security, DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), mental health and youth have a foundation for their programs. I hope we can help move the needle to fund programs that will continue to be central supports for the most vulnerable in our community,” she said.

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Sainsbury previously worked with the local United Way through a past Perth County job. She has more than 20 years of experience working in municipal, private sector and not-for-profit in land use policy planning, operations, marketing, tourism, real estate and economic development.

“This our way to give back and ensure our community remains vibrant and hopefully help people who need that support,” she said. “I think some of the not-for-profits United Way supports are small and don’t always have large fundraising teams to achieve their goal. (Financial support) allows them to deliver services to people they need to and not have to worry about raising funds year after year.”

Wolfe, who owns RE/MAX ab Realty in Stratford, has served on United Way Perth-Huron’s United Center advisory committee and on various boards, including chair of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance.

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“It’s inspiring watching Ryan (Erb) and his team create new programs and services to help the community,” he said. “Having been involved in the early days of The Local Community Food Centre, I saw how an organization can use United Way support to get their feet under them, then soar. Now with United Housing, we have another opportunity to watch a critical new organization emerge. We’re looking forward to being part of the campaign.”

The 2024-25 campaign goal will be announced Sept. 20 in Stratford’s Market Square.

Both Sainsbury and Wolfe said they want to do more than raise money during their two-year term as co-chairs.

“I feel like what we can bring is different awareness to the community,” Wolfe said. “United Way has a huge rule in Huron and Perth, and we want people to understand that and how important the role they play is in a number of aspects.”

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