The Results Are In!
Thank you! We are very pleased that so many of you responded to our November E-News Reader Poll and told us what you wanted to hear more about. At the top of the list was the story behind how the Calgary Police Foundation started. In the New Year, we will share the full story of our remarkable beginnings in our 2019 Annual Report. In the mean time, here is a little preview of what’s to come….
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
In 2011, a very small group of Calgary citizens shared a vision. A vision for a safer Calgary, a city where families could thrive, and our children had every opportunity to live a life free of crime and victimisation. It is often said, crime begets crime. The founding members of the Calgary Police Foundation wanted to change that theory. They believed it was possible to build a better future for our most vulnerable children, and by forming the Calgary Police Foundation they began the movement to build safer communities and a promising future for every child.
By rallying support from like-minded community partners and philanthropic families, funding structures were established that continue today to allow the Calgary Police Foundation to fund vital child and youth crime prevention, early intervention, and educational programs. You can read more about the CPF funded programs on our website at http://www.CalgaryPoliceFoundation.com.
Our work is just beginning; the founding members of 2011 are the same hard working and driven leaders shaping today’s Calgary Police Foundation. Now it is time for all Calgarian’s to get involved to help our youngest citizens live their best life possible.
Well Done to Everyone Who Is Getting into The Holiday Spirit!
We always knew the CPS team was full of kind and generous people but we are seriously in awe of the amount of fundraising and community outreach that is evident across the organisation right now. Well done to all of you for taking the initiative to help those less fortunate this holiday season. Because of you, there will be a lot more smiles throughout Calgary this year. Take a look at some of the fun we have had this month with your help!
Cadets in the Community
This past weekend, members of the Calgary Police Cadet Corps helped serve Christmas brunch at the AgeCare Senior Living facility in South Calgary. The cadets had a wonderful time interacting with the residents. Cadet Warrant Officer Camron Janzen told us “Where there is old and young, new and experienced, there is learning to be done. We should always strive to learn from those who came before, so we may pave the way for a better future.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, thank you Cadet Corps!
YARD Holiday Hamper Collection
We have officially wrapped up the 2019 YARD Holiday Hamper Campaign. Through our online appeals and pop up collection centre at Sunridge Mall, we were able to collect toys, gift cards, and cash. Now, YARD program youth will experience the joy of giving this holiday season. Well done to everyone who supported this campaign!
Calgary Flames Alumni Annual Toy Drive
The Calgary Police Foundation is extremely grateful to be included once again for the annual Calgary Flames Alumni Toy Drive! This year, 20 families from our Integrated School Support Program (ISSP) were chosen as recipients, along with the Alberta Children’s Hospital.
From all of your donations, hampers will be created and delivered by Flames Alumni and the Calgary Police Service to families in need on Christmas Eve day. Thank you to all of the alumni and volunteers who collected donations, wrapped presents, and put together hampers, and thank you to everyone who donated.
Thank You, Birchcliff Energy!
We want to give a special shout out to our friends at Birchcliff Energy for including the Calgary Police Foundation in their holiday toy drive! They delivered two HUGE boxes of toys to us, which will be donated to deserving kids in our ISSP schools just in time for the holidays. We appreciate your kind hearts and wonderful holiday spirit.
On April 29th, 2020 the Calgary Police Foundation will be hosting the inaugural Chief Youth Courage Awards Gala. This premiere event is a celebration of leadership and result. Hosted by Chief Constable Neufeld of the Calgary Police Service, the Gala will honour Dick Haskayne’s leadership in philanthropy and business, and the gift his shoulders have provided to youth in Calgary.
We will also award six young citizens that have shown tremendous grit in their journey with the Calgary Police Foundation’s funded programs, which support our city’s most vulnerable and at-risk youth.
“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Sir Isaac Newton
This jam-packed gala will feature an impactful awards presentation, an exclusive look into the Calgary Police Service, interactive appetizer stations, dinner, and dessert, along with an exciting silent and live auction featuring amazing prizes. Also, we can’t share who – yet – but we can promise the entertainment will be awesome. You might need to get your dancing boots ready!
Tickets are on sale now and for CPS members there is a special ticket price available offering significant discounts. For ticket and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Alena Schock at 403.428.4560 or email aschock@calgarypolice.ca. To learn more about the event, visit our Eventbrite page! Save the date and purchase your tickets today! This is one event you will not want to miss!
Donate a Car to the Calgary Police Foundation!
We are now a member of Donate a Car Canada – a program that allows us to benefit from those older vehicles that otherwise might end up in the junk yard.
When you donate your car, truck, RV, boat, or motorcycle to Calgary Police Foundation through Donate A Car Canada, it will either be recycled or sold at auction (depending on its condition, age and location), with the net proceeds being donated directly to the Calgary Police Foundation!
Free towing is provided in most areas across Canada, or you can drop your vehicle off to maximize your donation.
Donate a Car Canada looks after all the details to make it easy for you to donate. After your vehicle donation is complete, we will send you a tax receipt and will put your gift to good use!
To learn more or to donate a vehicle, visit the Donate a Car Canada website at: https://donatecar.ca/
Embrace the Season of Giving with a Year-End Donation!
2019 is coming to a close but you still have time to get your last-minute donations in! Embrace the season of giving by donating before December 31st, 2019 to be eligible to receive a tax receipt for 2019. To donate or for more information, visit our website: http://www.CalgaryPoliceFoundation.ca
Meet our Board of Directors – Introducing Charles W. Fischer
Huge congratulations to our Board member Charlie Fischer and his wife Joanne who were recently appointed to the Order of Canada by Governor General Julie Payette for their generosity and commitment to improving the quality of life for people in their community. We are very fortunate to have Charlie serve on the Calgary Police Foundation’s Board of Directors. A native of Saskatchewan, Charlie received his B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance from the University of Calgary.
Charlie worked with Dome Petroleum and later, Hudson’s Bay Oil and Gas. In 1988, he joined TransCanada Pipelines and in 1994, he joined Nexen as Senior Vice President, Exploration and Production, North America. In 2000, he was appointed to the Nexen Board, and later as President and Chief Executive Officer, a position he held until his retirement at the end of 2008.
At the community level, Charlie served two terms on the University of Calgary’s Board of Governors, the Hull Child and Family Services Board, and on the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. Following his work with the Children’s Hospital Foundation, he co-chaired a capital campaign that raised more than $50 million to support the building of a new Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary. Charlie is also a past Board member of the Canadian Olympic Development Authority (CODA), the McMahon Stadium Society, and he is a past President of the Calgary Petroleum Club.
Charlie is married to Joanne Cuthbertson, Chancellor of the University of Calgary. Together, they have two daughters, Kate and Lindsay, and in his down time, Charlie enjoys tennis, skiing and golf for relaxation.
Canadian Free Wills Network
Thank you to everyone that has already expressed interest in the Canadian Free Wills Network. Our official start date for the program is January 1st, 2020 and for those that have already contacted us, we will be in touch shortly to let you know what happens next.
For those who missed this opportunity in our November E-News, we are excited to let you know more. Let us start by saying how very grateful the Calgary Police Foundation is for everyone who considers leaving a gift to the Calgary Police Foundation in their Will. Without legacy gifts, many of the Calgary Police Foundation’s funded programs simply wouldn’t be able to continue. If you feel able to help in this special way, your legacy could offer a better future for our city’s children.
The importance of an up-to-date Will cannot be underestimated. Participating lawyers from across the province will work with you directly to ensure your final wishes are carried out exactly as you intended. For more information on the Canadian Free Wills Network, or to sign up, please contact us at CPF@calgarypolice.ca.
The holidays are the perfect time to show our appreciation to those who have made a difference in the lives of the vulnerable children we support.
From the Board of Directors and the staff at the Calgary Police Foundation, thank you for your dedication and kind hearts. We wish you all a warm and happy holiday season!
The Calgary Police Youth Foundation Blog 