Calgary’s foundation rests heavily on giving back to the community — supporting one another is just what we do. Whether through scholarships, community programs or resources, Calgarians continue to uplift everyone who calls this city home.
Now, more than ever — with rising costs, high rates of food insecurity and complex social issues — helping others is vital for a stronger, healthier community. Luckily, many businesses, organizations and individuals continue to answer the call.
Read on to learn about some of the groups giving back, ensuring Calgarians continue to have the support they need to thrive.
85 Years of Impact: Building a Brighter Calgary Together
For more than eight decades, United Way of Calgary and Area has united the community to give back.
When longtime Calgary donor Sharon Siebens made a landmark $10 million commitment to United Way of Calgary and Area’s Planet Youth Calgary initiative, she wasn’t looking for recognition. She wanted to spark change.
“I’ve seen firsthand the difference we can make when we come together as a community,” says Siebens. “When we work together, we can accomplish so much more than we can alone.”
Her gift marked the largest in United Way’s history and is fueling its boldest initiative yet — Planet Youth Calgary, a proven prevention model aimed at reducing substance use among young people and creating healthier environments for them to grow up in.
For United Way president and CEO Karen Young, Siebens’s leadership is a powerful example of what can happen when community and generosity come together. “When I see community leaders like Sharon step forward, I’m reminded of the incredible capacity our city has to create lasting change when we work together,” she says.
This historic commitment shows what’s possible when Calgarians unite around urgent needs — something the organization has been doing for 85 years.
A legacy rooted in community
Since 1940, United Way has invested more than $1.4 billion locally, connecting people to critical mental health supports, helping families achieve stability and strengthening safe, healthy relationships. Today, with one in four Calgarians struggling to meet their basic needs, that role has never been more vital.
Initiatives like Community Hubs and All In for Youth (AIFY) have played a pivotal role in strengthening the city. Community Hubs are welcoming neighbourhood spaces created by the community, for the community. They have been used by more than half a million Calgarians since 2017. For a newcomer family, their local hub can become more than a place to learn English — it can be a place where they make friends, build confidence and feel at home in Calgary.
Through tutoring, mentorship and financial support, AIFY has boosted Calgary’s high school completion rates by helping students overcome barriers to graduation. One student described the program as, “a reason I believed I could finish school when I thought about giving up.”
Planet Youth Calgary, United Way’s biggest initiative yet, anchors its emerging Children and Youth strategy, creating an integrated pathway of supports and services to guide children from their earliest years into adulthood. This work is made possible through strong partnerships with agencies like YMCA Calgary, Trellis Society and Miskanawah Community Services Association.
“Through Planet Youth, we’re helping to build healthier, more resilient communities where children have the resources, connections and support they need to thrive,” affirms Siebens. “In this way, the work isn’t just about today — it’s about shaping a stronger Calgary for years to come.”
Each of these initiatives shares a common thread: collaboration. What sets United Way apart is its ability to convene partners — a strength that matters more than ever as Calgary faces increasingly complex social issues. By uniting donors, agencies, government and businesses, United Way creates lasting solutions that no one could achieve alone.
Women leading change
As United Way marks its 85th anniversary, it also celebrates the leadership of women who are shaping Calgary’s future. Siebens is one example, building on a lifetime of giving grounded in the belief that community is strongest when everyone steps up when they can.
“Women bring a unique combination of vision, empathy and determination to the work of strengthening communities. Across our city, I see how women build pathways of hope and opportunity to empower others,” says Siebens. “I hope that by sharing my experiences, other women feel encouraged to contribute in ways that matter to them and help shape a stronger, healthier Calgary for everyone.”
A look to the future
For Young, the past eight decades are only the beginning. “Looking ahead, I see United Way leaning even more into innovation and collaboration,” she says. “We need to keep listening and adapting, so Calgarians can count on us when life gets hard. That’s how we’ll create real, lasting change for future generations.”
As United Way celebrates its 85th year, its vision is clear: to continue building stronger, more resilient communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
To learn more or to give today, visit calgaryunitedway.org.
Building Healthier Communities
Longtime donor Kathy Prosser demonstrates the profound impact of giving.
For more than 45 years, Discovery House, a Calgary-based charity organization, has been helping families leave domestic violence and rebuild their lives. Funded in part by the government, Discovery House relies on community donors to support approximately one-third of its services.
“Helping families isn’t possible without support from the community, and Calgarians are generous,” says Anita Hofer, director of strategy and communications at Discovery House.
It’s thanks to generous Calgarians like Kathy Prosser that Discovery House can offer housing and specialized programs for women and children. Prosser has been giving to Discovery House for 15 years, ensuring that the organization can give back to the community. “It’s a community building community,” she says. “They’re doing a job that’s necessary, and it’s strengthening Calgary as a whole.”
With her philanthropic interests focused on youth in particular, Prosser donates to Discovery House because of the organization’s long-term impact on children. “The wrap-around support allows families to grow and stabilize, and for the kids to just be kids,” she says. “It’s a chance for a healthier community. It’s a chance for kids to grow up and be good parents themselves. It benefits everybody; it’s a full cycle.”
Donors like Prosser trust Discovery House to help families heal, grow and discover their next chapter. It takes a village, and Prosser and other Calgarians are doing their part, supporting organizations like Discovery House, helping create a better Calgary.
Get involved today. Visit discoveryhouse.ca.
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