Longtime journalist and community supporter and volunteer Paul Rellinger has been appointed chair of the United Way Peterborough & District’s 2025 community campaign.
The United Way made the announcement at its office at 277 Stewart Street in downtown Peterborough on Wednesday morning (May 21).
“Paul’s dedication and passion for our community are truly inspiring,” said CEO of United Way Peterborough & District Jim Russell. “His connection to the organization is rooted in a belief that a thriving community takes collective effort and shared responsibility.”
“He understands that the campaign is not just about raising funds, but rather about igniting hope and creating a shared sense of purpose,” Russell added. “We are confident that under his leadership, the 2025 campaign will be a remarkable success.”
Rellinger has supported the United Way for many years, most notably by organizing five annual Peterborough Performs: Musicians United To End Homelessness benefit concerts that have raised almost $150,000, with the latest concert this past March raising a record amount of $36,375.
He is also known for the former annual “Relly on the Roof” event he launched in 2011 as a one-off fundraiser for the United Way, where he camped out on the roof of a local business for 48 hours, subsequently supporting Habitat For Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region for the next seven years.
After moving to Peterborough in 1989 and following a career in broadcast and print media, including 27 years as editor and columnist at Peterborough This Week, Rellinger “retired” in 2016 to become a freelance writer for clients including kawarthaNOW, Trent University, and Cam’s Kids Foundation, also working for Oldies 96.7 FM.
He served for a number of years on the United Way’s Campaign Cabinet, has been the emcee of Peterborough Family Literacy Day since 2011, served as board chair of Peterborough Musicfest, and has also volunteered to emcee many other community events.
A past president of the Kinsmen Club of Peterborough, he also served on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough, the John Howard Society, and Showplace Performance Centre, as well as donating time to sit on a number of committees.
He was inducted into the Peterborough Pathway of Fame in 2021 and received the United Way’s Champions of Change Award in 2024.
During his acceptance speech at Monday’s announcement, Rellinger said he was “both humbled and honoured” to be leading the campaign cabinet, acknowledging the efforts of past campaign chairs such as Neil Morton, Megan Murphy, Daivd Goyette and, most recently, Shirley Turner.
“These are big shoes to fill for this little man,” he said.
“When Jim Russell and United Way board chair Marcus Harvey extended this opportunity a few weeks back, I was lost for words. Anyone who knows me knows how rare that is. But upon very short reflection, there were 1,506,198 reasons to say yes — a yes for each dollar the incredibly successful 2024-25 campaign brought in for the vitally important work carried out by the United Way’s 20 partner agencies.”
Rellinger recognized Turner’s leadership as the chair of the 2024 campaign which, in raising $1,506,198, met and surpassed its goal for the first time in 10 years.
“But while we can, and should, celebrate the success of the past campaign, we can’t lose sight of the fact that the need continues, not only for the United Way’s partner agencies but across our communities at large,” Rellinger added.
“The United Way campaign does more than direct much-needed dollars to where they can do the most good. The campaign provides hope for a better tomorrow, all while reinforcing what many of us already know — that this is a community that cares for, and looks after, its own.”
“That this is a community that rejects poverty, homelessness and social injustice in all its forms, and does what it can, what it must, to lessen the burden of those who, for whatever reason, are caught up in the continued spiral of inequity.”
As chair of the 2025 campaign cabinet, Rellinger will not only lead a team of volunteers to orchestrate fundraising efforts, strengthen donor engagement, and host inclusive community events, but will inspire others to get involved.
He said he is looking forward to working alongside United Way staff, the board, campaign cabinet, partner agencies, and the community, “with the end goal being our coming together in the spring of 2026 and saying, in one proud voice, ‘This place we call home cares, sees grievous wrong and seeks to right it, and that’s what truly makes it home.'”
“Giving is defined as providing love or other emotional support,” Rellinger added. “That’s true, but there’s another aspect of giving that we should, and must, keep front of mind — giving is an act we’re all capable of on some level, if not monetarily than by the selfless provision of our time, talent, and spirit.”
Rellinger also thanked his wife Mary, who was at the announcement, for her “support of, and patience with, her can’t-say-no-to-anything husband.” The couple, who have been married for 44 years, have three adult children and five grandchildren.
“Thank you Peterborough, in advance, for walking the walk, ensuring no one has to walk alone,” Rellinger concluded. “Not on our watch. Not ever.”
The fundraising goal of the 2025-26 United Way campaign will be announced later this year.
