TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT CHARITY PARTNERS
There are 182 charities registered as partners for the Shaw Charity Classic, all participating in a matching donation program called Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by Alta Link.
This year tournament organizers are hoping to raise a recordshattering $10 million for Albertabased charities that help children, youth and their families.
To donate through the Shaw Charity Classic Birdies for Kids program, where the charity can receive a matching donation, go to shawcharityclassic.com and click on the Charity tab. All participating charities are listed alphabetically.
Here are two of those charities being helped this year:
DOGS WITH WINGS (dogswithwings.ca)
When the young, terrified child came into the child advocacy centre, a rotation of adult professionals spent hours gently trying to find out exactly what she had endured.
Eventually they left the girl alone with the facility’s trauma dog, which had been by her side since she entered the building. Only then, with video cameras recording, did the child tell her story.
“It’s scary telling a story to an adult but she had built a bond and trust with the dog,” says Kim Zahara, fund development co-ordinator of Dogs With Wings. The society breeds and trains assistance dogs for five different areas of support, including victims’ services. “There is no judgment: the dog won’t ‘tell on them.’ ”
That calm, supportive animal not only helped the child tell her story, it followed her through the whole process, including attendance in court.
The 22-year-old charity breeds yellow and black Labradors because of their temperament, agility and size. At the start, the organization provided guide dogs for the visually impaired and then expanded to four other areas: dogs for children with autism, facility dogs for victims services, service dogs for people with disabilities (wheelchairs, braces, canes) and companion dogs for people who may be bedridden and need help being more independent.
Dogs With Wings not only is raising money through Birdies for Kids, its service puppies in training will be in the Classic’s Fan Experience area, showcasing their training while visitors can learn about service dog etiquette.
According to Zahara, Dogs With Wings’ greatest need is for dogs for autistic children. Training includes ensuring that, when sensory overload occurs in a place with loud noises, for example, the tethered dog drops to the ground so the child can’t run away.
The organization, which provides dogs throughout Alberta, has a dog training facility in Edmonton, plus satellite programs in Calgary and Grande Prairie.
Last year, Dogs With Wings raised more than $21,000 through Birdies for Kids. The goal for this year is $25,000. Training one assistance animal takes about two years and costs $40,000. Clients receiving a dog are only charged $1.
“We want it to be affordable and available for anyone who needs a dog.”
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SOUTHERN ALBERTA (habitatsouthernab.ca)
They are people you meet every day: the person who helps look after your aging mom in the care facility; the transit worker who welcomes you each morning; the friendly server in your neighbourhood restaurant.
They are Albertans with jobs in households earning less than $75,000 and paying much of that income on housing.
“We focus on helping families find stable housing,” says Gerrad Oishi, president and chief executive officer with Habitat For Humanity Southern Alberta. “We know that if children grow up in that stability, they will find that for themselves (as adults).”
In its 27 years, Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta has built homes for 300 families in 25 different communities in Calgary.
This year, it hopes to complete 20 units in Bowness, has city approval for a 32-unit townhome project in Silver Springs and is planning a new project in Radisson Heights.
Habitat depends on 3,000 volunteers every year to help construct the homes — and each new homeowning family must contribute 500 hours themselves.
To qualify for the application process, families must have children under the age of 18, a total annual family income between $37,000 and $75,000 and at least one household member must be working full-time with a consistent two-year employment history. Those approved pay no down payment or interest and monthly mortgage payments are guaranteed to be no more than 25 per cent of income. New homeowners are also given home maintenance and personal finance courses.
“Families are paying less for the house, less for the mortgage and are saving for the future. These are people who are working super hard and we help enhance their longterm opportunities,” says Oishi. “It is truly a hand up, not a hand out.”
The money raised through the Shaw Charity Classic — last year Habitat received nearly $24,000 — is important, says Oishi, but so is sharing what Habitat does with all attendees. The organization will have representatives in the Kid Zone.
“Corporate leaders can see the possibilities we bring for some of their own employees.”