Red River College’s Stevenson Campus was again the proud facility sponsor for the 14^th United Way Winnipeg Plane Pull — providing the hangar and volunteers for the annual fundraiser, which doubled as the launch of this year’s United Way Annual Giving Campaign.

Nearly 2,000 people joined together Friday to pull 80,000 pounds of plane, while raising money to provide essential supports directly to kids and families in Winnipeg. But the heavy lifting for this event begins long before the first teams get their hands on the rope.

“In order for an event of this magnitude to take off smoothly, it’s all hands on deck,” says RRC President Paul Vogt. “As the facility sponsors, our instructors and staff at the Stevenson Campus are involved in the planning nearly a year in advance — from scheduling classes and program training around the event date, to providing volunteers and working around the clock the day before to clear the hangar and have it set up and ready for participants.”

The 55,000-square foot training facility is home to RRC’s aviation and aerospace programs – making it the ideal location for the Plane Pull each year.

“We’re excited to be back on Stevenson Aviation’s tarmac, which is generously provided by Red River College, pulling together for a better Winnipeg,” says Colin Ryan, Senior Vice-President and Managing Director at BMO Nesbitt Burns, and United Way Winnipeg’s 2017 Campaign Chair.

“More and more, Winnipeggers are reaching out with kindness every single day, sharing our pride and shaping a Winnipeg we can all be proud to call home.”

Over 71 teams took part in the Plane Pull, raising tens of thousands of pledge dollars to pull either a C-130 Hercules or a Boeing 727. The money raised will go directly into the community for mental health supports — including specific supports for youth — as part of United Way Winnipeg’s three-year plan to help more kids discover confidence, resilience and courage by connecting them with mentors and mental health services.

“Every two minutes, someone in Winnipeg uses a program or service made possible by United Way Winnipeg and fundraising events like the Plane Pull,” says Vogt, who will be participating on the RRC team and is also a member of the United Way Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council.

“We are proud to once again show our support, not only as facility sponsor, but also through the volunteers and participants who share our vision to engage with and enhance our community.”

Photo credit: Paul Reimer