Karl Bodon
Karl Bodon has been raising funds to aid Calgary’s homeless for so long he has it down to a science — a subtle, simple science.
“I do it in a very old-fashioned way,” he said. “You talk to a friend, you get them just as excited as you are and then they make a donation. I never ask for an amount. Whatever they feel good about is good enough of me. Then I ask them for a name of a friend who feels the same way and I go through the same procedure again.
“I talk to them about something that should be very close to everyone’s heart. Calgarians are outstanding.”
Bodon, 80, is as tenacious a fundraiser as they come. He has helped garner millions of dollars for the Calgary Drop-in and Rehab Centre Society, where he volunteers as chief capital resources development manager.
The idea of giving back was ingrained early in Bodon, a native of Stuttgart, Germany, who has resided in Calgary for 40 years.
“It has a lot to do with my upbringing,” he said. “I have a mom who, back in Germany, it wouldn’t be unusual for her to bring in someone off the street, to clean them up, to give them meals and to work with them. As boys, we were almost embarrassed to have people like that come into our home. But that didn’t bother my mom at all. She tried to help as many people as she could and I can’t help but feel that has gotten into our genes.”
Among the projects that have benefited from his tireless efforts are a handful of affordable housing facilities, with Centre 48 the latest such venture.
“This is ready for us to have another great building for the homeless to give them more of an opportunity,” said Bodon, “and after that to get permanent housing and permanent jobs to take their place in the community.”