L-R: IBAS Board Chair Sarah Johnston and Prairie Proud Founder Cole Thorpe present Sask Girls United board member Amy Carruthers with a cheque for $5,000.

IBAS is increasing its annual sponsorship of Sask Girls United (SGU) from $2,500 to $5,000 in 2023. This contribution, made through the #BrokersCare Community Fund, will directly enhance the not-for-profit organization’s program delivery capacity.

SGU was founded in 2021 by five university students with the goal of providing mentorship, mental wellness, and leadership development opportunities to Saskatchewan girls between the ages of 8 – 14. Last year, SGU’s all-volunteer team connected with 391 youth across the province — roughly 30 per cent of whom identified as Indigenous and another 31 per cent of whom were located in a rural community.

“From the time we first became involved in #BrokersCare more than two years ago, we’ve been absolutely humbled by the quality and volume of projects it has supported,” says Randy Dhillon, central region vice president with Wawanesa Insurance, which returned in 2023 as the campaign’s title sponsor. “SGU is a perfect example of why we believe so strongly in this initiative. It’s about young leaders seeing a need and taking ownership to empower the next generation with the tools to be successful. On a shoestring budget, they’ve been able to expand markedly each year, and we couldn’t be prouder to partner with IBAS to empower their important work.”

This donation brings total #BrokersCare contributions to nearly $171,800. Funds are generated entirely through the generosity of IBAS’s members and partners, including through sales from annual #BrokersCare t-shirts. In 2023 alone, IBAS has already sold 620 t-shirts, generating roughly $24,800.

“One of the central themes at IBAS is community and that is a core value we share in our business,” adds Cole Thorpe, founder of Prairie Proud — the Saskatchewan-based apparel company that has collaborated with IBAS on #BrokersCare t-shirts since they were first introduced. “We believe we all have a role in strengthening the place we call home, and we are immensely grateful for groups like SGU dedicated to that mission.”

You can purchase your 2023 #BrokersCare t-shirt on the IBAS website — but hurry, as quantities are extremely limited. Each shirt is only $39.99 plus tax. Thanks to Wawanesa Insurance, that cost includes shipping anywhere in Canada, and 100 per cent of the purchase price goes directly to the #BrokersCare Community Fund.