ABOUT YOUTH CENTRAL
Youth Central Society is a charitable non-profit organization founded in 1992 by Penny Hume, originally called Child Friendly Calgary. Penny put Calgary on the map as one of the first child friendly cities in North America. Under the inspiring and innovative leadership of Penny, the organization evolved to become a leader in youth engagement and volunteerism in Calgary and beyond. In 2010, the organization rebranded as Youth Central to better reflect its youth focused and empowering programming. Penny retired from the organization after 30 years of visionary leadership.
Our mission is to empower youth to find and build their communities. Through our different programs, Youth Central offers volunteer and leadership opportunities to youth aged 12-18. Our goal as an organization is to change the perception of youth in our communities by giving youth the tools and support they need to become engaging, empathetic and caring citizens with a sense of ownership and responsibility. We support youth in building valuable skills for future employment, give youth a voice, and grow youth’s understanding of their community. We are building Calgary’s leaders of today and tomorrow.
OUR MISSION
Empower youth to find and build their communities.
OUR VISION
OUR VALUES
- We believe that all youth are awesome!
- We honour the power of the youth voice and the importance of youth in our society.
- We value a community in which all youth are respected and encouraged to be active citizens.
- We value the diversity, skills creativity and talents of our volunteers, participants, and staff.
- We value community partnerships that align with our vision and mission.
DIVERSITY STATEMENT
Youth Central believes diversity builds community and all individuals should be valued, empowered and respected members. To be accountable to this statement, we are taking steps to continuously strive to do better as an organization. Here are the actions we are taking:
- We will ensure the safety and well-being of all program participants, volunteers and staff are of the utmost importance;
- We will strive to ensure all program participants, volunteers and staff feel welcome and accepted for who they are;
- We will offer programming that has limited barriers to involvement and unique platforms to amplify the youth voice in a safe and supportive environment;
- We will educate ourselves through training and development opportunities, and seek input from youth and others; and
- We will strive to ensure our program partners recognize the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the community, and are educating themselves on ways to improve their organizations.
Lisa Kindree
Executive Director
Ros Doi
Program Director
Sylvia Galica-Casuncad
Outreach Program Coordinator
Michelle Hodgins
Coordinator, Communications and Philanthropy Support
Peony Wong
YVC Program Coordinator
The Youth Central Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that the mission and vision of Youth Central are being fulfilled through strong leadership, effective planning, and sound fiscal management. Thank you to the Youth Central Board of Directors for their hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm.
Chair: Julianne Rohel, CHRP – Human Resources, Team Lead, CANA Group of Companies
Vice Chair: Sarah Pervez – Principal Consultant, Community Voices Consulting Inc.
Treasurer: Yisha Pang, CA – Specialist, Corporate Risk Control, Enbridge Inc.
Secretary: Bryce Kapsha – Support Operations Lead, Benevity
Directors:
Lana Bentley, RSW – Director Program Strategy, YW Calgary
Mathew Burpee, CA, CFA – Managing Director, Kepler Capital Corporation
Ranita Charania – Director, Partner Engagement, Social Venture Partners Calgary
Michael Doerksen – Lawyer, Field LLP
Derek Fraser, CFRE – President, iDophilanthropy
Matt Grant – Manager, Low Carbon Development, Enbridge Inc.
Jason Kraatz, CPA, ICD.D – Director, Hopewell Group
Jeff Lowe – Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, SMART Technologies
Esmahan Razavi – Principal, Champion Communications & PR
Henry Su – Chief of Staff, Embark Trucks
If you’re interested in joining the Board of Directors or would like to reach a specific Board Member,
please contact Lisa Kindree at 403-266-5448 or lisa@youthcentral.com.
Thank you for generously supporting Youth Central. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list, however, if you discover any errors, omissions or you would like to be removed, please call 403-266-5448 or email lisa@youthcentral.com. All major program funders can also be found on the program page they support. Thank you.
$50,000+
Catapult Canada, Family & Community Support Services (FCSS), The Calgary Foundation, Government of Canada under the Canada Service Corps, The Prosser Charitable Foundation
$25,000 – $49,999
Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited, Werklund Foundation
$10,000 – 24,999
5th Avenue Building, Birdies for Kids, presented by AltaLink, Bonita Runway Clothing, Canada Life, Enbridge Inc., Gibson Energy, Home Depot Canada Foundation, Jessalyn Rohs and Michael Stensby, Lyla Amery and Stefano Pizzal, Sentinel Storage, Youth Volunteer Corps
$5,000 – $9,999
Cenovus Energy, Government of Canada – Canada Summer Jobs, Kinette Club of Calgary, Penny Hume, Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Calgary – St. Bonaventure Parish
$1 – $4,999
Adam Cook; Agnieszka Galica-DaBreo; Al Duerr; Alan and Geri Moon; Andrea Clarke; Andrew Phung; Anonymous; Ashton Rudanec; Brian Rudneski; Bonita Paquette; Brenda Heater; Bridal Expo YYC Inc.; Bryce Kapsha; Calgary Youth Foundation Fund – Youth Central at the Calgary Foundation; Calvert Home Mortgage Investment Corporation; Calvin Ziganash and Kate Hume; Cameo & Cufflinks; Canwest Productions Inc.; Carolyn and Lloyd Byers; Chantal Malette; Christi Harter; Claire Black, in memory of Eric Morris; ConocoPhillips Canada; Cremers and Elliott Chartered Accountants; Dawn Blomme; Dean Koeller; Derek Fraser; Dianne Craven; Don Hughes; Doug MacLeod; Elarbe Professional Services Inc.; Elescia Wojak; Elizabeth Lunney; Elvine Wong; Ever Active Schools; Fully Managed Inc.; Glori-Jeanne Stephenson; Harry & Martha Cohen Foundation; Henry Su; Hunter Family Foundation; Jamie O’Brien; Jasreet Badyal, in memory of Eric Morris; Janine Dawson; Jennifer Connolly; Jennifer Hlookoff, in memory of Mike McGuire of Calgary; Jeff Lowe; Jemison Jackson; Jon-Scott Kohli; Julianne Rohel; Jyoti Roy; Karen McKinnon; Kelly Schmidt; Kim Alladin; Kit Chan; Koeller Charitable Giving Fund at Calgary Foundation; Lana Bentley; Laura Istead, in memory of Eric Morris; Leandra Fraulin; Laura Kayande; Linda MacNamara, in memory of Eric Morris; Lisa Kindree; Lisa Stevenson; Lisa Taylor; Liz Butti; Madeleine and Tony Yarranton, in memory of Eric Morris; Marketplace Events; Matco Financial Inc.; Mathew Burpee; Matt Grant; Matthew Lowe; Matthew Scianitti; Megan Wilson; Mike Doerksen; Michael Stensby; Nancy Biltek; Nancy Close; Nancy Li; Natalie Cadman, in honour of Austin Brooke; Patti Phelps; Purdy’s Chocolatier; Ralph Knoll; Ranita Charania; RBC Foundation; Rn’R Wellness Spa; Ros Doi; Rotary Club of Calgary East; Ryan Duerr; Sabrina Grover; Sandstone Asset Management Inc.; Sanjel Energy Services Inc.; Sarah Pervez; Sarah Whipp; Sherman Liu; SMART Technologies; Social Venture Partners – Calgary; Stephen Cleaners; Susan Church; Sylvia Galica-Casuncad; TD Bank Group; Tracy Allen; Two Wheel View; Usman Tahir Jutt; Vanessa Lobban; Vicki McLaughlin; Villages Calgary; Wendel Business Machines Corp.; Wen Tao Li; Wild Rose Brewery Ltd.; and Yisha Pang
