Spring 2026 Jim Button Youth Grant Recipients

Jim Button believed in the power of people and he believed that when good people come together with big ideas, they make the world better. That’s what the Jim Button Youth Grant is all about: igniting the passion of young community builders across Calgary who are ready to dream boldly.

These projects are turning vision into action and compassion into impact. Thank you to the Jim Button Community Builder Fund at Calgary Foundation for supporting youth as they bring their ideas to life and help build a stronger, more connected Calgary.










20/20 Mission Calgary

20/20 Mission Calgary is a youth-led eyeglass collection and redistribution project based in Calgary. The project collects donated eyeglasses, sorts and labels them by prescription strength, and redistributes them to people who cannot access or afford vision care. Supported by a volunteer licensed optometrist, the project provides basic vision screenings at community distribution events to ensure individuals are matched with glasses that meet their needs.

The project supports people in Calgary and surrounding communities who face barriers to accessing vision care, including seniors, children, Indigenous communities, and others affected by cost, distance, and systemic gaps in service. It also engages more than 20 youth volunteers, providing them with hands-on experience in leadership, community health, and program coordination.

The goal of 20/20 Mission Calgary is to improve access to vision correction by collecting and redistributing 500–1,000 pairs of eyeglasses over a six-month period. The project will host two community distribution events, supported by a volunteer optometrist to ensure proper matching of prescriptions, and establish ongoing community partnerships. It will also engage 20+ youth volunteers in meaningful leadership roles. Overall, the project aims to restore clear vision for individuals while building a sustainable, youth-led model for continued community impact.










Dare to Dream: STEAM Summer Camp

Dare to Dream is a STEAM-focused summer camp for girls aged 9–11 from refugee, newcomer, and low-income communities in Calgary. The program runs every Sunday in July at the Arbour Lake Residents Hall and offers hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math through interactive lessons, experiments, and creative activities, supported by youth camp counsellors.

The program primarily supports young girls from marginalized communities, including refugee, newcomer, and low-income families. It provides a space where campers can explore STEAM in a supportive, accessible environment during a key developmental stage when confidence, identity, and future aspirations are being shaped. The project also benefits youth camp counsellors aged 16–20, who gain leadership experience and serve as relatable role models for participants.

The goal of Dare to Dream: STEAM Summer Camp is to increase confidence, curiosity, and interest in STEAM among young girls who may face barriers to accessing these opportunities due to cost, representation, or social expectations. Through weekly hands-on programming, campers will develop foundational skills in problem-solving, creativity, and scientific thinking, while building a sense of belonging in STEAM spaces. The low-cost camp ensures accessibility and aims to support 10–15 participants over four sessions, with success measured through participant and family feedback, engagement levels, and observed growth in confidence and interest in STEAM exploration.

Haysboro Community Association: Art-Based Emotional Wellness Program

This project is a resiliency-building, art-based emotional wellness program for youth. Grounded in evidence-based social-emotional learning (SEL), it uses mindful art-making and guided experiential activities to help participants develop emotional literacy, self-regulation skills, and coping strategies through structured, weekly sessions designed to be developmentally appropriate and engaging.

The program supports youth, with a focus on those facing socioeconomic barriers or limited access to mental health supports. It provides equitable access to structured emotional wellness programming in a safe, supportive environment, helping participants build foundational skills for managing emotions and navigating relationships. It is also facilitated by a trained art therapist and shaped by youth input, ensuring it remains relevant and responsive to participant needs.

The goal of the program is to strengthen participants’ emotional competencies, including self-awareness (recognizing and naming emotions), self-management (developing practical regulation strategies), and social awareness (building empathy and perspective-taking). Over the course of the program, youth are expected to show improved emotional literacy, stronger coping skills, increased empathy, and more positive peer interactions. Success will be measured through pre- and post-program self-assessments, facilitator observations, participant reflections, and qualitative feedback through discussions and creative work.

The Corterra Project

This youth-led initiative provides free photography, videography, and design services to nonprofits, small businesses, and low-income or newcomer families across Calgary. It supports the documentation of community events, strengthens local organizations through accessible marketing and media content, and helps individuals and groups who may otherwise be unable to access or afford these services.




The name comes from Latin: cor, meaning “from the heart,” and terra, meaning “land,” reflecting a focus on highlighting the good in people and community on the land we live on in Calgary, where the project primarily works with nonprofits and local businesses.

The project primarily supports Calgary-based nonprofits, youth-led initiatives, small businesses, and low-income or newcomer families who face financial barriers to accessing professional media services. The project also benefits youth volunteers who gain hands-on experience in photography, videography, and design while contributing to community-focused work.

The goal of the project is to reduce financial barriers to high-quality media services while strengthening the visibility and impact of community organizations in Calgary. By providing free creative services, the project allows nonprofits to redirect funds toward programming and supports families in documenting important life events. It also aims to train and mentor 10–15 youth annually in media production, building practical skills through real-world projects. Success will be measured through the number of community projects completed (approximately 30–50 per year), youth trained, and feedback from partner organizations on the value and impact of the work.