Pat Hull prefers serving in the background, but on Monday, November 25, he’ll be front and centre for one last fundraiser for Powell River and District United Way before he and his family move to their retirement ranch in southern Alberta.
“This jail-and-bail isn’t about me, it’s about United Way,” said Hull. “I’d be happy to just put my head down and leave town, but this gives me an opportunity to call a whole bunch of people I might not be able to talk to before I leave.”
Hull, the former owner of Rona, has been involved with United Way for more than 20 years. He will be “jailed” outside the lottery kiosk at Powell River Town Centre starting at 10 am until he collects “bail” money from friends and associates, which will be donated to United Way.
“Originally I was just going to have a little fun at Rona and say I couldn’t retire until I’d raised a certain amount of money,” said Hull, “but my wife Janet and Dale from United Way saw an opportunity.”
Dale Lawson, executive director of United Way, is working together with Powell River Town Centre to plan the event, and has high praises for Hull.
“Pat lives and breathes compassion and integrity,” she said. “We have benefitted in countless ways from Pat’s involvement in United Way. When he served on the United Way Centraide Canada board, he was able to bring the voice of small communities to the larger tables in Ottawa, and he brought knowledge about the movement back here as well.”
The jail-and-bail is not the only event generating funds for United Way on November 25.
“When United Way approached us, we were happy to help,” said Powell River Town Centre general manager Lorelei Guthrie. “We’ll have coffee and muffins outside the jail for Pat’s visitors, donated by Starbucks and the Snack Attack Shack, and live music by Howard Huntley. Many of our tenant businesses are also fundraising, giving people more options to donate.”
People who want to support United Way on November 25 can also purchase: A cup of coffee from Tim Hortons ($0.10 donated); a root beer at A&W ($1 donated); a large pizza from Panago ($2 donated, available November 23, 24, and 25); a power juice or power smoothie from Fruits & Roots ($1 donated); a box of chocolates from The Sweet Shoppe ($1 donated); a coffee and muffin from Snack Attack Shack ($0.50 donated); and/or a burger from TC’s Pub ($2 donated).
Current United Way board chair Charlene Reinisch is looking forward to the event, and not just for the fundraising aspect.
“Pat has been a big part of this community, and we hope his friends and colleagues will come out to support his event and to wish him well in his next chapter,” she said. “It's so true to Pat’s character that he is raising money for United Way and our community, even as he saying farewell. He's just a wonderfully kind and generous man who always leads by example.”
Hull said he wants more people to know about the work United Way does in Powell River, and how it touches the lives of every member of the community.
“United Way works in the background, and many people don’t know how much it impacts the organizations they access,” he added. “Anything I can do to bring a little more attention to the United Way is a good thing.”
