Across Calgary and surrounding area, 2025 brought both visible and unseen challenges. Many people faced rising costs, isolation and uncertainty. In response, our community showed up.
Together with donors, volunteers, workplaces, agencies, governments and community partners, support reached people when and where it mattered most.
“In a year that brought real challenges for many, Calgarians showed what’s possible when generosity, collaboration and care come together. Because of this community, people were supported when it mattered most.” – Karen Young, President & CEO, United Way of Calgary and Area
To everyone who donated, volunteered, showed up through your workplace, partnered with local agencies or supported a neighbour when it mattered most–thank you.
In 2025 alone, United Way mobilized 13,914 volunteers who contributed 23,135 volunteer hours and partnered with 545 workplace campaigns to support our city and its most vulnerable. These collective efforts helped people access basic needs, mental health supports and opportunities for meaningful connection at critical moments. They addressed immediate pressures while continuing to invest in long-term solutions that strengthen Calgary and its communities.
For Savita, support arrived when she felt completely alone. New to Canada and isolated in an unsafe home after the birth of her son, she reached out for help. Through United Way-funded partners like the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association, Savita accessed counselling, safety and stability during a moment of crisis. With continued support, she rebuilt her life and went on to help others–founding the FirstStep volunteer group, guiding newcomers today toward safety and connection.
For others, like Cass and Charles, support showed up when stability felt out of reach. As they faced uncertainty and homelessness, United Way-funded partners such as the Inglewood Opportunity Hub, the Linking Employment Abilities and Development (LEAD) program and Wood’s Homes’ Eastside Community Mental Health Services helped them access essentials. Today they are housed and receiving the support they need, including employment – helping to restore dignity and confidence.
Together, these stories reflect how timely, community-led support can change someone’s life.
This commitment to community-led change came to life through several key initiatives in 2025, including sharing stories of impact through Hope in Action and advancing prevention and youth mental health. This is what happens when people like you step up one another. As we look back on our work together in 2025, United Way wants to sincerely thank Calgarians for their support. We are also looking forward to recognizing individuals, workplaces and community partners whose impact will be celebrated at this year’s Community Impact Awards.
Hope in Action: Stories of Impact Across Our Community
In 2025, Hope in Action launched as a powerful behind-the-scenes docuseries that brought local impact to life through the voices of our community partners, frontline leaders and people with lived experience.
Hosted by our campaign co-chair Linda Olsen, the series explored how collaboration is essential to our community’s ability to thrive. Through conversations with United Way-funded initiatives such as All In for Youth and Planet Youth Calgary, workplace partners such as Canadian Natural and agency partners including The Alex Community Health Centre and Distress Centre Calgary, each episode highlights how support helps people navigate life’s challenges and build hopeful futures.
Hope in Action reflects the many ways generosity turns into meaningful change and offers a powerful window into what is possible when we work together.
Explore the full Hope in Action series.
Healthy Aging Alberta Summit
Healthy Aging Alberta (HAA), a United Way signature initiative generously supported by the Government of Alberta and Waltons Trust, hosted its bi-annual HAA Summit this year.
Held October 6-9, 2025, the Summit focused on the Tapestry of Aging: Threads of Connection and Well-being – bringing together more than 700 participants, including community-based seniors serving organizations and sector leaders from across Alberta and Canada. Alongside local partners including the Alberta Association on Gerontology and the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council, the Summit reinforced a shared commitment to making Alberta one of the best places to grow older.
This work translates into real outcomes for people like Theresa. After losing a child to diabetes, she faced severe emotional and financial hardship. As a mother and a grandmother of 7, she came to Calgary in 2021 determined to rebuild her life. With support from United Way-funded programs such as the Hull Services’ Patch Program, Theresa found connection, practical help and a sense of belonging, so that she could age with dignity and independence.
Her experience reflects what becomes possible when communities align around the needs of aging adults.
Working Together to Support Youth Mental Health
In 2025, United Way of Calgary and Area Healthy Aging Alberta (ACHF) to advance prevention and youth mental health through Planet Youth Calgary, a community-driven initiative grounded in prevention and powered by collaboration.
United Way leads this local initiative while ACHF supports research led by the University of Calgary’s Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education. This partnership builds on a shared commitment to child and youth well-being, alongside our community delivery partners Miskanawah, Trellis Society and YMCA Calgary.
Across Calgary, four community coalitions bring schools, caregivers, youth and service providers together to co-create locally informed solutions. By aligning research, lived experience and community insight, this work is helping build conditions where young people have the support, connection and opportunities they need to thrive.
Celebrating You at the Community Impact Awards
As we reflect on the year that was, we look ahead to celebrating the people and organizations who made this impact possible.
The Community Impact Awards, taking place on March 12th this year, will recognize outstanding workplace campaigns, volunteers and community partners whose leadership and generosity strengthened our community throughout 2025. Stay updated with us here to learn when tickets are available.
In 2025, we saw the need. United, we created change. This is what Calgary looks like when we show up for one another.
Stories that matter. Moments that move us.
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