This brings the amount awarded in 2025 through the foundation’s Community and Transformation Grants to $298,695 to 11 organizations, an increase of $139,000 over 2024.
In June, the foundation also awarded a three-year $1 million Legacy Grant to the Calgary Dream Centre for construction of its new Erlton House for women and families.
The organizations receiving the Transformation Grants are:
• The Brenda Strafford Foundation
• Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre Society
• Central United Church – Central Outreach Hub Space
• FearIsNotLove
• Highbanks Independent Living for Parenting Youth Society
• L'Arche Association of Calgary
• Wood’s Homes
“These non-profit organizations are critical not only to the Calgarians who rely on them for a safe, secure place to call home. They’re critical to building the resilient communities that we all benefit from,” said Christian Twomey, Chair of the CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation. “Each and every CREB® REALTOR® contributes to the foundation, because we understand that all Calgarians deserve a place to call home. These grants are one way that CREB® REALTOR®’s help the most vulnerable in the community find a safe and secure home.”
CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation Transformation Grants help transform existing spaces and respond to community infrastructure needs, while the Community Grants are designed to fund major projects that keep vulnerable Calgarians housed. The Legacy Grant is intended to help Calgary non-profit organizations create significant new housing options for the clients they serve.
The Brenda Strafford Foundation
“We are grateful to the CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation for this generous support, which will allow us to make necessary improvements to our programming space,” said Cara Bradley, Executive Director of The Brenda Strafford Foundation’s Heart Home Network. “This investment strengthens our ability to bring people together, share meals, and create a welcoming space for all. Thank you for helping us make a lasting impact for the people we serve.”
Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre Society
“CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation’s generous funding will support a critical safety renovation at Bridgeland Manor, our affordable housing building for formerly homeless seniors. This handrail extension will eliminate a significant fall hazard at our front entrance, giving our residents the confidence to safely and independently access their home,” said Julia Gilbertson, grants officer at the Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre Society. “For seniors who have worked hard to transition from homelessness, this improvement makes a profound difference in their ability to maintain their autonomy and age in place securely. We're grateful to CREB® for this impactful gift that directly enhances the safety, independence, and quality of life for our residents.”
Central United Church – Central Outreach Hub
“This grant from the CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation will help make our space safer, more dignified, and more functional for the over 1,000 people we serve each week,” said Brad Pert, the Program Coordinator of the Central Outreach Hub. “Improvements like better lighting, lockers, semi-private intake areas, and more accessible bathrooms and showers are based directly on what our guests have told us they need. We’re grateful for CREB®’s support in helping people move toward greater stability and housing.”
FearIsNotLove
“The Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter is at the heart of the work we do at FearIsNotLove, offering safety and support to women and children fleeing serious threats of domestic violence and abuse. While their safety is our priority, we also strive to provide families with a comforting space to rest and heal,” said Lisa Zoppa, Manager of Resource Development at FearIsNotLove. “With the support of the CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation’s Transformation Grant, we are creating a secure outdoor oasis at the shelter, a dedicated space for relaxation, healing, and play. We are grateful for this partnership and its impact on families seeking safety and hope at the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter.”
Highbanks Independent Living for Parenting Youth Society
“As a small organization with limited funding resources to update our apartments to ensure our young mothers are living in safe homes is paramount to ensuring that they can create a home for their tiny family,” said Shannon Johansen, Chief Executive Officer of Highbanks Society. “Our parenting youth work hard through education to change their lives and upgrading our aging appliances, some of them being original with 23 years of service, is a dramatic improvement to their living experience. We couldn't be more grateful for the support from CREB® REALTOR® Community Fund and their belief in our program and services to our young mothers as we truly believe that they are ‘THE HOPE THAT LIVES HERE!’”
L'Arche Association of Calgary
"We are incredibly grateful to the CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation for this generous transformation grant. This support comes at a pivotal moment for L’Arche Calgary as we prepare to rebuild our aging homes into fully accessible, inclusive spaces where persons with intellectual disabilities can continue to live with dignity, safety, and belonging,” said L’Arche Association Executive Director, Ani Hynes. “This gift strengthens the foundation we need to move confidently toward construction in mid-2026 and helps ensure our community can remain a place of stability, connection, and shared life for decades to come. We are deeply thankful for CREB®’s investment in our vision and for believing in what’s possible when people with and without disabilities build community together."
Wood’s Homes
“We are extremely grateful to the CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation for their generosity and belief in our work,” said Wood’s Homes CEO, Bjorn Johansson. “Receiving this grant is deeply meaningful for Wood’s Homes as it strengthens our ability to deliver critical support to children, young people, and families who rely on us every day. This support not only fuels our mission of building good mental health so everyone can thrive in our community – it says ‘yes’ to young people who deserve safety, opportunity, and hope.”
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