Our Initiatives
From Calgary to the World
 
Our commitment to local and global communities is the heartbeat of our club - driven by passion, sustained by perseverance.

Rotary Youth Exchange

Students spend a year abroad with host families who welcome them into their homes to experience a new culture, language, and lifestyle. The students attend school, participate in Rotary activities, and make lifelong friends. Along the way, they gain confidence, self-sufficiency and unforgettable memories.
 

Stay in School Scholarship

 
The Stay In School Program offers financial and mentoring support  for students with limited resources to attend post-secondary institutions. The Stay in School Program was conceived by visionaries from our club. In 2001, the program was operationalized under the watchful eye of then President Bryan Targett and, afterwards, the late Bill Sumner, both of whom gave their heart and soul to Stay in School. Stan Cichon is currently the third chair.
 
The program awards eligible children from grade nine the opportunity to successfully complete High School Matriculation and then attend an accredited post-secondary institution of their choice. Each year, a girl and a boy from two Junior High Schools in Calgary who demonstrate good grades, volunteerism, community involvement and often financial need are chosen. Mentorship, through advising and monitoring the students' education progress, is a key component of the program. The dedication of our selection Committee, the mentors, the teachers, and the hard work of the students has led to an overall success rate of 93% for students graduating from post-secondary education.
 
For over 20+ years, our Stay in School golf tournament has raised over $5 million to create a lasting endowment fund for our students. The students receive a $32,000 scholarship towards their post-secondary education, plus a computer and printer. It is typical to receive up to 50 applicants, from whom we diligently select only four deserving students.
 
As of June 2024:
  • Current students in post-secondary institutions - 18
  • Current students in secondary school - 17
  • Students who have graduated from post-secondary institutions - 27
  • Students who have left the program - 12
  • Year our Rotary Club first administered the program - 2001

Rotary “Kids at Heart” Program
(funded by the Rotary “Kids at Heart” Golf Classic)

 
A program which supports children facing challenges that affect their self-confidence, learning, and potential. Each year, the Rotary “Kids at Heart” Golf Classic raises significant funds through the tournament and the support of our Sponsors, Donors, Volunteers and Supporters for the “Kids at Heart” Program.
 
From Grade 1 through to graduation and beyond, children face countless hurdles that can hinder their ability to learn, build confidence, and realize their full potential. Our goal is to help them overcome these challenges—one step at a time—by supporting their growth, resilience, and self-belief during these critical years.
 

Recently, the challenges that children face have been highlighted in our communities. A youngster can't focus on their 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
  • suffer from mental health challenges

The Rotary Dream Home Lottery

 

The Dream Home Lottery is our club’s flagship annual fundraiser, run in partnership with Stampede Lotteries.

In 2023, we reached a record-breaking total of $854,098, thanks to the tireless efforts of our Dream Home Committee and the 740 volunteer shifts completed by Rotarians, family, and friends. Every dollar raised supports charitable initiatives both locally and globally.

Since 1995, Homes by Avi has brought the Dream Home to life each year, creating stunning homes for lucky winners. We’re deeply grateful for the ongoing support of the Calgary Stampede, Stampede Lotteries, Homes by Avi, the Kinsmen Club of Calgary, and the Calgary Stampede Showband—each playing a vital role in our success.

With the Calgary Stampede drawing over 1 million visitors annually, it provides the perfect stage for the Dream Home Lottery. To date, the initiative has raised nearly $20 million, a testament to the power of partnership, community spirit, and the dedication of our Rotarians.

 
 

Ukrainian Relief

Our club raised $272,000 through the "Ribbons for Peace" fundraiser, providing nearly 6,000 Ukrainian evacuees with essentials like bedding, toiletries, cookware grocery gift cards and English lessons.
 
An additional $100,000 was contributed to a broader Rotary initiative to build a rehabilitation facility for maimed citizens in the Ukraine. Further support of $20,000 from our Club's World Community Service fund was directed towards medical supplies and care for children affected by PTSD.
 
Our members have remained deeply committed—delivering truckloads of donated furniture, clothing, and toys to the Ukrainian Depot Centre and working with local partners to offer meaningful, long-term support, cars and assistance with getting jobs. Together we continue to stand with Ukraine, living out Rotary's core values of service, peace and global humanitarianism. 


International Projects

Our Club seeks out, researches and works with international charities and
Rotary clubs to help with sustainable projects in many countries in the world.
 
From building school latrines in Cambodia, to funding a maternal care centre in Uganda, to providing water filters in Columbia—our global impact reaches where it’s needed most.
 
 
 
Power and Clean Water - Our Lady of Kibeho Orphanage - Uganda
The Magic of Rotary is demonstrated in the drilling of a deep water well and the installation of a power generator for Our Lady of Kibeho Orphanage in Uganda.  Access to clean water has changed the lives of 100 young girls and adjacent villagers who, with a turn of the tap can now enjoy brushing their teeth, cooking,  bathing and drinking water that is potable and available all year round.  Completed with the on site support of the Rotary Club of Gayaza.
 
Amarok Society - Start With Mothers - Bangladesh
When you empower a mother with education, you help break the cycle of poverty, violence, and exploitation for children around the world. Teach a Mother to Teach the World.

At Amarok Schools, mothers attend class each day—then return home to teach five children everything they’ve learned. These mothers become powerful community educators, reaching children who otherwise have no access to formal schooling.

 
Correcting Clubfoot in Columbia: Restoring Mobility, Restoring Lives
Clubfoot is a congenital condition that, if left untreated, can cause a lifetime of pain, disability, and social exclusion. In many regions of Colombia, access to proper treatment is limited, especially in rural or low-income communities. To address this, our club partnered with local organizations to establish a splint bank and train medical professionals in the Ponseti Method—a highly effective, non-surgical technique for correcting clubfoot in young children. By restoring mobility, we’re not just correcting a physical condition—we’re opening the door to education, inclusion, and opportunity.
 


Community Service Grants

The Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park has supported numerous local charities - in excess of $2 million has gone into our community.
We have provided support for senior's programs, youth initiatives, mental health projects, addiction and recovery agencies, those with special needs, food security, community facilities, vulnerable women and their families, education and community health needs. The Committee accepts applications for Sustainable Capital Projects. These projects are selected based on most the need and the greatest impact to the charity and to the community at large.
 
An example of how our donations to local charities makes a difference.
 
LEGACY HOUSE
We provided much needed support to the mental wellness and recovery of our first responders, armed forces personnel, and veterans at Calgary Legacy House. Our grant donation allowed for renovations to be done at the facility to provide easier accessibility and to create a warm, safe environment for those who need it most. The men and women who serve us on the front lines can also be the most vulnerable.
 
Here are the charities we supported in 2023-24.