CALGARY

Programs

Our Programs Scalping | What Kids Need Get Involved!

Kids Up Front's two programs

Can't Use Your Ticket? donate it to us and we'll redistribute it kids who could really benefit. When you "Can't Use Your Ticket?" We Can!

We work in partnership with nearly all the entertainment organizations either in town or coming to town, to ensure that empty seats are filled with kids who could really benefit from the experience. Through relationships with organizations like The Calgary Flames, Calgary Stampeders, Calgary Roughnecks, Theatre Calgary, Ticketmaster, as well as concert promoters, special event organizers allow us to collect in those tickets that would otherwise go unused.

Having seats sit empty at any event, is a lost opportunity for a child in need. Kids Up Front redistributes unused tickets fairly and efficiently to its 130 child-serving charitable agency partners. There is never a charge for this partnership. 

The positive impacts are enormous. Kids are dreaming the "possible," experiencing interaction with their peers and having the opportunity to bond with their families.

Kids Count! is an event-based program that provides kids with opportunities that can make life-long impact. Kids Up Front has sent hundreds of kids on special outings, including first-ever vacations out of town, a Young Olympian Day at COP, horseback riding trips, behind-the-scenes outings to Spruce Meadows, a skating party with a Canadian Olympian, a pizza party with the Calgary Flames coach and players, summer camps at the YMCA and to performance auditions with the Youth Singers. These events are made possible through partnerships with corporations and individual donors who wish to make a difference in kids' lives.

We know our programs are making a difference. We've received thousands of thank you cards, pictures, letters and emails from agencies and kids who've experienced an opportunity courtest of Kids Up Front and our partners. For some, it's the thrill of attending their first-ever hockey game, for others, it marks a turning point in their lives.

Back To Top

Scalping

Kids Up Front does not tolerate scalping of tickets -- at no time can tickets be resold for profit by the agency or the recipient. Tickets are never to be given to volunteers, staff, friends or neighbours, unless directed by the donor, through instructions from Kids Up Front. Tickets misused in any way may damage Kids Up Front's s reputation, image and good will. Please report any improper use to Kids Up Front, so proper and immediate action can be taken. A recipient misusing a Kids Up Front ticket may loose their Kids Up Front opportunities. Any agency aware of this misuse and not reporting it to Kids Up Front may lose its ability to partner with Kids Up Front.

Back To Top

What kids need

Several components are needed for kids to thrive in their environment, and eventually grow into caring adults. While our partner agencies provide the necessities of food, shelter, clothing, and counselling, Kids Up Front provides nourishment of the spirit. It's a key component for developing self-esteem, shared family experiences and a positive quality of life.

Kids Up Front offers kids opportunities that allow them to safely explore the world around them, and experience the things that so many of us take for granted. Showing them the possibilities opens the doors to new expectations and reachable goals.

Still, many risk factors exist that can bar children from reaching their potential.

Poverty isn't pretty. Sadly, more than 100,000 children live below the low-income cut-off (or poverty line) in Alberta. This creates many challenges for families. Infant death is twice as high, death rates due to accidents, suicides and homicides are 10 percent greater and childhood disabilities, emotional and academic problems are two times greater. When often 100 percent of a family's household income is spent on essentials there is nothing left for the "nourishment." Help us help the kids break out of those statistics by opening the door to experiences that may change their lives -- forever.

Physical and mental challenges create additional barriers children. But by giving them the opportunity to experience entertainment and educational events, they are integrating into the community in a positive way. Downs Syndrome kids haven't changed over the years but the public's perception of them has.

Immigrants and minorities have their own set of barriers involving social acceptance and financial challenges. *Approximately 85 percent of Aboriginal youth and approximately 70 percent of youth with English as their second language drop out of school, compared to the national average of 30 percent.

Kids Up Front's programs reach out to all ages of children and youth, and to their families because we believe that helping the entire family is where we can make the most impact, and the most difference. 

When chaos sometimes rules the lives of our clients, Kids Up Front is a healthy deterrent.

*Statistics above can be found in the Statistics Canada review on how to measure poverty.

Back To Top

Get involved!

1. As a donor:

a) Provide a cash or in-kind tax receiptable donation. One hundred percent of your gift is applied to the Kids Up Front programs.

b) Can't Use Your Ticket? Donate your unused tickets to Kids Up Front. We'll ensure they're distributed to kids.

c) Host a special "signature" event, like a skating party, Christmas party or picnic in the park (the possibilities are only limited by your imagination!) Leave it to Kids Up Front, or jump right in and help us organize it. This is part of our Kids Count! program.

2. As a charitable agency partner:

Interested agencies must be registered with Canada Customs and Revenue Agency and serve children 18 years and younger. It's a two-step process to register.

a. Read through the website and attached agreement - click here for Agreement.

b. Call Tiffany at 444-4246 to review the agreement and register.

3. As a ticket recipient:

All ticket recipients must be registered with one of the child-serving charitable agencies listed on our "sponsorship & partners" section. Please contact one of those agencies for information on how to be part of their programs. (See Sponsors & Partners) Each agency has been screened and registered prior to becoming a Kids Up Front partner agency.

Back To Top