What is the "Rotary Kids At Heart" Program?
The Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park is excited to officially announce the launch of our brand new “Rotary Kids At Heart Golf Classic”.
Children face many issues as they navigate through their school years, many of which impact their ability to focus on their learning priorities.
COVID has shone an even brighter light on the challenges that children face in today’s world. We know it is virtually impossible for a youngster to focus on his or her education if they:
- go to school hungry
- are being bullied in person or taunted on social media
- are being coerced into taking or selling drugs
- are being pressured to join a gang
- have nowhere to sleep at night
- are facing family turmoil
The list of issues that kids face today is a long one. Critical issues can impact kids from the time they enter grade 1 until they graduate from grade 12, and then beyond into their late teen years.
Support the Kids
By joining us for great day on the links, and/or supporting our various fundraisers such as the extended online auction, you are supporting causes that support kids as they navigate through their often challenging elementary school years.
Your support in this new and exciting initiative and your continued support of the Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park’s annual golf tournament will continue to support local kids when they need us most.
Invest In The Future
The new “Rotary Kids at Heart” program will invest in the lives of children and youth to create real, long-lasting change for kids, families and our community.
This year the Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park will partner with three worthy charity organizations whose mission is to help provide children with an opportunity to be safe, to be fed, to be loved and supported, to learn and to have a bright future.
Learn more about the receipient charities below.
Join us this year at the Cottonwood Golf & Country Club on Thursday, July 21. You will truly be making a difference for three great local charities doing tremendous work with kids.
~ The Rotary Kids at Heart Golf Classic Committee
Our Charities Of Choice
Meet our 2022 Rotary Kids at Heart Golf Classic recipient charities
PREP Society for individuals with Down Syndrome
PREP is proud of the impact it has made in the lives of children with Down syndrome in Calgary for the past 34 years.
We have accomplished this by providing children and teens with Down syndrome with essential services and support so they can live active and included lives in their communities. This includes our Early Learning program that provides children 0-3 years of age opportunities to receive early intervention therapies and create a community for families.
PREP Society for individuals with Down Syndrome
Our accredited ECS program provides children 3-6 years of age a school readiness program to prepare for entrance into community schools.
We also provide speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychological services, and reading instruction for K-12 students so they can achieve their therapeutic and educational goals.
PREP also has a Teen Program that works on social language and executive functioning skills to prepare for adulthood and increase independence.
All of these services are also enhanced by our Family Support team that provides parents with the support they need as well as our Education Support program that empowers educators to create successful classroom environments for children with Down syndrome.
PREP believes that with the right support in place, all children with Down syndrome can live an active and included life and achieve incredible things.
Dare to Care
Dare to Care is a Calgary based organization that has been at the forefront of bully prevention programming since 1999.
An award-winning charitable organization that has surpassed one million participants in its programs across Canada, Dare to Care continues as a leader in the creation of communities where bullying behaviour is unacceptable and kindness becomes the dominant force.
Dare to Care
"Last Friday, just after 8 o'clock in the morning, Dare to Care changed my life! That time I spent learning from my friends, peers and the Dare to Care facilitator, were the best hours of my life. Everything in that room that was said, was true. If I could do those three hours over again, I would... 20 times over." - Grade 9 student
The Dare to Care program provides an effective approach to dealing with bullying behavior. All stakeholders within the community are provided with a common language and skill-set which then allows for more consistent intervention and follow through when dealing with challenges as they arise.
Dare to Care has three flagship programs that can be adapted for schools, sports organizations and community groups:
- Innovative and age-appropriate workshops for children and youth.
- Support and education for parents.
- Extensive professional development workshops for teachers, administrators, coaches, officials, support staff, and management
“Thank you very, very much for the impact you have had on our school. Dare to Care has had a tremendous impact on staff, parents, and students. Students’ eyes were opened to the pain many of them have caused others as well as the impact that such pain can have on a person’s life. Without a doubt, the participants left the day caring more and knowing what they need to do differently to have a more positive impact in life.
It is amazing to think of how many people you have impacted in your lives, and thank you for including us in that number.” -Principal
In March 2020, when COVID forced schools and sport organizations to implement almost 2 years of strict safety protocols, which in turn limited Dare to Care’s ability to facilitate in-person programming, Dare to Care quickly adapted to a virtual platform so schools could continue creating safe, caring, and inclusive environments independently. The virtual program has proven to be very successful and will be a permanent part of Dare to Care’s offerings:
“There is always a cheer when we were going to start a Dare to Care module and my class enjoys the videos and questions for discussion immensely. It has led to many profound conversations and my students now feel empowered to make a difference.” - Grade 3 Teacher
The Safe Haven Foundation- Haven’s Way Program
More than 1,500 youth use emergency shelters in our city each year and, on any given night, there are approximately 280 youth as young as 12 years old, experiencing homelessness in Calgary.
Safe Haven Foundation was founded in 1996 and our Haven’s Way® program, the first of its kind in Canada, opened in Calgary in November 2000. This is an innovative, long-term supportive housing program that assists girls who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
Safe Haven Foundation
Safe Haven Foundation was founded in 1996 and our Haven’s Way® program, the first of its kind in Canada, opened in Calgary in November 2000. This is an innovative, long-term supportive housing program that assists girls who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. They are between the ages of 14 to 24, do not have child welfare status, and have a focus and commitment to completing their education. They have experienced considerable housing instability, alongside additional risks such as mental health, physical and sexual abuse, violence, neglect, addictions, trauma, family conflict, violence, and sexual exploitation.
These are the ones who often slip through the cracks. We surround them with hope, opportunities, belonging, healthy relationships, love, and support. We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion in supporting the girls, their families and natural supports. The Haven’s Way program addresses the needs of the girls and gives them a structured and home like environment, where they can continue their education, build their self-esteem, create, and achieve their goals while healing from their trauma. Six young women are supported by live-in staff and a dedicated program team 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. This equates to 2190 bed nights per year for girls who would otherwise be homeless.
We walk alongside newcomer youth who have little to no family in Canada helping them navigate the immigration and education systems. 15% of young people we have supported in the past 15 years have self-identified as Indigenous, Metis or Inuit and we provide a safe place for them, as well as for youth who identify with the LGBTQ2S+ community. From intake we create space for all girls to share who they are, what culture and community they connect with and what they would like to explore. We offer cultural supports such as access to Elders or Knowledge Keepers should the young person want to connect or explore that. We believe that all young people should be given freedom and choice to connect with the supports that feel most comfortable to them. This means that not all youth will choose more westernized supports like therapists or counsellors and may want to explore more traditional means of healing.
We have learnt from research and the voices of young people themselves that there can be stigma attached to identifying with the Indigenous culture. At Haven’s Way, we have had a few young people identify as another cultural background than Indigenous to later have them share that they in fact had Indigenous heritage and needed space to build trust and safety to share this. Trust and respect are earned and takes time, and we provide that in our programs.
More than 95 youth have called Haven’s Way home and the average time a girl will live in the home is approximately 2.5 years. We also provide a continuum of supports for our Alumni after they move out and this program ensures these young people have a sense of belonging and a family forevermore. Our Educational Scholarship and Therapeutic Recreation programs provide the girls and the Alumni opportunities to pursue post-secondary education, explore their individual passions and participate in extra-curricular activities.
Haven’s Harbour is Safe Haven Foundation’s newest initiative which will provide subsidized housing and supports for 9 additional young women who are pursuing post-secondary education while learning to live independently. Scheduled to open in late 2022, affordable and supportive housing at Haven’s Harbour will be made available to nine youth graduating from the Haven’s Way homes and like-minded programs. These youth will have a desire to continue their education however do not need the intensive case management supports and structure that the Haven’s Way homes provide. Youth will be able to practice the life skills learned at Haven’s Way while being provided with the security of affordable housing while being supported to reach their goals and create a future of stability to ensure they never experience homelessness again.
We do not receive United Way or fee-for- service government funding and rely on the generosity of corporations, granting organizations, third-party partnerships, fundraising events and individual Calgarians. In addition to an ongoing need to secure funds for ongoing operations for Haven’s Way, we are currently embarking on a capital campaign for Haven’s Harbour with a target goal of $2.4 million.
