CHARITY DRIVE
The RPG Alliance Con is about bringing people together as a community and every year we try to give back to the larger community. In 2022 there are so many challenges people face that we wanted to support our Indigenous & Ukrainian friends, the Women's & Queer communities, and our Veterans who keep our free democracy safe. Please give with the spirit of creating safe spaces for inclusive gaming where there is room at the gaming table for everyone. Many thanks for your generous heart!
>> CLICK HERE TO DONATE! <<
(see our list of charities below)
IN-GAME DONATIONS
Look for this graphic in the event listing for games participating with in-game incentives for donations.
We know times are tough for many people in our various communities. Giving is completely optional, and only give what you can afford.
Game Runners: you can encourage donations in your game but don't coerce or harass players into donating. It's meant to be a fun mechanic in support of charity for those who choose to participate, but not at the expense of fun for the entire table.
GAME RUNNERS WHO WANT TO RUN IN-GAME DONATIONS
Its easy to bring the giving spirit into your games by using the in-game incentives for donations through our Canada Helps Fund Raising Event.
Below is only an example, but do whatever works best and is fun for your game:
Player In-Game Donations Example
- $5 to buy luck (ie. +1 or +5 modifier to roll).
- $5 for reroll.
- $10 to force GR to reroll.
- $10 to resurrect PC.
- $10 to deflect damage.
- $10 to give GR or Player advantage/disadvantage on a roll.
- $10 to buy advantage (clue, hint, tactical advantage, etc.).
Game Runners: you're free to employ or ignore any of the above suggestions, or make up your own!
IN-PERSON GAMES CHARITY TOKENS (Optional)
We came up with a Charity Token Card to help make donations fast and easy at your games. When a Player pledges a donation (minimum $5 seemed easiest), you give them the TOKEN Card and it acts like INSPIRATION/LUCK or in whatever way YOU decide that's fun for your game. The cards have a QR Code to the Canada Helps Fundraiser website for Players to follow up their donations pledges after the game. Again we're using the honour system. We are printing these up and will have them ready for you when you check in on Game Day Nov 20! There are 4 wonderful local charities (see below), we are supporting this year, like The Veterans Food Bank Of Calgary, and Players can donate to the charity (or charities) they like the most!
For more information watch this video:
"Go on a Drive with Trevor and Vicki for Charity! Beep Beep"
OUR CHARITIES!
Miskanawah | Home
Miskanawah is an Indigenous-led organization that offers evidence-informed and culturally grounded services to families, youth, and individuals within the Calgary area.
Miskanawah (mis-con-a-wah, meaning "Pathways" in Cree) is their philosophical framework that is rooted in Indigenous teachings, ceremonies and guidance from Elders. These traditional values and beliefs have tremendous healing potential and are embedded within their service delivery practices. As its name implies, this approach guides individuals and families in building pathways to and within the community, strengthening their natural supports, and engaging in healthier ways of living.
Guided by the traditional tenawahachings embedded within Wahkohtowin (Cree Natural Law of interconnection and kinship) and their cultural mandate of "protecting the smudge", they offer a wide array of services within mental health, addictions, family violence, and parenting supports. As an Indigenous-led service provider, their goal is to infuse culture into all aspects of their programming and continuously evolve to meet the ongoing needs of their communities.
Over 2/3 of the children in Alberta's Child Welfare System are Indigenous children. There are more Indigenous children in care today than at the peak of Residential Schools. Miskanawah works with Children and Family Services to keep children and youth in safe, nurturing, and culturally responsive environments.
Miskanawah is unique because they invite all Calgarians to learn and celebrate Indigenous culture in the spirit of reconciliation.
CENTRE FOR SEXUALITY Home
Vision
All Albertans experience healthy sexuality across the lifespan.
Mission
Centre for Sexuality (formerly Calgary Sexual Health Centre) aims to normalize sexual health in Alberta by providing evidenced-informed non-judgmental sexual and reproductive health services.
Agency Overview
The work of Centre for Sexuality has evolved over 42 years of working in the community. Centre for Sexuality addresses critical issues and believes that sexual health is an integral part of every single person’s health and well-being.
Our goal to normalize sexual health means that we tackle issues no one else does, and we are a leader in our field for implementing innovative sexual health programs. All of our work is evidence-informed and measurable, which means we know that we’re having a real impact in the community.
Some of the Centre' programs are:
The Centre offers counselling services including: Healthy relationships, Two Spirit and LGBTQ+, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Medical and social transitioning, and all pregnancy options, including abortion, adoption, and parenting.
The Centre also runs the Wiseguys, which is a healthy relationship, life skills program for male-identified individuals in grade nine. WiseGuyz is an evidence-informed participatory program designed to promote healthy relationships and prevent adolescent dating violence.
The Girls program is also a school and community-based program from the Centre for Sexuality for girls aged 8-13. Over 25 sessions, this three-year program explores topics such as mental health, puberty, friendships/relationships, self-esteem, body image, and media literacy, with the ultimate goal of healthy bodies, healthy relationships, and healthy development.
And finally Camp fYrefly! This is a fun, educational, social, and personal leadership retreat for 2SLGBTQ+ youth ages 14 – 24. Campers explore their identity, build resilience, enhance self-esteem, and develop leadership skills that positively impact their lives, homes, schools, and communities. Workshops, mental health support, art programming, and community building are just some examples of what to expect!
The Veterans Food Bank of Calgary
The Veterans Food Bank of Calgary is a service provided by CALGARY VETERANS SERVICES SOCIETY, founded in August 2018, to serve food security and other resource needs of veterans from Calgary and the surrounding area. VFBC supports veterans who’ve served in all branches of the Canadian Armed Forces and Reserves, as well as first responders. 100% of donations are invested in providing veterans assistance and services.
We are here for our veterans, although every situation is different we strive to provide much needed Assistance. food security, housing, medical, and therapy with one of our experts in the field.
They say it takes a village and we could use your help in our mission.
THE ALEX
The Alexandra Community Health Centre (The Alex) provides wrap-around health care, housing, social and wellness programs to Calgary’s most vulnerable citizens by delivering care through a Community Health Centre* model. Using patient- and client-centered, multi-disciplinary approaches, The Alex offers the right care, to the right client, by the right provider, at the right time, in the right place, for the right cost (no cost to the client) because we know it all adds up. With five decades of experience innovating and working in the community, The Alex has a reputation for tackling tough health and social issues by walking alongside people on their journey from crisis to wellness and from challenge to change.
S.O.S. Ukraine
S.O.S. Ukraine was founded in 1995 by a Canadian whose ancestors came to Western Canada a century ago. When she went to Ukraine to research her family tree, she was overwhelmed by their pervasive poverty. Most families in villages had no running water, and their salaries were a pittance.
All donations go directly to relief minus the transfer fees to send funds overseas, and money that CanadaHelps keeps (for regular donations, that's 3.5%). Volunteer-run. We don't pay staff salaries or overhead, so your money goes to poor families living in Ukraine.
What we are currently doing and how funds are being used:
- Through our many connections throughout Ukraine we are able to directly aid families who have fled war zones and the demolished areas of Mariupol, Luhansk, Kharkiv and Donetsk. These families report to us monthly with photos of goods and receipts. With their monthly funds, they have been able to pay for rent, buy food, medical needs, hygiene items, cleaning products, school supplies, hygiene items and clothing. Many are young single women with small children - some had husbands who are at war. Some fled with an elderly mother who often needs medical aid.
- In addition, we are aiding a large boarding house in Chernivtsi with over 200 evacuees with items like hygiene items, basic household goods (eg a cooking pot), school supplies and cleaning products.
- As well, we've been purchasing sleeping bags, mats, socks, t-shirts and other basics for soldiers, and food for an orphanage that relocated.
- We have also set up art, craft and yoga classes for young children for their mental health and to aid normal development, and are paying three certified teachers to conduct part-time classes twice a week.
Your donation will be used for medicines, food, hygiene items, rent, bedding, clothing, baby needs, as well as food, sleeping bags, tourniquets, socks and t-shirts for soldiers, as none of these are provided - they are only given weapons.
We have volunteers, native Ukrainians, assisting with vetting the refugees, or purchasing and delivering these items.
Every donation provides both hope and life support. THANK YOU for your consideration and kindness.
>> CLICK HERE TO DONATE! <<
