One of the things that I am very passionate about is giving back to our community. It’s been an honour for me to be personally involved with the United Way of Calgary and Area for many years. I am also very proud of our team at BOWEN, who are so committed to giving of their time and resources to many worthy charities in our community.
This year, an event that is near and dear to my heart, the Scott Smed Golf Invitational, is partnering with the United Way to help women and children in our community and around the world.
Calgary is a great place to live, work and play, and we need to make sure it’s a great city for everyone. There are many outstanding organizations, like the United Way, that are making a difference in our city and helping those who need it most.
This past year has highlighted just how great the divide can be between those of us who have much, and those who have little. The faltering economy has had a huge impact on many in our community and the agencies who help those in need have been stretched to the limit.
As always, Calgarians are a generous bunch, and companies and individuals are stepping up to help. Like many organizations, BOWEN will not be hosting a Stampede event this year. Spending priorities change and we’ve had to make some tough choices. We are not alone. There are many companies who are either eliminating or scaling back their Stampede festivities, or finding a way to use that money for the community.
Several weeks ago, law firm Burnet, Duckworth&Palmer LLP cancelled its annual party, electing to donate $150,000 to the Calgary Food Bank instead. For those companies that are going ahead with their party plans, many also have a strong charitable component.
Stampede may be a little quieter this year, but it’s also a time for Calgarians to shine by showing how we care about those in our community and will come together to make a difference. That’s something that deserves a big “Yahoo”!
