Tina was a runaway, with nowhere to turn, and nobody to trust.

Then she met John, a counsellor who worked on a United Way-supported community health bus. With John’s guidance, she found the confidence to get off the street and make a change.

There are an estimated 27,000 vulnerable youth living in Calgary. Like Tina, many fall through the cracks and struggle. Their challenges stem from a  lack of family supports, difficulty staying engaged in school, a lack of employment opportunities, chronic stress, limited community integration, poverty or a combination of these and other issues. United Way invests in programs that provide support networks and connect children, youth, adults and families to services such as crisis counseling, educational, training, legal, financial and safety supports – but we couldn’t do it without you.

Support United Way and help foster healthy people, build strong communities and make our city great for everyone.

Read more United Way stories and find out how your support can make a difference in someone's life.