Over the past decade, Wordfest’s Youth Program has connected 90,000 students with the world’s most inspiring authors, including NASA astronaut Dave Williams and Governor General Award-winning graphic duo Mariko and Jillian Tamaki, Indigenous advocate Wab Kinew and Instagram poet Najwa Zebian. But not every school can afford our superstar authors and that’s not fair. Our 2019 goal is to subsidize these life-changing experiences and make sure that every participating school library receives two copies of each author’s books.

Your contribution to Wordfest’s Youth Program will fuel these unique opportunities for kids in Grades 5 to 12, a pivotal (and under-served) time in their development. With respect. With excitement. With openness. With empathy. With the goods.

Better still, every donation made between now and September 1 will be generously matched through Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink. Wordfest receives 100% of all designated donations and up to 50% in extra funding through this matching gift program.

Shelley Youngblut CEO & Creative Ringleader “Connecting Calgarians with Life-Changing Experiences”