A Legacy of Generosity, A Future of Possibility

Jim Button believed in people. He believed in possibility. And he believed that when good people come together with big ideas, they make the world better.

Now, thanks to the Jim Button Community Builder Fund at Calgary Foundation, that spirit lives on in the next generation. Our Calgary Youth Foundation’s Macrogrant is now named the Jim Button Youth Grant, empowering young changemakers, dreamers, and doers – just like Jim would have wanted.

Jim didn’t just talk about community. He built it. Co-founder of Village Brewery, champion of local causes, and an all-around force for good, Jim had a way of making people feel like they belonged. He knew that small acts of kindness could create ripples of impact, and he lived that belief every day.

“My philosophy has always been that if you just keep giving, and don’t really care what the get is, you get back twice as much as you could ever possibly have imagined.” 

That’s what this grant is all about – fueling the passion of Calgary’s youth, ages 12 to 18, who want to make their world better. Whether it’s launching a community project, organizing an event, or rallying people around a cause, the grant will help young people turn their ideas into action.

Through the Jim Button Youth Grant, we’re not just handing out funds. We’re investing in the next wave of community builders, the ones who will carry Jim’s spirit forward in ways we can’t even imagine yet.

Jim saw potential in everyone, and he lived with an openness to possibility. As he once reflected: “We are all just stories in the end. Make yours a good one.”

This is your chance, Calgary youth. Write your own story. Build something that matters. And in doing so, keep Jim’s legacy alive.

For more details on the Jim Button Youth Grant and how to apply, visit our Grants page.

To learn more about Jim’s incredible journey and his reflections on life, we invite you to read his poignant blog post, “I Died Today.”